MCD Launches New Software
A new software for detecting and monitoring unauthorized construction and encroachment has been launched recently by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). It has been developed by the engineering department of MCD and introduced by MCD commissioner KS Mehra at a meeting of senior officials of the civic body in the city. It is proposed that it will be first operational at the departmental level and later it will be on a website for the public. Once at the public domain, citizens can comment on the actions taken on unauthorized constructions. The software enables operation through hand-held devices or GPRS mobile phones. The devices will be with junior engineers and a special task force will detect unauthorized constructions or illegal encroachments and the information will be made available to the executive engineer responsible for taking further action.

ELCOT to Sell Sub-20 K PCs
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has decided to supply fully loaded desktops and laptops for less than Rs 20,000 per unit. It is primarily for the educational institutions within Tamil Nadu. For this initiative, it is going to work with the channel. Speaking about the same C Umashankar, MD, ELCOT, said, This move is to bring down the digital divide and offer the best quality products to the people of Tamil Nadu. It is also an attempt to increase PC penetration.

Confed-ITA welcomed ELCOTs decision. S Karthikeyan, president, Confed-ITA, said, This is an excellent move from ELCOT. We are very much interested in working closely with them and look forward to the same. We are here to take forward the interests of ELCOT.

ELCOT will also provide 100% technical support and will extend the same to the channel. We will train partners and enable them to offer all the technical support as a part of the service, without any charge, he said.

MP Sets Up Grievance Redressal System
The Government of Madhya Pradesh has plans to set up an integrated citizen facilitation service center for better public service delivery and grievance redressal. The state government will be setting up a 25-seat contact center, which is likely to serve as a call center to create a single contact number for any service rendered by the state government.

The toll free helpline number will enable citizens to record their grievances, which will automatically be routed to respective departments for their response. Using the contact center, the state government aims at implementing mechanism for a strict time-bound redressal of citizen complaints.

While the system will have the capability of requesting the calling line identification (CLI) or the automatic number identification (ANI) from the telephone system, it would also generate docket number for every complaint.

The project is expected to be up and running by May end this year. The Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) has already floated an RFP for supply, implementation, and operation of the contact center.

Lakshadweep to Digitize Anganwadis The Lakshadweep administration has decided to digitize all the eighty-seven Anganwadi centers and their various activities under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in the UT. This would help to monitor and evaluate the Anganwadi activities in the geographically isolated islands of the UT. The administrator of Lakshwadweep, BV Selvaraj, says that the digitization would integrate the program under ICDS and enhance women and child development in the country.

Ration Cards for Himachals Widows
To help citizens draw benefits under various state social welfare programs, the Himachal Pradesh government is planning to issue separate ration cards to single widows in the state. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the ration card would be a valid document to reap these benefits.

He said that the state government would make all-out efforts to provide poor and deserving widows free medical treatment in government hospitals.

In a rally of the Himachal Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan in the state, Dhumal said that the state government was aware of the social and economic problems of widows and has been initiating effective steps to deliver them justice and security.

Arunachal Automates Vehicle Registration
The Government of Arunachal Pradesh recently adopted Vahan, the computerized vehicle registration system, at the Yupia District Transport Office (DTO) in order to simplify and improve the vehicle registration process in the state. Developed by the National Informatics Center (NIC), Vahan is a smart cards-based system for issuance of registration for commercial and private vehicles. The card reader will test smart cards and prove authenticity of the registration, besides helping in identifying whether the vehicle is stolen or not.

The need for privatization of smart cards has been curtailed for the time being by giving necessary training to all transport staffs. Customized Vahan is the result of efforts by the NIC. The solution will help DTOs in registration of a vehicle, collection of road tax, issuing fitness certificate and road permits while enforcing transparency in state and central government departments.

According to transport commissioner YD Thongchi, the project it would be extended to remaining DTOs of the state as well.

Jharkhand Automates Land Records
In an effort to push e-governance to the grassroot, the Jharkhand government has computerized land records of Khatiyan and Register-II of all the nine Anchals of East Singhbhum district. The Web-enabled service aims at ensuring an efficient, accurate, and transparent delivery mechanism, along with a swift conflict resolution in ownership issues.

It would also provide electronic record of rights (RoR) to land owners at nominal rates, besides providing low cost and easily reproducible data for preservation. Kiosks have already been set up at all anchal offices to fulfill the demands of e-gov, after the completion of the computerization process.

Meanwhile, the chief minister of Jharkhand, Madhu Koda, has launched a new Web-based software, called Vasudha, at the Jamshedpur Anchal. The access to this software is role-based with provisions for biometric device for enhanced security. The new software provides auto escalation of pending transactions, auto backup facility, and unicode-based support for local language.

The solution, designed and developed by NIC, would help the state revenue officials and administrators in protecting the legal rights of the citizens.

Air Force Implements EQUOLS
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has moved to a paperless material management system with the implementation of equipment accounting online system (EQUOLS) for its inventory and stores management. Developed by IAFs accounts branch, along with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the new system will hold records of a diverse fleet of aircraft, radars, and other associated equipment. As of now, all transactions are being done manually using vouchers and manual stock record cards which has been a tedious and cumbersome task.

The EQUOLS system would enable transparency and faster transactions, and, at the same time provide online auditing and provisioning of realistic future demands.

The new system has been implemented in two phases, namely the pilot site and sense phase site. The initial implementation was at twenty-seven pilot sites and thereafter the application was installed at remaining sites.

Compiled by Urvashi Kaul
urvashik@cybermedia.co.in

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