Azad, ministry bask in glory of e-governance

But only weeks ago the Committee had reported at the Budget Session that it was a ‘‘disturbing’’ fact that ‘‘no allocation during the year 2004-05 has been made’’ by the Ministry to promote e-governance. None of the schemes under the Ministry, its land records or the CPWD works have been computerized so far, it noted.

The report further said: ‘‘The Committee is perturbed to note that in this era of e-governance, the Ministry is yet to take advantage of the latest technology. Only proposals are being made till date.’’

Headed by CPI(M) MP Mohammad Salim, the panel also said that despite the commitment made in 10th Plan that ‘‘e-governance is fast emerging as an important tool for achieving good governance, the Ministry is yet to take concrete action in this regard’’.

The Ministry’s repose to the PMO, dated August 16, however, painted a different picture. ‘‘As a first step towards introduction of e-governance and use of IT to improve the functioning and government-citizen interface …a two-day national seminar (was) organised,’’ the Ministry wrote.

Also, as the Ministry under Ghulam Nabi Azad claimed to take the ‘‘first tentative steps’’ towards computerization, annual records showed the Ministry under the NDA had spent Rs 1.21 crore on e-governance in 2002-03. The Ministry had, however, returned the allocated Rs 3 crore the next fiscal. And in 2004-05, nothing was allocated under the head. The panel has asked the Ministry to explain how it now plans to implement the project.