Local language software critical for e-governance: Digvijay

NEW DELHI: The most critical component for proliferation of e-governance is
the development of software in local language. Today, Internet is restricted
only to the English speaking population and unless this trend is corrected, IT
as a tool for governance is never going to take off, said Digvijay Singh, Chief
Minister of Madhya Pradesh (MP).

He was addressing a seminar on e-governance organized by the Confederation of
Indian Industries. The CM said his government was looking at growing MP as the
hub for Hindi software development. The central government has already
sanctioned a project to develop Hindi software based out of Gwalior.

Singh outlined the IT initiatives his state had undertaken so far. He that
Reliance Infocom would set up 7,500 kiosks across the state to provide access to
government information made available through a central server. He also said
that Madhya Pradesh had succeeded in establishing 800 'head-start centers',
which would impart primary computer education. In the next two years his
government hoped to set up 5,500 such centers. About 10,000 teachers had been
trained in affiliation with IBM and subsidized institutions for IT education had
been set up.

The government of Goa spoke about setting up of an IT Resort.

"By blending tourism with IT infrastructure, Goa can become the hub of
all corporate activities -- both serious and leisure," said Ramakant D
Khalap, Minister of Law, Water Resources and IT in Goa and added that among the
many initiatives to attract investment to the state, the government would pick
up equity up to 23 per cent or make investments up to Rs 50,000 per head in
IT-enabled projects that employ more than 100 people.

Dr Kiran Bedi, joint commissioner, training, spoke of the urgent need of
epolicing. "In an era when everything is going online, there is a need for
keeping the police force updated with technology," she said commenting on
the National Crime Records Bureau and such other initiatives, which she said,
"would go a long way in making police service an easier job for the
personnel and a pleasant experience for the public".

Mark Phibbs, GM, Microsoft, Asia, addressing the gathering said that the
effectiveness and spread of e-commerce in the governance of a country would
determine the competitiveness and future prospects of its economy.
"Increased e-governance would mean a smaller, smarter and more efficient
government."