Blockchain can transform e-governance: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that Blockchain can transform e-governance, and that governments must start interacting with technology providers to find a solution to put them to the best possible use.

"Communication technologies over the years have changed the world, first we connected places, then people and now we are connecting things, but Blockchain is one level up and it's not just Internet of Thing (IoT) but, it is internet of trust, internet of values and it is going to change the entire space of governance," Devendra Fadnavis said while inaugurating the Maharashtra Technology Summit (MTECH), jointly organised by FICCI and government of Maharashtra in Mumbai.

He also informed the press that Maharashtra government has unveiled its public cloud policy, which will allow all government departments to access public cloud.

This will accelerate e-governance and open up entire new area for investment by the private entrepreneurs to make available newest technologies for all the departments.

"Government of Maharashtra, for the past three years, has been trying to create an ecosystem for adopting technologies into governance. We feel that technology brings, efficiency, transparency, accountability and accessibility and that is why we have been trying to assimilate the newest technologies into all our governance. Smart cities, which needs smart and accountable governance, require strong technology backbone to provide all services and activities in an accountable and transparent manner," Fadnavis added.

The Maharashtra chief minster further invited start-ups to come up with proper solutions on governance which could become a part of the state government's governance delivery systems.

Earlier in the opening address, SVR Srinivas, Principal Secretary - IT, Government of Maharashtra said that Blockchain is a tsunami coming up.

"Since Blockchain is a new upcoming technology, industry needs supportive policies framework to bring focus on growth and development of this emerging area," President, FICCI, Rashesh Shah.

He also expressed FICCI's enthusiasm to collaborate more with the government.