Ap To Have First `Electronic Govt'

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu yesterday announced here that the state-wide computer network being set up in the state will help create the country's first `electronic government'.

Electronic governance involves computerisation of different departments and move towards a paperless systems.

Addressing a luncheon session of participants at the India Economic Summit jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the World Economic Forum (WEF) Naidu said: "All state government departments, including police, irrigation and tourism, will be connected to the state-wide area network; these departments can function more effectively."

The state is joining hands with Singapore Network Systems to provide value-added services through the proposed network, he added.

Commercial taxes and all registration processes will be facilitated through the network to "make things easier for common man".

Naidu said the state would provide all assistance to private sector in investing in infrastructure projects in the state, including airports.

Krishnapatanam, Kakinada and Vodarevu ports had already been privatised, the chief minister said, adding that bid was being finalised for Gangavaram port to be developed with private sector involvement.

He said Hyderabad would be developed as an international transit hub on the lines of Singapore.

Top priority was being accorded for human resource development by setting up a number of institutes of excellence across the state, the chief minister added.

Andhra Pradesh had set the ambitious target of 100 per cent literacy within five years and village education committees were being set up towards achieving this goal.

Development of women and children in rural areas, empowerment of youth, upgradation of artisan skills and joint forest management programmes also figured prominently in the government's priorities, Naidu said.

Administration would be brought to the door step of the common man through the `Janmabhoomi' programme that envisaged community participation in all government projects, he pointed out.

Four places in the states - Hyderabad, Visakhapatanam, Tirupati and Nagarjuna Sagar - had been identified as tourism hubs with potential, Naidu revealed.

By the year 2020, the state would have witnessed a seven-fold increase in per-capita income and the creation of at least 17 to 20 million new jobs, he concluded.