Govt moots bill to further e-governance

NEW DELHI: Government today said it is planning to introduce a bill to promote e-governance and ensure a faster public service delivery system.

Inaugurating a workshop here, Minister of State for Personnel and Public Grievances V Narayanasamy said e-governance is the way out to ensure effective and faster public service delivery system to which the Government is committed.

He said it also increases transparency and openness in the functioning of an office.

"Government is planning to bring Electronic Delivery of Services Bill to further facilitate and smooth transition towards e-office at all levels," the Minister said.

Narayanasamy said 29 central ministries and departments will be covered under e-office in 2011-12.

e-Office is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan assigned to the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR&PG).

He was speaking after inaugurating a workshop on e-Office to sensitise the Nodal Officers and project teams of user Ministries/Departments.

The Minister also released a handbook titled 'e-Office Framework - A way forward for the Government' on the occasion.

Narayanasamy said that Central Ministries and Departments should be pioneer in implementing e-office project and whatever put extra effort to make it a reality at the earliest.

The Minister felt that further improvements need to brought in e-office and e-governance projects. "Training at all levels has to be imparted so that the dream of paperless office can be realized," he said.

Narayanasamy suggested a "timeframe" to ensure timely implementation of e-office project, aimed at ensuring electronically movement of any file and government works with an objective to improve efficiency, establish transparency and accountability.