Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU: Though, the implementation of some announcements with regard to development of projects and achieving targets made by the Ministry of Information and Technology, Government of Jammu and Kashmir after the budget session in March 2015, are very much visible, yet the Government has failed to achieve major targets in the current year, no-doubt many projects are in pipeline and some achieved successfully.
The announcement made by the Government regarding establishment of Wi-Fi at four Tourist Spots in the State viz. Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Dal Lake Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam, is yet to be given a practical shape.
However, the reliable sources within the Ministry for Information and Technology said that the State Government has already initiated the process for initiating the work on Wi-Fi project and is waiting for the back end of the same to give it a practical shape.
The sources further said that Ministry for Information and Technology headed by PDP leader Imran Raza Ansari earlier was simply a frill or an ornament attached to the previous Government, adding that there is a different State of affairs in the present regime with regard to this Ministry as it has become broad structured and vibrant.
“The IT Department was restricted to Cyber Café in the earlier Governments and simply an idea about Information and Technology, but now it has established into a broad-based Department with concrete Ministry,” sources added.
Government had assured establishment of the IT Bhawan at Bemina and IT Parks at Gathi, Kathua, Zainakote and Budgam, however, the assurance of the Government is yet to be given a practical shape, though the developmental work on 90 crore project of IT Park at Gathi has already been initiated by the State Government, which was also given a fillip by Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh as he showed keenness in successful completion of this dream project.
For establishing IT Parks in the Valley, the State Government faced difficulty with regard to identifying land as the custodians of the land, the Airport Authorities raised questions over the development of IT Parks in that area and the Government is still in the process of identifying the land for the purpose.
Moreover, the proposal of Information and Technology Department with regard to establishing around 100 Government to citizen Electronic Services for major public dealing departments of the State is yet to be implemented in letter and spirit.
No-doubt, on October 27, 2015, Minister for IT, Molvi Imran Raza Ansari inaugurated an Android mobile application under National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM), besides launching online service for Public Service Commission (PSC), Services Selection Board (SSB) and Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE), through Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), commonly known as Common Services Centers (CSCs) or Khidmat Centers. These services will help people, especially educated youth to communicate with important institutions like PSC, SSB and BOPEE.
Apart from failures at some fronts, the State Government has succeeded in working rigorously on the AADHAR project in J&K. J&K is among the few States, which are following National Population Register (NPR) for enrolment of citizens. Out of total population of 12, 541, 302, 10, 943, 113 have been digitized by the Census Department, while 8, 067,190 have been enrolled at NPR/Aadhaar Camps across the State and out of which 64,40, 097 have been issued Aadhaar Cards. Further, in order to facilitate the enrolments, 193 Permanent Enrolment Centres (PECs) have been established in the State.
When contacted, Minister for Information & Technology, Mr Ansari said that the Government is committed to achieve major targets in IT and the efforts were on to make Jammu and Kashmir a digital hub and provide a helping hand to Govt of India’s ambitious journey of transforming Country into a digital State. He said, the State Government had aimed at setting up of 1109 Khidmat Centres in the State, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme and has succeeded in establishing all these Centres, adding that these centres have been instrumental in taking Government services to the remotest part of the State and are acting as the e-hands of the Government Departments.
“We have started the automation of State Assembly being at Jammu as well as Srinagar, besides automation of the prisons, which will automate the processes and functions of the prison department. We have almost completed computerization of the Public Distribution System. We are also in the process of automating the work of Jammu Development Authority. We have established Wi-Fi in Secretariat and are in the process of creating Wi-Fi zones in Tourist locations of our State. Work on a series of Projects is under process and it will take some time to complete the same,” informed the Minister.
He further said that his Government is on a mission to complete all the projects promised in the budget session 2015, adding that nothing can be achieved overnight and let time do the talking.
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