Going paperless, Punjab Government is all set to become ‘e-Sarkar’ covering its all 47 departments and 143 branches with Integrated Workflow and Document Management System (IWDMS) to process common tasks online.
Consolidating its plans to ensure absolute e-governance, Punjab would also connect 22 treasuries and 74 sub-treasuries across the State with the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) to distribute and sanction budget online — claiming to become the first State in the country having status of e-Sarkar.
Under IWDMS, a dedicated web-centre of automated department specific applications (DSAs) with internal requirements have been created in both Punjab Civil Secretariats at Chandigarh particularly focusing on various reports, which are currently being collected from field offices manually. A total of 350 DSAs have been identified in all departments covering administrative areas to generate automation of MIS reports.
“This Government-to-Government service delivery system would make sure the availability of administrative services through e-Sarkar and automation of file processing, said deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who is also holding the governance reforms portfolio.
Describing it a unique initiative to streamline and bring efficiency and transparency in public functioning, Sukhbir said that a three-tier governing mechanism has been institutionalised by Punjab Infotech for effective implementation and review of this project.
“e-Sarkar would also provide for an online repository of various circulars, acts, gazette notifications, reports etc,” he said.
Sukhbir said that e-Sarkar has automated various common tasks in Secretariat functioning such as RTI, legislative Assembly questions, court cases, appointment scheduler, Visitor Pass Management System (VPMS) and various employee services including leave, salary, GPF etc. The application helps in management of court cases related to the departments through monitoring and tracking of the cases through its various stages and reminding the next date of hearing, he said.
He added that all 88 head of the departments have been enabled to distribute and sanction budget online through e-Sarkar’s IFMS by the Planning Department.
A dedicated e-payment gateway for inward remittances to state treasury for various types of taxes and fees has also developed. “e-Sarkar’s toll-free helpdesk number — 1800-419-0737 to provide dedicated support to users from 95 treasuries, sub-treasuries and 47 departments,” he said.
“Under this project, all treasuries and sub-treasuries including head office in the Finance Department has been automated for carrying out major functions for online processing such as budget preparation and allocation, DDOs bill submission, processing, accounting, deposit, strong room, PPO number generation, commuted value of pension, cyber treasury, debt management functions and interfacing with Accountant General,” he said.
