Product Manager - PMGSY - Ministry of Rural Development

PMGSY (Ministry of Rural Dev) is setting up an ICT PMU in Delhi to streamline its IT Projects. We are looking for 2 Product Managers (5-8 years). Mix of low-hanging/challenging problems with incredible impact.

First of all - PMGSY-I started in early 2000s with a target to connect all habitations with all weather roads. It's one of the largest infrastructure schemes in the world. Role of IT/GIS/Data starts right from planning, tendering, monitoring, maintenance and citizen feedback.

Your job will be the monitor existing contracts with IT vendors, ideate new IT projects, improve existing IT projects etc. From basic but important CRUD to AI/ML - PMGSY has scope for all.

TOR: https://rural.nic.in/sites/default/files/IT_Advt_TOR.pdf (has minimum requirements, responsibilities etc)

Last date to apply: 31st August, 2019

Existing IT projects are below:

1. OMMAS is transactional MIS system which holds all the administrative data of roads sanctioned, their progress etc. It acts as the base for everything else. Contains data starting from early 2000. The system is well built now with need to haves so we can focus on good to haves.
   
   
2. EMARG is a new project to streamline and monitor maintenance of roads once built. IT enabled performance based maintenance contracts, app-based inspections etc. Play a role in ensuring 600,000 km rural roads are maintained and don't disappear. (very nascent, lots to do)
   
   
3. GRRIS - We've digitized every rural road in India in the last 3 years. http://pmgsy-grris.nic.in Focus now on using this data for planning/monitoring PMGSY-III. From network analysis to identify optimal routes to buffers to find nearby quarries etc. (R&D, contract management)
   
   
4. MeriSadak - A citizen facing android app to gather information about contracts gone sour or poor maintenance. Lots of room to make it more efficient and democratic. (base is set, open to improvement)

Government is a good place to practice data/code for social good with incredible impact. Certain systemic changes are only possible if you are on the inside and stick along. You can't change everything, but the little you do can have incredible impact.

But it's not your typical tech company. There is a reason government technology lags behind. It's really challenging and frustrating to work on most days. You need to learn the chops and do the most you can. There are amazing people inside - your job will be to facilitate them.