2.0 Mission
To help improve processes in
the Government by using computing devices, communication
systems associated electronics and software to
provide better delivery systems to the citizens.
It is very clearly understood
that IT is not an end in itself but means to provide
better quality of life to the citizens of the
State. It does not aim at merely automating existing
process but the target is to use IT to improve
overall organizational efficiency and pass the
benefits to the citizens of the State.
3.0
Objectives
Over all IT growth in the
state of Gujarat;
To create enormous new employment
opportunities in the state;
To train and develop skilled
manpower in IT;
To facilitate information
outlets at the doorstep of the common man. This
will enable people at large to access information
related to - education, i.e. technical and non
technical course offered by various institutions,
admission procedures, admission list, results
etc., health services - like various medical expertise
available at different hospitals, on line medical
services etc; transport service information -
like bus arrival and departure timings, reservation
facilities etc. Information Kiosks will also provide
the on-line delivery of various application forms
to the users irrespective of their location in
the state.
To make Government-Citizen
interface more effective, efficient and transparent;
4.0 Connectivity
State Government recognizes
the importance setting up of an elaborate network
to bring about a seamless transition between the
various computing devices currently in use in
the public domain or those, which may be put to
use in future. Government also recognizes this
network would act as core of IT infrastructure
in the State. To ensure proliferation of IT, the
department has decided to create this "information
corridor ". The core of this corridor would
be connecting the State capital right upto Taluka
headquarters by first connecting the capital to
the district headquarters .The district headquarters
would be subsequently connected to the taluka
headquarters. The State Government seeks to achieve
this end by the year 2001." Information corridor"
would be a major tool in implementing IT Policy
in the State. IT would try to create this corridor
by obtaining synergies with the existing networks
in the public domain as well. On peripheries of
this "information corridor" would be
networks supporting databases of various Government
departments as well as computerized public counters,
kiosks/information centers that will help electronic
interface of the citizens with the Government
5.0 Information
Technology in Government
The usage of IT strategies
in Government would be a key to improving processes
which will ensure better delivery system to the
citizens. This will also aim at creating transparent
Government so as to fulfill the citizens charter.
IT developments in State Government would be through
the following stages:
(a) For each department, identification
of key area on priority basis needs to be computerized
first .The criterion would be computerizing those
systems first which improve the delivery systems
for the citizens. This includes ration card, driving
license, NA permission, Sales-tax Return etc.
This is only an indicative list.
(b) By completing these data
base in a time-bound fashion and making them operational,
delivery time for the citizens will have to be
cut down demonstrably in a time-bound fashion.
(c) To create greater convenience
for the citizens, it would be imperative to create
efficient/intelligent interface, which can take
form of computer-supported counters, Kiosks etc.
The Government would strive to ensure that all
the forms required to be filled in by citizens
for interface with the Government would be available
for filling in electronically by the year 2005.
Prior to this, citizens will have access to forms
through Kiosks/other vendors by way of electronic
devices. This would be achieved by the year 2002
AD. Choices for the citizens to obtain and complete
forms by means other than electronic would also
be kept open.
The system of information Kiosks
would be the major integrators of various databases
existing with various Government departments.
Government will bring suitable legislation to
guarantee protection of citizens related information
which would be existing on various databases.
In order to ensure that there
is no duplication of data entry and thereby to
avoid confusion, the State Government would issue
multi-purpose cards to all citizens of the State.
These would be in the form of suitable smart cards.
This will ensure security to individual information
and would also provide one point coding system.
5.1 Enabling mechanism
1. All departments will prepare there IT Action
Plan, which would have a one-year focus and a
five-year perspective.
2. One percent of the State Government
budget would be committed to IT related activities
which is expected to rise to 3% in the year 2005
AD.
3. To ensure quicker availability
of funds, a separate IT sub-head would be created
within each major head. IT related funds will
not be subject to any economy measures and they
would be made available as far as practicable
in lump-sum to the departmental heads rather than
in the form of quarterly/monthly releases.
4. To oversee implementation
of IT strategies in the departments, each department
will have Chief Information Officer (CIO) who
would report directly to Secretary of the department.
Considering the nature of mobility of IT professionals,
such CIO would be recruited on contractual basis
and recruitment would be freed from encumbrances
of Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC).
5. All departments would create
shareable databases of rules and other related
information. This would include information such
as budget, recruitment/service rules, plan achievements
for various schemes etc.
6. Creation of E-mail system.
7. Creation of document imaging
system to reduce paper work.
8. Each department will create
web page within the State Government s web-site
to display grievance-handling procedure. By the
year 2001 AD, facility would be provided to citizens
for their grievances to be handled electronically
as well.
9. Certain inter-departmental
projects which have considerable significance
as being underlying feature for all other IT related
activities as well as of considerable importance
for the well being of the citizens of the State
would be given a special status of State IT Projects.
This would include projects such as disaster management
system, citizen s database, budget etc. Inter-departmental
committee to be appointed hereafter would monitor
them.
5.2 Wherewithal for achievements
Government has set up IT Department for implementation
of IT Policy. IT department should remain a very
lean department concentrating on policy aspects
as well as monitoring of the implementation of
the State IT policy.
An agency with fair amount of
autonomy would be set up for helping various players
in IT field and in implementing IT Policy. Among
other things, this organization would also select
consultants/specialists for providing services
to various Government departments/agencies under
broad framework contracts. Some of these would
include:
* Information strategy development.
* IT architecture design including network and
communication.
* Program and project management.
* Contract support system.
* Internet/intranet services.
* Computer and communication security.
* Systems audit.
* Disaster recovery.
* Outsourcing including actual running of system.
* Training.
* Testing.
This organization would also
help augment its finance from various resources
including raising from the market. Its services
to Government departments/agencies would be strictly
fees-based. It would also take up other activities
such as hardware acquisition, software development,
training etc. It will also maintain an inventory
of technological developments in the field of
IT and keep various Government agencies aware
of the same. It would also work as an agency for
identification of projects for private sector
participation and would take up the work of procurement
of private sector proponent as well in coordination
with Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board.
As mentioned above, State Government
is committed to providing resources for proliferation
of information technology. It is proposed to commit
at least 1% of the budget by 2000AD.
6.0
Private sector participation
As information technology is likely to emerge as
a major infrastructure for the State, participation
of private sector is extremely important, both from
the point view of attracting additional resources
and introducing sufficient competition so that the
focus on customer is not missed out in any case.
Private sector would participate in (1) creation
of information corridor (2) in setting up of information
kiosks (3) provision of services for creating of
database oriented services.
Private participation is encouraged for Global,
national and Regional agencies, under state IT policy,
to work in setting of high-tech cities, IT training
and educational institutions which, in turn, will
create enormous job opportunities and economic development
of the state. IT secretariat will evolve suitable
policy for private-public participation in this
area.
7.0 Attitudinal
changes and computer literacy
Introduction of IT is likely to introduce a shift
in paradigm from authoritarian paternal approach
to a facilitator/sharing one. This means it not
only changes in attitudes with respect to technology
but change in the work culture itself.
The following steps need to
be taken to bring about changes in attitudes of
the Government servants whose productivity is
sought to be improved.
* Rigorous training on computer devices and the
related hardware so that the fear of new
technology evaporates completely.
* Work system will only be more productive when
the procedures are drastically simplified and
employees are empowered. This would mean large-scale
delegation of powers. This is possible in the
new paradigm and the accountability can be easily
be fixed in the new system that are being put
in place. Government will strive to delegate greater
decision making power at the cutting edge of the
administration, in tandem with the establishment
of departmental databases, so that the middle
level is free for rigorous monitoring of budget
and performance measurement and senior management
level at the Government have more time for strategic
thought and policy formulations.
* Tiered training program where operating level
would be exposed to working of specific transaction
system, middle level to handling of Management
Information Systems (MIS) and senior level to
emerging trends in IT as rate of obsolescence
of technology in this area is very fast.
* Incentive scheme of employees who excel in IT
related areas. A specific scheme would be formulated
subsequently.
* Compulsory computer literacy for all new recruits
in the Government services. The concerned departments
in the recruitment rules would make necessary
changes to this affect.
8.0 Education
IT seeks to create a knowledge-based society and
education is the very basis for creating such a
superstructure. In fact the very success of IT initiative
whether in the Government or in the industry or
at homes would largely depend upon the extent to
which our educational system caters to the need
of trained manpower as well as bring down the fear
of technology.
Compulsory computer education would be introduced
in all the schools from class-V onwards.
* Provide Internet connectivity to all schools in
the State by 2001 AD. This would be subject to availability
of Internet connectivity in that area.
* Creation of State library networks.
* Setting up of Gujarat Institute of Information
Technology which would supply quality manpower for
hardware and software development.
* Promotion of Gujarati on computer. This would
be achieved by setting up of dedicated time bound
projects, which would develop suitable technologies
to enable greater usage of Gujarati on computer.
9.0 IT Industry
IT thrust in the public service would essentially
assume existence of a very strong IT industry in
the State. It is the endeavor of the Government
to help create new job opportunities for the youth
of the State in this sunrise industry. It would
only be possible when there is extensive use of
computer for the public services, in businesses
and in homes. Location of strong IT industry in
the State would also give a fillip to export of
IT related services and products.IT Plan submitted
by National Task Force has targeted one PC per 50
persons by 2008. State Government shall endeavor
that this target is achieved by the year 2005 AD.
9.1 Definitions
IT software means any representation or instructions,
data sound or image including source code, object
code recorded in a machine readable form and capable
of being manipulated or providing inter-connectivity
to user by means of automatic data processing
machine falling under head IT Products .
IT services is defined as any
service which results from the use of any IT software
over a system of IT products for realizing value
addition.
IT products would include computer,
digital-data communication and digital-data broadcasting
products as notified by the Ministry of Finance,
Government of India or Central Board of Excise
& Custom.
IT industry would include development
of production and services related to IT products,
IT software and IT services.
It has been the international
experiences that IT industry has developed in
the immediate rural hinterland of the cities.
Therefore, Gandhinagar has been identified as
a city in whose immediate hinterland large world
class state of art software and hardware technology
park would be developed by the year 2000 AD. By
the year 2003 AD similar parks would be developed
in Surat and Rajkot as well. These parks would
be developed in public-private partnership framework.
9.2 Fiscal Incentives
IT products, services and software produced any
where in the state would be given a special concessional
sales tax treatment. The rates of sales tax and
subsidy on fixed capital investment would be as
notified later.
9.3 State venture capital fund
State Government would set up venture capital
fund for development of IT services, IT software
and IT products. This fund would seek support
from national fund for IT ventures development
as proposed by National Task Force.
As State Government wishes that
the IT industry takes lead in the area of IT products
i.e. hardware as well, therefore, it is important
that these products are globally competitive.
In order to achieve this, dedicated air cargo
terminal would be essential for swift movement
of goods both for export and import. State Government
would carry out feasibility study for the same
and take up with Central Government the issues
of setting up of air cargo terminal at Ahmedabad
by the year 2002 in public-private partnership
framework. |
