Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 31:
The State draft Information Technology (IT) policy outlined by the Draft Committee headed by Health Commissioner O Nabakishore is waiting for approval of the Governor�s Executive Council for implementation which is planned before 2003.With a view to upgrade the State�s IT sector, the Government has also constituted a high power committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
The Committee will oversee computerization and application of IT, coordinate and monitor the effective implementation of the State IT policy, according to sources from Department of Science and Technology (DST).
The sources said that copies of the draft policy are being sent to all head of the departments of the State Government for suggestions and amendment.
The general publics are also free to go through the policy through DST, it said adding that the final draft will be forwarded to the Governor�s Executive Council for approval.
The draft policy covers vision statement of IT policy, policy objectives, institutional framework, e-governance and citizen interface, IT based human resource development, IT industry and infrastructure and action plan with milestones.
The vision statement of the policy is to transform the State into an IT driven economy and society.
Under the institutional framework, the Government will set up an IT Advisory Council which is to be constituted by representatives from the industry, Government and academia.
The Council will reportedly review the implementation of the policy and advice modifications as necessary from time to time.
Under the policy, a separate department for IT will also be set up which will act as single window agency for successful implementation and each Government department will have an IT cell.
In its action plan with milestone 2001, all government departments shall be equipped with adequate computer hardware and software for computerization of its important activities.
The Government department will upload information on the Internet for public access.
All routine communications between the Government Secretariat and departments and between departments themselves will be done through e-mail and bulletin boards, the sources said.
For this the State Government will establish a backbone of networks, Manipur Statewide Area Network (MANNET) for voice, data and video transmission and dissemination of information.
A separate budget for implementing the policy will be earmarked from the State Budget.