All Bihar jails, courts, Patna HC to have video-conferencing

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi Friday said the state government has approved a scheme to provide video-conferencing facility in all the jails and courts in the state and well as Patna High Court.

"A scheme has been approved provide to video conferencing facility in all the 58 jails, 62 courts in the state and the Patna high court. The scheme would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 126 crore," Sushil Modi said.

With its implementation the accused and the witnesses of cases need not come to the courts during trial of their respective cases, he said.

Sushil Modi, who is also state's finance minister, said this at a function organised to reward those who performed well in online purchases made through GeM (Government e-Marketplace) portal.

He said that the state government's various departments have witnessed double digit growth in online purchases in the past two months. The government departments purchased goods worth Rs 46.70 crore till September 10 this year, while the figure has increased to Rs 127 crore now and goods worth Rs 32 crore are currently under process for purchase.

GeM is an end-to-end online marketplace for central and state government ministries/departments, central and state public undertakings (CPSUs & SPSUs), autonomous institutions and local bodies, for procurement of common use goods and services in transparent and efficient manner.

It is an online and cashless procedure to make purchases by government departments and PSUs.