Corpn. moving towards e-governance

By T. Nandakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 10. The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is preparing to introduce an e-governance system to decentralise administration and improve citizen service facilities through a computer network linking the zonal centres with the main office. The Rs. 2.26-crore project named `City Friends' has been taken up under the People's Plan Campaign and is expected to become operational early next year.

The Information Kerala Mission (IKM), which provides software support for the project, has already prepared five application packages for various functions. The system will cover all the 81 wards including the new ones annexed from the five suburban panchayats. The 10 zonal centres will be networked with the head office. `Kudumbasree' units are already working on data entry.

The computerised system will help in monitoring of the Plan projects, administration of pension and welfare schemes, managing revenue, finance and accounts systems, public works management, handling establishment matters and community information systems. The functions to be computerised include tax collection, establishment, work flow, accounts, works and decision support. The mission group at IKM has completed a work flow module for file management and tracking. Another package for registration and issue of certificates and administration of pension and welfare schemes is ready.

Among the notable utilities is `Sanchita', a digitised repository of legislations and other documents relevant to local bodies. Available in CD-Rom format, it includes constitutional provisions, Acts, rules, Government Orders, circulars, guidelines, notifications, relevant court judgments, application forms, manual of office procedures and general information. Yet another unique utility is an employment information system to create a database of job opportunities and human resources. All the packages are equipped with user-friendly Malayalam interface and search facility.

A senior Corporation functionary said the new system would help to replace vertical governance with horizontal administration. The computer training institute run by the Corporation has already imparted basic IT skills to over 250 employees in various sections. A core team selected from these personnel will be provided modular training to equip them for the new system.

The Head, IKM Systems division, Mr. T. P. Sudhakaran, said the modules had been developed as user-friendly packages. The mission group has already developed several software utilities as part of a pilot project for a State-level informatics system for the decentralised plan implementation. The Amboori, Vilavoorkal, Kattakada, Madavur and Vellanad grama panchayats in Thiruvananthapuram are already equipped with this software.

The first phase of the computerisation project includes customisation of application software for property tax and professional tax at the Corporation head office and zonal centres. The counter tax collection system at the `Friends' citizen service centre will also be adapted for the Corporation offices.

The second phase involves computerisation of accounts, revenue and establishment. The software for other departments will be taken up at a later stage.

While the software for the project is expected to be ready within the specified period, hardware purchase may be delayed due to the financial crisis. While the initial order was for 12 servers and 60 machines, the requirement was later scaled down. The hardware component is expected to cost Rs. 50 lakhs. A technical committee has been set up to finalise the purchase and the tendering process has been set in motion, Corporation sources said.

The e-governance model is expected to provide a solution to the acute staff shortage which threatens to slow down development projects and derail several major budget proposals. The Corporation is struggling to tackle the administrative mess created by the merger of five suburban panchayats with the city.

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Section  : Southern States
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