Although Gujarat's first woman Chief Minister Anandiben Patel might have inherited a massive legacy left behind by her predecessor Narendra Modi, she is slowly and steadily writing her own script for the state. This was evident from Patel's first Budget (for 2014-15), which focuses on women, youth and employment. Patel also introduced, for the first time, gender budgeting to enable women to take benefit of schemes across various government departments.
The change in guard in the state has not changed the way the government used to function. It is still moving at the pace set by Modi while he was in charge of the state. Patel might have her own style of functioning but it is more or less similar to that of her predecessor - speedy decision-making, stress on implementation, making the government work in a more transparent manner. Like Modi, Patel also personally monitors various department and Cabinet decisions.
Patel, like her predecessor, has kept key portfolios with herself. She is in charge of nearly a dozen crucial departments, including general administration, administrative reforms and training, industries, home, revenue, disaster management, urban development, urban housing development, climate change, ports, information and broadcasting, Narmada, Kalpsar, science and technology.
As political observer Shiv Vishwanathan puts it, "Anandiben is a miniature version of Modi. Remove the drama from Modi and what you get is Patel. There will be efficiency, productivity and focus minus the drama in this Gujarat model."
According to Vishwanathan, people might feel that nothing new is happening and Patel is only carrying the flag forward. "The transition (from the Modi regime) is slow, but ultimately Patel will have to write her own script for the state. She will definitely come out of Modi's shadow but we need to give her some time, maybe a year or so," he explained.
Even bureaucrats admit that her style of working is quite similar to that of her predecessor. "She is a strict taskmaster and conducts regular meetings with department heads. Patel has already started meeting bureaucrats from different departments in the state government, especially those that she has not personally handled so far, like home, industries and also the Gujarat Industrial Development Board. She has also asked senior bureaucrats to come and meet her with their reports on their departments, and many have started doing so," said a senior bureaucrat.
As for those who have had experience of working with Patel when she was the revenue minister, they agree that she is a hard taskmaster. "She is a very good administrator and keen learner. She would first understand issues in depth before taking any decision. For her, there can be no hasty decisions," said one of the district collectors, who had worked with Patel as revenue officer.
Ever since she took charge of the chief minister's office on May 22, Patel has been working almost round the clock, holding a series of review meetings and finalising details of state-level programmes like the annual "krishi mahotsav" (agriculture fair), school-enrolment drive and the "garib kalyan melas". This is keeping in line with the tradition started by her predecessor. She has actively participated in krishi mahotsavs and encouraged farmers to adopt new technology and techniques in agriculture.
She also handled the situation created after the delay in monsoon over the state. With a dry spell in June, Patel was quick to implement the contingency plan for farmers through the agriculture department. She also ensured that the regions facing a shortage of water were supplied adequate water through tankers. Fodder was also provided for cattle at subsidised rates, especially in the Kutch region where rain has been deficient.
Patel's push for women empowerment in the Budget was noteworthy. The Budget laid emphasis on social sector development through education, nutrition and health. Irrigation, agriculture and rural development, too, received due attention.
The special attention given to women empowerment could be gauged from the fact that Patel declared 33 per cent reservation for women in police recruitment at all levels. Apart from doling out some incentives for women involved in animal husbandry activities, the state also announced its plan to double the number of milk producers' co-operative societies operated by women.
She was also quick to initiate work on installing gates on the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river, after the Narmada Control Authority gave its approval.
Patel has been very active on the industrial front in the two months that she has been in charge. She has had meetings with as many as 18 foreign delegations, including from countries such as Singapore, Canada, Switzerland, France, Australia and Japan. She has been garnering support and participation from these countries for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015. With Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2015 also to be held in Gujarat, the administration is all decked up to host the twin events.
Former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University Ghanshyam Shah feels that Patel is trying her level best to project her own impression through initiatives in sectors such as girls education and health.
But he believes that it will be hard for her to come out of Modi's shadow so soon. "At present, Patel is trying hard to develop her image as a leader. But nothing is known about her control over her Cabinet colleagues, which is very important for a CM," Shah explained.
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