Time for Nagaland govt. to digitize services: Governor

In this regard, Acharya suggested adopting electronic tendering system to avoid table tenders and any type of manipulations, to disburse salaries of government employees online so that bogus employees would be eliminated etc.

“There are endless ways to utilize Information and communication technologies to provide efficient and transparent solutions to citizens,” said Acharya, the chief guest at the inaugural session of the second e-Naga Summit at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima under the theme “Towards Making the State of Nagaland the next IT Hub in South East Asia”. 

Acharya also called upon revenue department to collect revenues online, to eliminate brokers. He further suggested direct linkage of Direct Benefit Transfer system to personal bank accounts of beneficiaries.

Business process Outsourcing (Call centre) should also be promoted in the state to engage the English speaking youth in a meaningful way, Acharya said.

“Even at micro level I & CT can be used as individual departments for handling workflow systems, access to entitlements, public grievances system, service delivery system such payments  of bill, tax information, provision of market information etc”, he added.

He however acknowledged that adopting IT and e-governance at the initial stages would be difficult since it requires changes in working system.

Minister Transport, IT&C P. Paiwang Konyak highlighted the achievements of the department and  said the core infrastructure project under the national e-governance Plan (NeGP) being implemented by the department consists of the state data centre, state wide Area Network, State Portal & state delivery gateway, capacity building and common service centre.

Paiwang also highlighted the 20-point vision of the department– to make Nagaland a IT hub through setting up of world class BPO/Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) for North Eastern region ad South East Asia, provide high internet bandwidth to every village panchayat and to transform Nagaland into a highly digital society through transparency and accountability.

In her address, the advisor to president of Estonia, Dr. Liia Hanni acknowledged the commitment of the state government to implement the ambitious e-governance initiatives with focus on IT&C infrastructure enhancement and citizen-centric government service delivery. She said e-Nagaland initiative was a forward-looking strategy to harness the best from modern information and communication technology.

Chief secretary Panjak Kumar in his keynote address said that the state government intends to add more e-services soon. He informed that the public consultations for smart city challenge as well as vision document 2030 has been finalized and has been carried out on e-platforms.

Staff of the department of IT&C presented special number while commissioner and secretary K.D Vizo proposed vote of thanks.

Resource persons from Estonia and from across the country, students and others attended the inaugural function.

Role of law makers: In the second session, advisor to the President of Estonia, Dr. Liia lauded Nagaland on recently being recognised by the Computer Society of India as the top performer on e-governance. She said such achievement was a boost to successfully start the journey towards Digital Society.  

Addressing at the e-Naga summit under the topic “what role can law makers play in promoting IT and e-governance”, Dr. Liia said the government has to be strong to implement such initiative and that leaders need to have vision with political will.

While pointing out that digital identity was a real architect in a society, Dr. Liia insisted that government install online voting for electoral process, and for which she said Nagaland would be able to achieve.

Founder of Estonia e-governance academy, Dr. Ivar Tallo said during the initial part of implementation, the role of leaders, political support for development of technologies and e-governance, funding and creation of legal framework was important. 

Also speaking at the summit, NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo said law makers can promote good governance through information technology through various ways like– increasing transparency, information and accountability, by facilitating accurate decision making and public participation and by enhancing the efficient delivery of public goods and services.

He also stressed on the need for online public hearings, electronic voting, feedback systems, compliant registration, signature campaigns and participation in decision-making. He said such kinds of citizen centric services Acts needed to be adopted even in Nagaland so that ordinary citizens get basic citizen centric services on time.

Transport and IT&C minister, P. Paiwang Konyak opined that legislators and bureaucrats must work together to promote one’s own department. Vital departments should introduce websites and online system for the conveniences of the public and for the safety of the government, he added.

Forest and Environment minister, Dr. Nicky Kire said “today we are living in an era of technology where everything is information based where one has become so dependent on technology”. Though it has made life easy and comfortable, he however stressed on the need to have proper cyber laws in order to avoid misuse of technology.

RD and REPA minister, C.L John said with the Act East Policy in line, it was time for Nagaland “to unleash the potentiality by networking, collaborating and initiating innovative solutions by focusing on e-governance and IT&C as an enabler for essential transformation”.

He also said regulations are needed to keep check on misuse of technologies.

Higher and Technical Education parliamentary secretary, Deo Nukhu spoke on the genesis of the department. Voicing concern like the other legislators, Nukhu also cautioned on the misuse of social media.