The Hindu Business Line : Plan panel seeks IBRD funding for e-governance

Mr K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, with Dr Michael F. Carter, Country Director-India, World Bank, at a national summit on `India-The Knowledge Capital; Theme: E-Governance-Transforming India' in the Capital on Tuesday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Feb. 17

THE Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr K.C. Pant, on Tuesday sought funding and suggestions from multilateral agencies like the World Bank and the Indian industry to put in place the concept of e-governance in India.

Inaugurating the seminar on "E-Governance-Transforming India,'' jointly organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) and the World Bank here, Mr Pant disclosed that the empowered sub-committee of the National Development Council (NDC) is currently formulating concrete proposals for the draft e-governance policy.

The sub-committee is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and the Planning Commission will have a pivotal role to play before finalising the new draft policy.

He, therefore, called upon the industry to submit its ideas and suggestions to enable the commission to incorporate its views in the proposed policy.

Mr Pant supported the idea of implementing the concept of e-governance on a national level for which the requirement of funds would be immense.

He, therefore, mooted the idea of possible pooling of resources from the Indian Government, private sector, NGOs, financial institutions and the World Bank.

Mr Pant was of the firm view that the World Bank could play a major role in financing the e-governance initiatives that the Government of India wanted to undertake.

Meanwhile, the World Bank Country Director, Mr Michael Carter, in his theme presentation said that the application of IT in Government processes, e-governance in short, could have a profound impact on the efficiency, responsiveness and accountability of the Government and its citizens.

He said that not only the quality of governance would improve with its implementation, but also the economic output and growth of the country as a whole would go up.