'Fibre optic connectivity to panchayats will improve governance'

Fibre optic connectivity to the panchayats will help improve the service delivery mechanism and bring efficiency to poverty alleviation programmes, the Orissa govenrment said on WEdnesday.

The fibre optic network will serve as an information super highway connecting to various sectors such as education, agriculture, health and others, it was observed at a meeting here between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the state government's technology advisor Sam Pitroda.

Welcoming Pitroda for accepting to work as technology advisor in the state, the chief minister said the state government is keen to improve its public service delivery mechanism.

All the departments have been asked to spend at least two percent of their plan budget for electronic enabled service delivery to the citizens as enacted under Right to Public Service Delivery Act.

Patnaik also sought the cooperation of Pitroda in skill development sector for making the youth industry ready.

Pitroda said the state government will first assess the present status of the state connectivity and then will make plans for the future.

He expressed confidence that there will be a significant change in the technology front of the state.

He said the IT will be used for improving education, agriculture, health, poverty alleviation and other sectors by digitally connecting those sectors.

"I have clarity in my mind. But there should evolve consensus. It cannot be my plan. It has to be plan of people of Odisha," said Pitroda.

Earlier in the day, Pitroda held discussion with seven departments and their ministers to chalk out plans for facilitating various services through information technology.