EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 24: Finally, Jammu and Kashmir administration has taken a historic decision of switching to e-governance in government offices across the erstwhile state, raising hopes that the dilatory mode of functioning that had become a hallmark of the past governments would cease to exist.
Government work will be done in 45 government departments of Jammu and Kashmir from May 15, 2021 in 92 departments on 30 May through e-office software prepared by the National Informatics Center. General Administrative Department Secretary Manoj Kumar Dwivedi issued an order in this regard on Friday. In the offices of Finance Commission Revenue, Director General of Police and CED Organization, Anti Corruption Bureau Director, Principal Chief Conservator Forest, Chief Election Officer, Director General, Youth Services and Sports Director General, Director General of Fire Services, Director of Information, Motor Garage Director, Protocol Director, Employment Director, Director of Skill Development, Director of Forest Protection Force, Custodian General, Director of Tribal Goods, Labor Commissioner, Transport Commissioner, Government work in offices will be done only through e-office software. Furthermore, from June 15, J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination, Library Director, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages, Director General of Accounts, Citizen Secretariat Treasury, J&K Services Selection Board, National Health Mission, JK Medical Supply Corporation, CEO of Ayushman India, JK Housing Board, Inspector General of Police, Inspector General of Police Crime, Social Welfare Board, Estate Director, J&K Public Service Commission, Police Headquarters, Legislative Assembly In the 92 departments including the Sabha, Civil Aviation Department, Fund Organization, government work will be done only through e-office.
Pertinently, in the era of Information Technology, the much-hyped e-governance in Jammu and Kashmir was proving to be a big failure.
Furthermore, there had been very little compliance with Section 4 of the legislation which makes it obligatory for a public authority [department falling under RTI Act] to “maintain all its records and indexed in a manner and form which facilitates the right to information.” It also calls for ensuring that “all records that are appropriate to be computerized are, within a reasonable time and subject to availability of resources, computerized and connected through a network all over the state on different systems so that access to such records is facilitated.” What is more ironic is that the State Chief Information Commissioner in the year 2011 had formally informed the State Chief Secretary that there is not so encouraging response from Public Authorities with regard to implementation of Section 4 of the Act.
As per the sources within the government, huge money out of the state exchequer were invested in introducing Information Technology (IT) and e-Governance in the day to day working of the organization but it has proved sheer wastage of state exchequer as no regular back system was created to keep the website updated. |
