PHDCCI to come up with e-governance solution

New Delhi, June 8 (UNI) Aimed at removing inter-state trade barriers, empowering citizens and making government-citizen interface less cumbersome, industry body PHDCCI is working towards evolving an integrated e-Governance solution in the north Indian states.

As a part of its on-going initiatives to create a Northern India Common Economy (NICE), PHDCCI has brought out a concept paper on 'e-Governance-An Integrated Plan' for discussion with the policy makers at the centre, states and the industry.

''The current approach of the state governments is to develop its own portal compiling available information, which is purely state-focused. We are trying to evolve an on-line portal for the entire region, which will provide public services to the citizens in towns and villages alike,'' said PHDCCI President Sanjay Bhatia.

It will be a single window referral point for potential investors, domestic and international traders, citizens, researchers etc. redefining the digital landscape of the northern region and will give it adequate mind share in the global IT sphere, Mr Bhatia added.

''We are collating responses from the States and experts and are discussing with industry the broad contours of this Information Gateway, which will be an on-line portal providing mind boggling depth and variety of services.'' The e-Governance Grid is the provision for a Citizens' Service Portal for each state, which will empower the citizens to access the basic information, rules, regulations, procedures etc in order to avoid drudgery and loss of time.

The state portals will be connected to common data Centre, providing data sharing among the states on every aspect of industry and trade.

This would make the movement of goods and services easy and hassle free within the region. Apart from reducing the delay of the vehicles at the check posts and eliminating corruption, such practices will help security screening of goods hauled.

PHDCCI said the integrated e-Governance solution will have many positive spin-offs for the people at large. It can help develop digitisation in the region, barring some isolated pockets, which is perceived to be much lower compared to the southern states.

It will also help 'wiring' the factories, mandis, check posts, government offices, land revenue collection centres, educational institutions etc.

This will enhance the productivity of the industry, enhance inter-state trade, swift movement of goods from surplus to scarce areas along with creating employment.

The project will be developed in the entire north particularly Shimla, Mussorie, Dehra Dun Srinagar etc as ideal IT destinations for setting up call centres, development of software and back office operations.

UNI