To ensure paperless and hassle-free Governance in Punjab, deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Friday launched an e-District project announcing that the State would be able to deliver citizen-centric services online within nine months.
Inaugurating the e-District office project in Mansa at the cost of `41.70 crore, Sukhbir announced that Punjab was all set “to deliver citizen-centric services online in all districts within a stipulated period of nine months at the cost of `60.97 crore as Reliance would launch its 4G services in next six months”.
Under this project, as many as 1,500 offices from all over the State would be inter-connected with Punjab Wide Area Network (PAWAN) and more than 8,000 Government employees would be imparted computer training, he said, adding that the State Government would provide all delivery of services online.
Stating that such a service will also check corruption, Sukhbir said: “Corruption takes place when common man comes in contact with Government official. With e-District project, there will be no interaction between them.”
Describing the e-District project as a “milestone”, he said that the aim of the project is to deliver good Governance, maintain transparency and execute accountability. “Under the project, citizens would be able to track files and their status anywhere and anytime,” he said.
At least 47 public services such as getting certificates for caste, residence, birth, marriage, arms, besides ration card, pensions, Government dues will be much easier, he said.
Sukhbir added that Punjab is the first State in the country to launch highest number of citizen services under e-District project and Punjab has bagged the ‘Skoch Order of Merit’ medal in India’s best 2013 projects.
Pilot projects for the same had been earlier implemented in Kapurthala and SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr) districts of the State. Deputy Chief Minister has also asked the Governance Reforms Department Secretary C Raul to add more services under e-District project like Right to Service Act.