Chhattisgarh won the second prize in thee-Panchayat award scheme for 2014, initiated by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj for use of Information Technology in Panchayat works to promote e-Governance.
Chief Minister Raman Singh congratulated Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar, the officers and employees of the department besides office-bearers of Panchayati Raj institutions and rural people of the State for the award.
It is worth mentioning that Chhattisgarh had also won the second prize under the national e-Panchayat award scheme in 2012. Joint Secretary of Union Ministry for Panchayati Raj Sushil Kumar has informed the Additional Chief Secretary of Panchayat and Rural Development Department MK Raut about selection of the State for the second prize of `30 lakh for 2014 through a letter, officials said.
In Chhattisgarh, the affairs of Gram Panchayats has been made online through internet and to maintain transparency in work even the vouchers related to expenditure are been uploaded on the website, the officials stated.
The income-expenditure of the gram panchayats is being uploaded on website with help of ‘Priya’ a software in order to proper information about financial management of the panchayats to the people.
The officers of Panchayat and Rural Development Department said that Chhattisgarh is the first State to set up VSAT and install computers at Janpad Panchayat (Development Block) level to attach the services through internet. All the 27 districts of the State are using 11 softwares including Priya under the e-Panchayat scheme.
This includes administrative directory. The area profiler software collects information about socio-economic status, infrastructure and staff besides elected representatives of the gram panchayats, Janapad Panchayat, Zila Panchayat and urban bodies.
The action software is used to upload information about various approved schemes and constructions works. Social audit and meeting software is related to activities for social audit of panchayats and its meetings. The Chhattisgarh is also linked with the national panchayat portal, the officials claimed.