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Thomas K. Thomas

The Communications Ministry wants all States to be asked to set apart and use 3 per cent of their budgetary allocations for e-governance and IT.

New Delhi , Sept. 12

IN a bid to promote e-governance, the Ministry of Communications and IT has embarked on a plan to create a common telecom infrastructure that can be shared by all departments of Union and State Governments.

As part of this project, the Ministry has proposed to create an interconnected grid of SWANs (State-Wide Area Networks) using the physical infrastructure already created by telecom operators, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.

Detailed guidelines for the creation of the grid are being worked out. Data centres for storing large volumes of information is also being planned apart from the creation of shareable community service centres throughout the country.

The Ministry is also gearing up to provide technical support and training to Ministries, departments and State Governments.

The project is on line with the UPA Government's National Common Minimum Programme, which envisages promotion of e-governance on a massive scale.

The Ministry has set a target of connecting one lakh villages within the next two to three years.

It has sought the direction of the Prime Minister to provide support to those State Governments and Ministries that are making tangible progress in the area of e-governance.

It has said that the Budgetary allocation given to the Department of Information Technology should be utilised to encourage establishment of service delivery access infrastructure apart from replication of successful e-governance projects.

The Ministry said that States and Ministries should be asked to set apart and utilise 3 per cent of their budgetary allocations for e-governance and IT as already advised by the Planning Commission.

More Stories on : E-Governance | Telecommunications

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