Delhi gets Center of e-Governance

New Delhi: A Center of e-Governance (CeG) has come up in New Delhi to disseminate awareness about e-Governance initiatives in the country. The upgraded center was inaugurated by Thiru A Raja, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, in the premises of the Department of Information Technology.

Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister of State for Communications and IT was also present on the occasion. The CeG enhancement plan is a part of the 'Awareness and Communication' activity under National e-Governance Program (NeGP) and seeks to bring the achievements under NeGP under one umbrella. The center will provide the visitor an opportunity to experience different e-services as well as digitally record his/her impressions of the CeG.

Raja informed that out of the projected outlay of Rs 20,175 crore for the proposed 27 Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) under NeGP, Rs 10,622 crore has already been sanctioned for 16 MMPs.

Scindia announced that the center will provide easy access to visitors.

The CeG provides a platform for wider dissemination of awareness regarding successful e-governance initiatives in the country as well as the road map for implementation of e-governance. CeG will also undertake hosting of important seminars/conferences and other similar awareness program to reach out to the common man.

The CeG showcases applications, demonstrations and presentations that reflect the progress achieved in the implementation and usage of e-governance. It covers successful and high impact e-Gov applications and content based on improved citizen service delivery, innovativeness, cost effectiveness and overall impact in fulfilling developmental objectives of the government.

Also displayed are various social sector initiatives relating to health and education. Aesthetically designed with high-tech display systems and visitor-friendly functionality with kiosks that offer demonstration of e-services to the cognoscenti as well as the curious citizen, the CeG represents the promise of making technology relevant to the 'common man'.

Display formats, Internet-enabled conference areas, arrangements for digital library, video conferencing facilities as well as a conference hall are some of the features. Bilingual messages and simple bench-type seating seeks to reassure the rural visitors when they view films on a large video wall.

Common citizens, students, policymakers, strategists, experts and media persons from all over the world frequent the CeG to learn and share experiences and insights on e-governance. The redesigned and refurbished CeG is expected to gain the stature of a global reference point and will serve the twin purposes of educating and awareness building.

The center will promote and demonstrate e-governance concepts, showcase the achievements and build a repository and knowledge system for e-governance. While advances in technology appear exciting, they become relevant to e-governance only after they pass the test of mass applicability.

CeG is a showcase of possibilities in the arena of e-governance. It includes both tested and nascent technology solutions that will improve the delivery of government services to citizens for the betterment of the society. The center will be a dynamic platform and will demonstrate all e-governance applications and technologies for the benefit of the citizens and society.

The NeGP with its MMPs is making all government services accessible to the common man in his locality, through common service delivery outlets and is ensuring efficiency, transparency and reliability of such services at affordable costs to realize the basic needs of the common man. This plan, being implemented in a Mission Mode is reaching out to all people. In essence, NeGP aims at not only assisted digital inclusion but also social and economic inclusions of all citizens by empowering them through information and knowledge.

The NeGP is utilizing information and communication technology to empower people by providing all services to citizens, at all places on a 24x7 basis.