Chitradurga: CEO develops K-Kissan software to avoid malpractices

M S Diwakara, 44, an MSc in agriculture from Ganganakatte village in Davanagere taluk, has been appointed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Chitradurga zilla panchayat. Before this, he worked for sixteen years in the state agriculture department and became part of the IAS cadre.

During his time as the joint director of agriculture in the vigilance section in Belagavi, Diwakara witnessed cheating and malpractices committed by customers towards agriculture officials. To combat these corrupt activities, he came up with the idea of developing the ‘K-Kissan’ software under the ‘e-governance’ platform. This unique software, worth approximately Rs 1 crore, was the first of its kind in India and has been shared by the Indian government with other states.

Diwakara’s software, K-Kissan, contains a database of over 28 lakh farmers from more than 30,000 villages in the state. This database includes details such as their Aadhar number, survey number, amount of land owned, and the type of crop being grown. With the help of K-Kissan, officials can easily obtain information about any farmer in the state. The software ensures that farmers cannot cheat or deceive officials regarding crop loans, seeds, fertilizers, or other equipment obtained from the department.

The software also has a unique feature where if a particular farmer has already received equipment, it blocks them from acquiring additional equipment for seven years. This ensures that all farmers have an equal opportunity to receive the necessary items without any farmer losing out on their required component. This principle has boosted the self-confidence and self-respect of officials, and as a result, the department has seen a decrease in RTI applications.

While implementing the software, Diwakara faced opposition and other challenges. However, with the support of senior officers, he successfully developed and implemented the K-Kissan software, gaining popularity as an honest and dedicated officer. His success has led him to consider implementing similar software in other fields, such as rural development and panchayat Raj (RDPR) and public works within other ZPs, to ensure transparency and detect malpractices.