The Hindu 09.12.2013
Techies to aid urban governance
Plans for contest on Anna University campus in Chennai
With the idea of improving urban governance in the
State, the office of the commissioner of municipal administration has
decided to seek ideas from IT professionals.
It has
planned to hold a contest on the Anna University campus on December 14
and 15. Inputs from the professionals will be utilised to develop
e-governance applications for 126 municipalities and nine municipal
corporations (barring Chennai), in areas such as civic services, urban
sanitation and hygiene, solid waste management, health, education and
the internal working of urban local bodies.
Called
‘Hackathon,’ the contest is expected to see participation of ‘hundreds
of IT professionals,’ according to Chandrakanth Kamble, commissioner of
municipal administration.
A jury comprising
academicians of Anna University and seasoned civil servants will choose
the best ideas, for which prizes will be given on the second day of the
event.
Mr. Kamble told reporters on Friday that given
the increasing use of mobile phones and advancements in mobile phone
technology, the proposed applications would be integrated with the
existing framework of delivery of services, so citizens could avail of
services in a simplified manner on an anytime-anywhere basis.
It
had been proposed to take up a comprehensive e-governance project under
the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, for which bids had
been floated. After executing pilot projects in one municipality and
one municipal corporation, the project was likely to be rolled out
within six to nine months.
Mr. Kamble said 200
persons had enrolled themselves for the event, so far. Those interested
can register on http://www.thoughtworks.com/events/cma-hac
kathon-code-governance.