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| Despite five years and Rs 5 crore going down the drain e-governance still a far cry | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Nov 29
Despite lapse of five years and Rs 5 crore going down the drain, introduction of much boasted e-governance in J&K is nowhere in sight. It was in the year 2002 that a separate Information Technology (IT) department was setup, to facilitate introduction of e-governance in the state. An initial investment of Rs 5 crore was made on the computerization in the civil secretariat. But ever since its creation, through a cabinet decision, the IT department has remained headless. The post of Director created for the purpose has not been filled so far, nor any technical hands have been appointed to man the department and supervise e-governance in the civil secretariat itself. The non filling of the posts of director and technical staff is reported to be on account of failure to formulate recruitment policy.
The move to introduce e-governance in the state was mooted as early as in 1998, during the regime of former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, when vide government order number 614 GAD information technology unit was created in the civil secretariat. However, the unit was transferred to Chief Minister's Secretariat vide order number 885 GAD dated 15-07-1998. The unit was directed to function under the control of Principal Secretary to CM. In 2002 vide a cabinet decision IT department was formally created as a full fledged administrative unit.
Despite lapse of over 5 years and investment of Rs 5 crore made in computerization for the purpose, the General Administration Department has not been able to provide staff for the new department.
The 17 odd officials posted on deputation from some other departments as a make shift arrangement till the recruitment of regular staff was made, failed to make e-mail operational, in view of their having not adequate knowledge and experience for the job. Over 120 technical posts were approved to be created for the purpose, but for want of formulating a proper policy for recruitment of the technical staff, no action has been taken so far to recruit the desired staff.
A comprehensive report on recruitment policy submitted by the IT department to the planning department lately has been rejected by the latter, on the ground that framing of recruitment rules is not a one department's show and it has to be framed by a broad based committee comprising of members from GAD, law department and some technical experts.
The moot question is that in the absence of any staff, including the head of IT department, what was the hurry in spending Rs 5 crore on computerization, which is lying idle and getting rusted? |
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