National Policy for e-gov to roll out in March

CHENNAI: Government of India Additional Secretary (Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions) PI Suvrathan, informed that the National policy for e-governance on which the Central Government has been working for the past two years will be rolled out in March 2004. He added that however it would be upto to the State governments as to how and when to implement it in their respective states.

He also said that there are some states in India like the North Eastern States, which are less receptive to e-Governance initiatives quoting financial deficiency and on the other hand there are States like Karnataka, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, that have emerged as e-ready states, following the National Conference on e-governance. "There are islands of excellence as far as e-gov initiatives are concerned. We will take best practices and standardize them so that these are available to the other states," he said. He was speaking to the media in Chennai during a press briefing on the 7th National Conference on e-governance that will kick start in Chennai on November 13.

Deputy Prime Minster of India, LK Advani, will inaugurate the three-day National Conference on e-governance, which is being organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARG) in co-ordination with IT Department of Tamil Nadu. The opening session will have presentation of National Awards for Best e-Gov Paper, Best e-Gov Practices and Best Website. On the Children’s Day, awards will be given to the winners of the national essay contest on "Information and Communication Technology: How will it shape my future."

For the first time the National Conference will talk about the Financing Options in e-governance by World Bank vice president & controller Fayezul Choudhry. Already 25 states, IT ministers of three states and 350 delegates have confirmed participation.

(CNS)