Srinagar, Aug 20: Jammu and Kashmir would be the second state in the country to have e-governance as the state government, headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today decided to go high-tech from October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti this year. The decision to launch e-governance was taken at a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister here. State Minister of Information and Technology Nawang Rigzin, Chief Secretary S S Bloeria and Financial Commissioner M S Pandit were also present at the meeting.

A committee headed by Chief Secretary has been constituted to oversee the implementation and ensure launching of the project as per schedule. The Financial Commissioner, Principal Secretaries of Planning and General Administration Department, Commissioner Secretary Information Technology and Special Secretary to CM will be members of the committee, an official spokesman said. The Chief Minister will also seek progress report on the implementation of the project on monthly basis, he added.

At the outset of the project, four departments in the secretariat - IT, Science and Technology, Tourism and General Administration Department - have been take up for smart governance project, the spokesman said, adding the Chief Minister ordered inclusion of Information Department also for implementation of the e-governance in the first instance. The Chief Minister will also have the facility of video conferencing in his office as part of the project, he said.

An expert from Tata Consultancy Services, which is implementing the project, Chandrashakhar said Jammu and Kashmir will be the second state after Andhra Pradesh to implement this hi-tech project and in a way would be pioneering in implementing this technology.

Bureau Report