The Hindu Business Line : World Bank gives in-principle nod for $500 m support to e-governance plan

IN a move that is expected to give a fillip to the country's e-governance initiatives, the World Bank has given an in-principle nod for $500 million financial support to the national e-governance plan (NEGP).

"The Government had initiated a dialogue with the World Bank for support of the e-governance plan. In January, the bank's management gave an in-principle go ahead for $500 million financing in the first phase, with a clear understanding that if there is a need and absorptive capacity, it would be willing to upscale the support," Mr Mark Dutz, Senior Economist, Finance and Private Sector Development- South Asia Region, World Bank, said here.

He anticipated that in the next 9-12 months the bank's board would approve the amount and other modalities. The in-principle nod for $500 million is for a four-year period initially and would be extended in form of loan and credit, he added.

NEGP spearheaded by the Centre, is aimed at improving the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of Government services to citizens and businesses with the help of information and communication technology (ICT). It proposes to achieve these targets by rapid deployment and scale-up of select mission mode projects (projects with significant citizen interface); creation of national IT backbone for fast and reliable connectivity, data storage and access; integrated service centres for delivery of citizen services; and creation of Web portals for access to Government information and services.

NEGP in its current form consists of 10 functional components and 25 mission mode projects to be executed over a four-year period. An apex committee under the Cabinet Secretary is already in place for providing strategic direction. The mission mode includes projects that are to be implemented by ministries and departments at the national level, State departments as well as integrated projects that may span multiple ministries, departments and agencies.

Mr Dutz was speaking to the media at the conclusion of a two-day workshop to discuss the broad outlines of proposed national e-governance plan with the States and Union Territories, particularly the components of NEGP, selection of mission mode projects at the State level, and the proposed strategies. The workshop was organised by the Department of IT and Planning Commission.

According to a senior official in the Department of IT, based on the feedback from the workshop, guidelines for capacity building would be issued by the Government shortly.

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