WE THE PEOPLE
Owing to non-utilization of Central funds, State government has failed to provide e-governance and responsive administration so far
Hence people urge new Coalition to utilize funds to ensure accountability, transparency and Right to Information Act in J&K
By: Ahlam Masoodi
Srinagar: Once a terrestrial paradise, Kashmir valley has become a sore spot on the map of the country today, where people are face to face with number of problems with no immediate solution in sight. They need e- governance so that transparency turns to be a dominant feature of the State administration. People must have access to information so that they remain abreast with the activities of the Administrative Apparatus. Since they hold the key and power to form a government of their choice in democratic dispensation, so the administrators must remember that they are to serve them to the best of their capacities and capabilities.
It must have been in this backdrop that the government of India launched a Pilot Project for setting up of Community Information Centers at block level in the State of J&K. The objectives of the project included creation of information technology awareness by providing internet access and connectivity at block level, providing IT trainings, facilitating public related services and dissemination of information on plan initiatives and state programmes through e-centric web based applications.
Pertinent to state that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the government of India and the government of J&K in March 2004 for establishment of 139 Community Information Centers, which became operational by October 2005. The content for the web-based applications had to be provided by the state government and NIC was responsible for preparation of software based on requirement identified in the Content Development Plan. The control and management of these centers had to be transferred to state government after expiry of five year from the date commissioning.
But it is learnt from the scrutiny of 17 Community Information Centers namely at Akhnoor, Bishnah, Breng-Kokernag, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kakapora-Pulwama, Khour, Marh, Narbal, Pampore, Ehallian-Satwari, Purmandal, R S Pura, Samba, Srinagar, Udampor and Vijaypur that the objectives of these centers had not been fully achieved due to non-adherence to the MOU signed with government of India. One of the major activities to be given thrust was to implement citizen centric e-governance application. The state had identified about 20 centric services on which information had to be made available to local population at block level through these centers. However, except for information on Hajj pilgrims and data on below poverty line population in two centers namely Breng-Kokernag and Ganderbal. The Department reportedly failed to facilitate integrated Information to people even after five years thus reducing these centers to cyber cafes. Thus non-implementation of activities actually required to be undertaken led to under utilization of the resources, especially at Handwara amounting to Rs. 5.04 crore. It is further revealed that non-utilization of funds received from government of India for National e-governance Plan resulted in surrender of funds to the tune of Rs. 13.84 crore. Further lack of planning in procurement of software, delay in creation of infrastructure and unplanned digitization of old records resulted in non-fulfillment of the objective of computerization within the Secretariat. This rendered an expenditure of Rs. 5.67 crore unfruitful besides idling of hardware and supporting software worth Rs. 7.69 crore for the last 6 years.
“We are surprised to learn that the funds provided by government of India for purchase of hardware and software have not been utilized by the sate government despite signing Memorandum of Understanding with the Center. Had the objectives spelt out by the Center for the programme been targeted, transparency in administration would have become visible and people would have been benefited. The administration would have remained responsive to the needs of people besides the latter would have remained completely informed about the activities of the government”, said a group of keen Watchers of Kashmir valley.
Hence people urge new Coalition to utilize funds to ensure accountability, transparency and Right to Information Act in J&K There is an urgent need of alignment of the IT policy of the State Government with National e-governance programme by Department of Information and Technology government of India. It would be ideal that an Information Technology Steering Committee is formed for better co-ordination and implementation of the projects. Moreover, available work force should be trained immediately, especially in the main Hospitals and Civil Secretariat to provide better information to the people of J&K State.
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