Odisha to come out with IT procurement policy soon

Single mobile app mooted for all govt services

The state IT department would soon come out with an IT procurement policy aimed to streamline issues related to sourcing of hardware.

"We are working on an IT procurement policy. The IT department has made a presentation on the draft procurement policy to the chief secretary and we expect to finalise it soon. The policy would contain guidelines on software, hardware, system integration and selection of consultant. The policy would be notified by the finance department," said P K Jena, state IT secretary.

Under the existing procurement norms of the government, it was not convenient to source IT hardware and hence the guidelines are being framed, he said.

The IT department is also working on a unique initiative wherein a single mobile governance app would offer the whole gamut of government services, he said.

Technology and consulting firm Accenture Services has developed five mobile governance applications - way bill for commercial tax department, bus timing tracker of Dream Team Sahara of State Transport Authority, e-admission of the higher education department, online secretariat pass of home department and electricity bill payment of Cesu for Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

"Presently, six to eight services are being offered at the common services centres (CSCs). Our objective is to ensure that more and more number of government services are brought under the mobile e-governance platform. The government departments are to be made more e-ready," Jena informed.

The Odisha Secretariat Workflow Automation System (OSWAS) has been implemented across all departments and also at the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) and Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). The OSWAS involves electronic movement and processing of government files.

It has been decided to make e-office applicable to directorate and collectorate level as well. Pilot projects have been taken up in this regard, said the IT secretary.

The IT department is confident of making Bhubaneswar a Wi-Fi enabled city within a year.

There is a proposal to rename the IT department as the department of electronics & IT. The proposal would be taken up at the next Cabinet meeting. OCAC would also be restructured.

Besides, under the central government's 'Bharat Net' scheme, broadband connectivity with speed of at lease 100 Mbps would be offered to all households in the state, Jena said.