With an aim to build a robust and citizen-centric administrative framework to ensure a more accessible, efficient, and transparent government experience for the citizens, Punjab Government will soon set up its own ‘Software Development Cell’ for managing all IT and e-Governance projects for the State Government’s departments.

The path-breaking decision was taken in the Board of Governors (BoG) meeting of Punjab State e-Governance Society (PSeGS) held under the chairmanship of Punjab Governance Reforms Minister Aman Arora on Wednesday.

Arora said that this dedicated Software Development Cell will be established under PSeGS, which will develop and deploy various software applications for the State Government’s departments, ranging from citizen portals for online services to internal government workflow management systems.

It will also take various e-governance initiatives including implementation of Government of India (GoI) projects aiming to deliver government services electronically to citizens and business, besides offering IT consultancy and support services to government departments, helping them adopt new technologies and improve their IT capabilities, he added.

The Minister said that this initiative will allow the state departments to directly allocate projects to PSeGS, besides ensuring efficient project delivery and data security. It would ultimately lead to a more efficient and technology-driven government. The PSeGS will also ensure project planning, execution and monitoring, while ensuring data ownership and security.

Arora also appreciated PSeGS officials for their dedication and hard work in implementation of critical IT and e-governance projects including e-Sewa, the Online Admission Portal, PGRS (Public Grievance Redressal System), Connect Portal, M-Sewa, RTI Portal, Camp management software, departmental websites, and the effective functioning of Sewa Kendras.

The meeting also focused on various ongoing initiatives spearheaded by PSeGS in the areas of Information Technology (IT), e-governance and the state's strategic implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies to enhance governance efficiency and citizen service delivery.

The BoG meeting also emphasized the exploration of new avenues for citizen engagement and initiate projects utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and explore the potential of delivering services through popular platforms like WhatsApp and ChatBots.