Bidari champions AI, transparency for modern India on return from US scholarship

Nagpur: In a world rapidly advancing towards artificial intelligence (AI), divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari is championing the integration of AI into India's governance framework. Recently back from the ‘Leadership for the 21st Century' fellowship at Harvard's Kennedy School, Bidari is optimistic about harnessing technology to foster transparency and accountability in public administration.During a press interaction at her office, Bidari articulated her vision for modern governance, drawing on insights from her fellowship, where she was the only Indian among 78 global leaders. She noted, "The momentum of AI is unstoppable — India must lead, not follow, this transition." Emphasising the advantages of AI, she highlighted its potential to streamline govt operations, improve decision-making processes, and ultimately serve citizens more efficiently.A pivotal part of her agenda is the introduction of practices observed in the United States, particularly regarding public meetings. In America, public meetings are recorded, providing citizens access to discussions and decisions made by their representatives. Bidari remarked, "Public meetings can and should be videotaped in India. This transparency will ensure officials act more responsibly." She expressed her belief that making these meetings accessible online would cultivate a more informed citizenry and foster trust in governmental processes.Bidari also stressed the importance of maintaining a structured approach to public meetings. "Meetings must start on time, and officials should be prohibited from using personal mobile phones during these discussions to minimise distractions," she asserted. This emphasis on discipline aims to optimise time management and enhance productivity.While discussing global perspectives, Bidri shared that India enjoys a positive global image, as highlighted by the participation of representatives from 30 countries at the event. She emphasised the importance of fostering trust among stakeholders, advocating for collaborative decision-making instead of unilateral approaches.Additionally, the discussions highlighted the necessity of prioritising cybersecurity as India navigates its digital landscape. Drawing parallels with the United States, Bidari noted the existence of strict regulations that ensure public officials meet the expectations of citizens. She expressed her intent to explore various experimental approaches to enhance transparency within the Indian governance framework.As she advocates for AI's integration into governance, Bidari acknowledges both its potential benefits and challenges. "Indians have excelled globally in IT, but we lag behind in AI implementation. We must embrace this technology to enhance our governance framework," she concluded.