Raman’s ministers take e-lessons

‘‘IQ khula hai. Pehle information mangani parti thi.(One is more aware. Earlier, one needed to ask others for information),’’ said PWD and School Education Minister Rajesh Munat.

Munat, now aware of the software used by Karnataka for transfers and postings, wants it installed in the Education Department. He is also keen on MIS (Management Information System) to track projects and e-procurement system for tender of contracts.

The programme, conceived by Chhattisgarh Infotech and Biote ch Promotion Society (CHIPS), covers bureaucrats for specialised courses as well as computer literacy for Class-IV sweepers and peons. ‘‘The idea is that they get exposed to what is happening outside. It is an idea borrowed from Andhra Pradesh and we included the minister who is the missing link in the entire exercise,’’ said Raman Singh.

While efforts are made to upgrade the skills of the bureaucracy, no step is taken to make the minister aware. ‘‘All our efforts in capacity building would come to naught if this section is not upgraded with time,’’ added Singh.

The ministers spent two days cramming through the course prepared by National Institute for Smart Government, Hyderabad. The impact: They are backing Raman in introducing automated e-sewa kendras a la’ Andhra style. Singh wants to provide consumer services — like birth and death certificates, and payment of water and electricity bills — electronically. ‘‘We expect to launch it in a year. People need not go to separate offices for different work. All services would be available under one roof through networking,’’ said the CM.

The programme, launched in the current fiscal year, includes 60-seater IT labs in each of the state’s 16 districts to impart computer education. ‘‘An IT education programme for schoolchildren is on the agenda, starting next fiscal,’’ said Aman Singh, CEO, CHIPS. The organisation recently signed an MoU with IIT-Kanpur for e-classroom through video conferencing at Raipur Engineering College and Bilaspur University.