Goa has seen almost an 11% decrease in the user satisfaction score from
last year. Does that indicate a slowdown in efforts toward consolidation of the
ongoing e-gov initiatives?
Goa has not slowed down in user satisfaction as we are putting more effort
toward implementation of the projects which are citizen centric. The Goa
Broadband Network GBBN project initiated by the Government of Goa offers various
services of the government at the doorsteps of the citizens of Goa at an
affordable cost. This network will link all households in both urban and rural
areas. Other than that, the Government of Goa has also initiated a project named
Integrated Information Infrastructure (I3) which will bring benefits of
e-governance to residents of even the remotest areas. The Dharni project (100%
computerization of land records in Goa), the application software for all
municipal councils in Goa, Infogram deployed in all 189 village panchayats, etc
are examples of projects implemented successfully.
The Government of Goa has also initiated the ambitious project Establishment
of IT Knowledge Centre practically for census towns of Goa numbering around
forty-four. This project is aimed at building capacity wherein the disadvantaged
citizens, women and senior persons are trained to impart computer skills.
RP Pal, secretary, IT, Goa |
The objectives of the IT knowledge center will be to provide basic computer
skills to the local youth, housewives and other citizens; provide various job
oriented IT training courses, including training for the BPO operations/call
center executives; to make at least one person in each family in the state IT
literate.
As far as e-gov services for corporate organizations go, Goa performs
lowest among all states. How is the state bracing up efforts there?
Aforesaid e-governance initiatives shall provide the services/information on
real time basis through the Internet for filling applications, returns,
payments, grievances, etc.
Survey results indicate that citizens are not too satisfied with services
on education, and on the police and security front? Are there any
citizen-oriented projects in the pipeline?
Yes. At present most of projects are in the final stage and are under live
trial mode due to which perhaps the citizens are facing difficulty. Once the
projects like establishment of the IT Knowledge Center surveillance system
become operational, the impact of these projects will be felt and will satisfy
the expectations of the citizens.