e-Governance

• The State Government plans to prepare both short term as well as long-term plans for E Governance as well as development of IT in the State. These plans shall address the extent of computerization of its core activities, with special reference to Citizen Interface, need for hardware and software resources, manpower requirements and training of employees.

• The Government shall endeavor to computerize the process of governance, so that the citizens could file the documents required by the Government, electronically. Priority areas with maximum citizen interface will be taken up for E-Governance such as:
  
  a) Rural Services such as land records, acquisition of land and registration of deeds
  b) Police services such as FIR registration
  c) Social services such as family pension, old age pension, etc
  d) Registration of licenses, ration cards, birth certificate, Death certificate, Caste/Tribe certificate, Driving license, etc.
  e) Public Information/Utility such as employment exchange registration, employment opportunities, examination results, hospitals / beds availability, road transport time tables, Government notifications, Government schemes, etc
  f) Agriculture/Horticulture sector-providing the information about market rates in respect of identified commodities in important markets
  g) Electronic Filing of tax returns, state excise duty, house tax, property tax, road tax, etc.
  h) E Governance relating to municipal functions and GIS applications for water supply, electricity, sewerage etc. in municipal areas.
  
  The above list is only illustrative and not exhaustive.

• All departments shall be encouraged to establish websites. These will be linked under an overall umbrella of State Government website. Departments, where databases are already established shall be asked to upgrade the same to provide dynamic information and use their sites as platforms for Citizen-Government interface.

• Electronic Kiosks: The Government would encourage setting up of internet kiosks on the lines of public telephone booths not only to serve the information needs of the citizens but also to provide employment to a large number of educated youth.

• The government would encourage computerization of the local Industries as well as boost E-Commerce to facilitate local industries to compete in the global markets in items/goods in which the State has a comparative/distinct advantage e.g. horticulture produce, handicrafts, and handlooms etc.

• The Government would encourage the public sector banks in the State to start Internet based banking. Net-based banking would catalyze increase in use of Internet for e-commerce and also reduce high overhead costs for banks.

• The Tax Departments of the Government would be fully computerized during the next three years. The various offices of the tax departments would be interconnected to allow flow of information. The staff of the tax departments would be trained in the use of information technology to increase tax collections, reduce delays and improve productivity. All assesses would be allowed the facility of filing their returns electronically. All assesses would be allowed the facility of paying their tax through electronic transfer of funds.