E-Governance

MCC shortlists six software developers for online foray

Saturday, 14 December 2013 05:03 administrator

The Hindu 14.12.2013

MCC shortlists six software developers for online foray

Special Correspondent

The Mangalore City Corporation has taken one more step in introducing online filing of property tax returns and filing applications for trade licence. It has short-listed six companies for developing the two software programmes.

Sources in the corporation said that eight companies had responded to the expression of interest called on October 10 to develop the software for filing property tax returns online. Similarly, of the seven responders for preparing software for filing web-based trade licence, three have been short-listed.

After studying their request for proposal (RFP) documents and financial proposals, two companies would be selected for developing the two software programmes, sources said.

They said that the corporation would not phase out the manual system of filing in both the cases. The online system of filing would be introduced as an option.

Sources said that before calling the expression of interest, the civic body got a test software done by a private agency, to ascertain if the proposal of online filing of property tax returns could be implemented. Bolar ward, which has 1,800 properties, was chosen for the experiment.

Once the company developed the software for filing property tax returns, it might have to provide technical support for one year and upload data since 2008-09.

Online mutation now a reality in Bokaro

Friday, 13 December 2013 11:30 administrator

The Times of India 13.12.2013

Online mutation now a reality in Bokaro

BOKARO: Paving the way for a transparent and effective system for maintenance of land records, deputy commissioner of Bokaro Uma Shanker Singh on Thursday launched an online mutation of lands in one of the blocks at the district collectorate building here.

With this, Bokaro became one of the five districts in the state where digitization of land records have been initiated. The online system will help check unfair practices related to land and expedite the process of mutation. Mutation signifies recording of land records. It is a mandatory process, which entails the transfer of title of a property from one person to another.

The system will facilitate the revenue department to make records of lands online. The mechanism will not only lessen paper work, but also help residents apply online and get their mutation done within a stipulated duration. "We have begun with Chandrapura block and the process to include the other eight blocks is on. The system will become completely functional in all the nine blocks within four months," said Singh.

Singh added that this system will bring a full stop to manipulation of land records. "We usually come across complaints related to manipulation of land records done with the connivance of junior staff to benefit builders and other affluent persons. Many government lands were also occupied by manipulating records," said Singh.

In the past few years, Bokaro has witnessed rampant acquisition of government and forest lands through unfair means, which raises the concern of the administration. However, Singh said the system will also help reducing crime in the district. "In Bokaro, we found that a great number of crimes took place due to land dispute. The online mutation system will bring authenticity and reduce such crimes," said Singh.

Singh accompanied by additional collector Ashok Khaitan during the launch, performed the first online mutation of 60 decimal land of Mohammad Samim in Chandrapura block.

Birth, death registration to go online: Collector

Friday, 13 December 2013 05:48 administrator

The Hindu 13.12.2013

Birth, death registration to go online: Collector

District Collector S. Suresh Kumar at a review meeting at Guntur Municipal Corporation on Thursday.

On-line registration of date of birth and death would soon be a reality in GMC area, District Collector and Special Officer of GMC S. Suresh Kumar said on Thursday.

At a review meeting held here, Mr. Suresh Kumar said that registration of births would be made possible at the health centre/hospitals through on line. Each centre would be provided with a user ID and password with which the centres could upload details of the birth, the name of father, date of birth and place of birth etc. Similarly, registration of date of death certificates could also be done by the hospitals themselves.

People seeking a date of birth certificate had been forced to wait for 15 days before they could get the certificates. Personnel from the GMC have been collecting details of births/deaths manually from the hospitals and this would change once the online registration begins. Residents could get the certificates from the Meeseva centres.

Special software would be designed for the purpose and training programme would be held for hospital personnel. The Collector also said that the basic infrastructure in GMC schools would be put in place soon. He asked the GMC officials to provide drinking water, toilets and benches in all schools before the next academic year begins. He asked the Education Officer to take measures to improve the record of pass percentage.

Reviewing the developmental works, Mr. Suresh Kumar said that Rs.12 crore worth works have yet to begin after work orders were issued and asked the engineering personnel to complete the works as soon as possible. Municipal Commissioner K. Venkateswarlu, Additional Commissioner P. Srinivasalu, Superintendent Engineer, Adiseshu, Incharge City Planner Vijay Kumar were present.

Private players to manage e-governance

Wednesday, 11 December 2013 05:43 administrator

The Hindu 11.12.2013

Private players to manage e-governance

N.J. Nair

Civic bodies told to part with database developed by IKM

Moves are reportedly afoot for handing over the management of the e-governance system in urban local bodies to private IT majors in phases.

Local Self-Government Department sources told The Hindu here on Tuesday that Kochi Corporation had taken the lead by roping in a prominent company for Rs.9 crore and high-level consultations were completed of late for bringing another IT company to manage the e-governance system of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation at a cost of Rs.13 crore. Civic bodies have been told to part with the database painstakingly developed by the Information Kerala Mission (IKM) to the private players on striking the deal.

More urban civic bodies will soon relinquish the decentralised IT architecture developed by the IKM to suit their needs following the devolution of powers and will switch over to the private service providers who lend their support at exorbitant rates. This would be a drain on the exchequer and also affect the quality of services now being offered by the civic bodies at present. Edging out the IKM would go against the spirit of decentralisation of powers to civic bodies, the sources said.

Central aid

The changeover is being expedited on the premise that it is mandatory for securing Central government assistance apportioned for computerisation of civic bodies. Despite its minor infirmities, the IT applications developed by the IKM, Sevana for civil registration, Sulekha for preparing Plan projects, and Sankya for accounting in LSGIs have been found to be user-friendly and cost-effective and had eased the problems faced by the public in registering births, deaths and marriages, pension disbursal and also streamlining the accounting system.

The mission had been offering a variety of services and, more importantly, periodical software upgradation and maintenance at negligible rates. At the same time, on completing the assigned task, private players tend to demand substantial fees for attending to the technical problems that arise in the course of implementing a software and also for making periodical changes to meet the emerging needs, the sources said.

Earlier experiments involving private companies in managing the accounts of civic bodies were proved to be a failure and the IKM had to strive hard for putting it back on the rails.

Rather than going in for a thorough changeover, the State government should have taken the lead to give due technical support for strengthening the IKM and address the minor glitches being reported by its clients, the sources said.

E-tenders Invited for Road Works

Tuesday, 10 December 2013 08:54 administrator

The New Indian Express 10.12.2013

Making a remarkable stride in e-governance, the City Corporation has, for the first time, moved for calling e-tenders. Initially, the e-tender has been invited for road works in 10 sections under the civic body. Alongside, the normal tendering process is also followed.

“All works under the public works section will, from now on, be under the e-tendering process. Based on legal advice, the usual method will go hand-in-hand,” said Works Standing Committee chairman of the City Corporation V S Padmakumar. Contractors can obtain the tender forms till December 16 and the last date for submitting the forms will be December 17.

The City Corporation is all set to implement the e-tender process for all works above Rs 5 lakh. Towards ensuring its smooth functioning, training was provided for the officials, councillors and contractors in the city well ahead of the launch.

“The e-tender will ease the effort of the contractors as they can sit at home and carry out the procedures. There are also facilities to pay the amounts applicable online. Transparency would be ensured in the process,” said Deputy Mayor G Happykumar.

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