Implementation of e-governance prog to be speeded up: A Raja

Chennai, May 12 (UNI) Union Minister of Communication and Information Technology A Raja today informed that the proposed Rs 40,000 crore e-governance programme would be implemented at a faster pace.

Speaking at the fundation stone laying ceremony of C-DAC Innovation Centre at Anna University here, he said as part of the e-governance programme, the Centre would be setting up one lakh Community Service Centre (CSC) across the country in all Panchayat centres.

''The project of setting up the CSCs would be completed within five years,'' he said, adding these CSCs would have a hightech internet facility.

He said all the information, including the details of ration cards, income certificates, State and Central Government information, and railways and air reservation would be available in these CSCs.

Mr Raja also pointed out that Tamil Nadu was the first state to set up the CSC. The state had set up the centres in Ariyalur and Perambalur districts.

Asked how many computer systems would be installed in a CSC, he said ''it depends upon the requirement and the area.'' He said Indian IT industry had been one of the greatest success stories of modern India. The contribution of IT industry to the country's GDP had grown from 1.2 per cent in 1999 to 5.2 per cent in 2007.

''In order to sustain the growth and withstand international competitiveness, we need to invest in R and D and foster innovation in ICT technologies,'' he said, adding ''we are looking at adding additional measures to do so.'' UNI SNR SJ RL KN2045