Centre approves scheme to boost e-governance in states

New Delhi, Jan 24 (UNI) The Centre today decided to set up "Data Centres" across all states and Union Territories at a cost of Rs 1623.20 crore as part of the establishment of the core infrastructure for the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gave its approval for the "State Data Centre Scheme" which will enable the 29 states and six UTs to set up highly reliable, robust, shared and secure infrastructure to host state-level e-governance applications.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told mediapersons that the Centre would provide technical and financial support to the states and UTs for setting up State Data Centres.

He said the scheme would have an outlay of Rs 1623.20 crore which includes both capital and operational expenses for a period of five years.

Mr Dasmunsi said the scheme would provide state-level e-Governance applications to deliver government to government, government to citizen and government to business services electronically.

He said the scheme would be implemented in a period of 12 months from the date of approval of individual state data centres based on proposals from the states.

The CCEA also gave its approval for the implementation of the going Plan Scheme for creation of consumer awareness during the eleventh plan period (2007-2012).

The campaign would be undertaken through the print, electronic, outdoor and other media covering the entire country.

Mr Dasmunsi said the awareness would help in emergence of consumers who irrespective of age, socio-economic class or gender are empowered enough to make free, fair and informed choices of products or services with the help of information, standards and safeguards that are available, accessible and responsive.

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