Odisha pushes frontier of 'digital governance' as CM Naveen chairs first-of-its-kind Digital Cabinet

Odisha Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, took some key decisions in the first 'Digital Cabinet' during his ongoing visit to Japan. CM Patnaik is leading a high-level delegation to attract investment to Odisha.

The Chief Minister officiated the digital Cabinet meeting from the Japanese city of Kyoto, 6,000 km away from Odisha, while his Cabinet colleagues joined in the special meeting remotely. This is first such digital Cabinet meeting wherein the Chief Minister held the meeting from a foreign location with files processed and documents signed through the Odisha State Wide Area Network (OSWAN), entirely through digital mode.

The Cabinet ministers discussed the decisions threadbare before giving nod to the decisions on digitally, leveraging this unique platform.

CM Patnaik said, "We have been pioneers in leveraging latest technology as part of our 5T charter to improve the effectiveness of the governance systems and delivery of public services. Technology has served as an enabling tool in transforming delivery of good governance and public goods and services."

"Technology now allows governance delivery on the go. Technology has eliminated the need for physical presence in a collaborative environment within the government. This Digital Cabinet pushes the boundary of technology and speed of governance," the CM added.

OSWAN is the critical information technology backbone of the State which can facilitate carrying data, video and voice traffic, facilitating inter/intra-departmental communication and data sharing. The innovative platform enables government officials to collaborate on documents, share feedback, and track changes in real-time, making it easier to work together on projects and initiatives.