Egov Celebrating 150th magazine issue part 2 Since 2005 :: August 2017

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As egov magazine has been documenting the journey of e-governance in the country since 2005, the overwhelming response to its 150th issue from all sectors has inspired us to bring out its Part II to accommodate and feature a few more prominent dimensions and distinguished personalities.

It maybe noted we had started off to document the e-governance initiatives by visiting various parts of the country. We also started inviting international e-government / e-governance experts to write on what journey of e-governance is expected to happen in India.

The aim was to start a dialogue between various key stakeholders of egov ecosystem -- government, technology providers, civil society, academia and citizens on how IT can help transform citizen services in the country. We also intended to document best practices so that each government organisation does not have to reinvent the wheel.

We felt that there was a need of creating a face-to-face platform for the egov community and that's how our eINDIA conference was born. The eINDIA conferences received tremendous response over the years and they became a key platform of the country for dialogue on e-governance between various State governments, Central government departments, private sector and other stakeholders.

As we launched the magazine, we realised we needed to be present online too to reach out the larger global audience. We started our egov website with just magazine's content. Later, news items, exclusive stories, trends and policies on e-governance were getting updated, which results into more than 7 million hits on our website.

In this latest issue, our cover story “Lucknow - From An Art City to Smart City” talks about the Smart Cities projects converting Lucknow, the City of Nawabs, into a world-class Smart City by effective change from nearly all dimensions of life and administrative reforms.

Also, with Yogi Adityanath taking the reins in Uttar Pradesh following a resounding victory in polls, there has been a big curiosity to know how the new leadership is set to fair in bringing the muchneeded succor to the general public. Our special story “Governance in Uttar Pradesh Gaining a New Recognition” examines how under new ruling party an effective transformation is being ensured using ICT for good governance and fast justice.

The latest issue features interviews of key policymakers who are the real heroes behind the big transformation occurring under Yogi’s dynamic leadership. They include Pravir Kumar, Chairman, Board of Revenue, Government of Uttar Pradesh and Anil Garg, Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow and Chairman, Lucknow Smart City Limited; and key policy makers.

Municipal Commissioners of Agra, Aligarh and Moradabad have also shared the vision of their cities in the Smart Cities Mission.

This Part II of 150th issue of e-gov is also featuring key decision makers like R Chandrashekhar, President of NASSCOM, sharing his views on Digital India, rise of Digital India post-demonetisation and country’s digital future. From the North-East India, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Commissioner & Secretary, Urban Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya; Dr C Vanlalramsanga, Secretary, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department, Government of Mizoram, have shared the visionary IT policy of their States.

The issue carries special article written by Sarvesh Kaushal, Special Chief Secretary of Punjab and interview of Ravneet Cheema, Commissioner, Dehradun Municipal Corporation, and Dr Omkar Rai of Sofware Technology Parks of India. Also featured are industry leaders like Aseem Joshi of Honeywell Building Solutions, Anand Ramamoorthy of McAfee, and Rana Gupta of Gemalto.

It is hoped readers will find this magazine insightful on e-governance initiatives being expedited in the country.

Also, continuing with our spirit of holding 100 Smart City summits, this 2nd Smart City Summit, Lucknow, being held on 17th August, is the 21st Smart City Summit organised by Elets Technomedia.

Looking forward to our readers’ invaluable feedback.

INTERVIEWS This section highlights various stakeholders, bureaucrats and policy makers influencing governance in the country.

DR RAVI GUPTA Editor-in-Chief, eGov magazine and CEO, Elets Technomedia Pvt Ltd

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CONTENTS

India's first magazine on e-Governance since 2005 Celebrates 150th issue

August 2017 | Volume 13 | Issue 08

COVER STORY

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EGOV 150TH ISSUE CELEBRATION PART-2

42 Ravi Shankar Prasad

Minister of Electronics & IT, Government of India

Lucknow from City of Art to Smart City

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SPECIAL STORY

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

LEADER’S PERSPECTIVE

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Minister of State for Minority Affairs (I/C)

Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe

Member of Parliament National Vice-President Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

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SMART CITY PERSPECTIVE FROM NORTH-EAST

TELANGANA PERSPECTIVE

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20 Governance in Uttar Pradesh Gaining A New Recognition

SMART CITY LUCKNOW

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Pravir Kumar

Chairman of Board of Revenue, UP

24 Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow & Chairman, Lucknow Smart City Limited

38 P K Srivastava

Additional Commissioner, LMC & Additional CEO, Lucknow Smart City Limited

Commissioner, Electronic Service Delivery and Mee Seva, Government of Telangana

Commissioner & Secretary, Urban Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya

60 Dr C Vanlalramsanga

Secretary, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department, Government of Mizoram

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Anil Garg

GT Venkateshwara Rao

Fredrick Roy Kharkongar

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Rana Gupta

Vice-President, APAC Sales, Gemalto

CONFERENCE REPORT

81 43

Smart City Summit, Raipur

86 eINDIA, Jaipur

LEADER'S VISION

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74 Aseem Joshi

Regional General Manager, Honeywell Building Solutions

PSU PERSPECTIVE ON SMART CITIES EIL

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76 Anand Ramamoorthy

Managing Director, South Asia, McAfee

R Chandrashekhar

President, NASSCOM

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ADVERTORIAL

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COVER STORY

Lucknow

Lucknow, the City of Nawabs, carries its age-old charm till date with a combination of cultural attractions and the newly acquired tag of ‘Smart City’.

The city today appears marching ahead in various developmental areas paving the way for growth of all, writes Priyanka Sharma of Elets News Network (ENN).

from City of Art to Smart City

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COVER STORY

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he Uttar Pradesh government wants to improve the resource management of Lucknow, which was selected in the second round of Smart Cities Mission, by adding connectivity and intelligence within the existing infrastructure.

Lucknow’s projects have been planned in such a way that they lead to development of a clean, green and efficient city, which is a citizen- centric with a modern economy and outlook.

Lucknow Smart City is being developed on the basis of four key themes -Jeevant Lucknow (Liveable), Sugam Lucknow (Mobility), Sugam Lucknow (Mobility), Swachh Lucknow (Clean) and Samruddh Lucknow (Prosperous).

Jeevant Lucknow (Liveable): To provide better quality of life to the people of Lucknow, physical and social infrastructure is being developed.

Sugam Lucknow (Mobility): Being an old city, Lucknow is facing transportation problem. For this, smart traffic solutions are being implemented in the city. This is being done in line with the Area Based Development (ADB) and city development programmes. The city administration is also developing smart mobility solutions (smart bus shelters, smart parking solutions etc.) to focus on providing better movement of traffic, encouraging walkability and cyclability for commuters ease.

Swachh Lucknow (Clean): In sync with the Swachh Bharat Mission of the Government of India, Uttar Pradesh and especially its capital Lucknow is trying to improve its Swachh Ranking.

In the 2017 ranking of the cities on the basis of cleanliness, Lucknow didn’t find a spot in the top 100 clean cities of India.

Samruddh Lucknow (Prosperous): Lucknow is trying to increase the tourism by focusing on its rich heritage,

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Chota Imambada.

culture, handicraft, cuisine and connectivity.

Some of the projects which the city is undertaking to transform itself into a smart city are:

Smart City Surveillance Project Entitled Drishti, this programme has already been implemented in the city.

The project is one of the fastest implemented projects for any police department in India. With state-ofthe-art Command and Control Centre for 24x7 monitoring of CCTV cameras, the idea is to create a ‘Safe’ Smart City.

“The project has been acknowledged as one of the fastest implemented projects for any police department in India. It also helps in monitoring the traffic jams and red light violations. We are further going to increase the number of cameras,” says Anil Garg, Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow; and Chairman, Lucknow Smart City Limited.

The project is making use of 280 IP CCTVs, Automatic Number Plate

Recognition System (ANPR), Video Analytics, Mobile Surveillance System, Command Control Centre and Data Centre with the objective of controlling crime in the city. A total of 70 vulnerable points of the city are already covered under the project. Emphasis has been laid on entry and exit points in the city, VVIP areas, and all critical and sensitive locations.

Online Grievance Redressal System For effective tackling of the consumers complaints, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has started Intelligence Gathering and Retrieval System (IGRS)- an integrated system for grievance redressal-so that good governance could be provided to citizens.

Filing a police complaint has been made easy, courtesy a single government platform ‘Jan Sunwai’ (jansunwai.up.nic.in) to ensure all complaints filed on it are duly addressed in terms of time and satisfaction

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COVER STORY The State government has also launched a mobile app for registering citizens’ grievances/suggestions, linked to Jan Sunwai (IGRS) portal.

Each complaint is provided a reference number through which a citizen can use to track progress of grievances, send reminders and give feedback after disposal.

After successful registration, the reference will be automatically forwarded to the concerned officer for redressal.

UP 100 - Police Emergency Management System To provide integrated emergency services, UP 100 has come into being to provide safety and help to citizens round-the-clock.

A contact centre, running from Lucknow, receives emergency calls from across the State, including remote rural areas.

Anybody can avail this service over phone , via emails and social media etc.

All the response vehicles are controlled by this control centre.

It is targetted to reach the caller within 15 minutes in the city areas and 20 minutes in rural areas, mostly.

Women Help Line - 1090 The app-based service, the helpline of ‘1090’ is dedicated solely to women complaints. It is a toll-free number meant to provide immediate help to women faced with a crisis.

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River Front Water Show

To provide integrated emergency services, UP 100 has come into being providing safety and aid to citizens round-the-clock.

Solid Waste Management System By incorporating ICT-based solutions, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has implemented solid waste management system in Lucknow on Public Private Partnership mode. It includes setting up of control and command centre for real-time tracking of garbage collection vehicles and user

charge collection, designing route plan for all wards/zones to monitor and control timely service for each household.

There is also a provision of a customer redressal mechanism and MIS reports generation. The project is deploying Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, smart road bins (sensor-based) which will provide real time information of existence of waste in each bin so that waste can be collected in time.

Integrated Transport Management System Over 10,000 buses of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation have been installed with Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) which allows their real time tracking.

Other benefits of this system include electronic ticketing, GPS-based vehicle-tracking and passenger information systems. The whole

COVER STORY system is passenger-centric and has led to the profitability of UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation).

‘Smart city bus service will have GPS and CCTVs while smart bus shelters will welcome commuters. Transport department has given this job to a consultant,’ added Garg.

Online Ration Management System (ORMS) Online Supply Chain management, or Ration Management System is a portal which has been developed by National Informatics Centre for Food and Civil Supply Department.

Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation has been recently given the prestigious Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Award on Innovation in Governance.

frequency with 100 per cent safety.

Few other Metros have also gone for CBTC,” says Kumar Keshav, Managing Director, LMRC. About Lucknow Metro Rail ProjectThe project, a joint venture of the Government of India and Uttar Pradesh Government has a completion cost of the North – South Corridor (Phase 1A) as Rs 6,880 crores. Both the governments have equal equity partnership in this project. The contribution of the Central Government is 20 per cent while the contribution of the State Government is 23 per cent. The European Investment Bank (EIB), an

It monitors and allocates ration at various levels in a district.

Area Based Development Proper resource management is one of the keys to make the city smart. This involves improving connectivity and intelligence within existing infrastructure. The plan is to develop a clean, green and efficient Lucknow as a citizen centric city, with modern economy and outlook anchored in its traditional heritage and culture with a good quality of life.

Lucknow Metro Metro – the much awaited project of people in Lucknow -- is being carried out in capital city and fast becoming a reality . The work is being carried out since September 27, 2014, – which was a daunting task to complete.

No other Metro project has been able to match up with the speed of deliverance in project execution in such a short time as Lucknow Metro.

The 8.5 km ‘Priority Corridor’ of the North – South corridor (Phase 1A) was executed in just over two years, a record.

Even contemporary Metro projects in the country have not been able to match up with the speed of deliverance in the country as compared to Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation’s (LMRC) strength in project execution.

external funding agency, is also contributing 57 per cent of the project cost as loan to LMRC.

“We have adopted the latest technology in Lucknow Metro. We have gone for the Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system which is the latest signalling system for Metro Rail. Its advantage is that the trains can run at a very close

The Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation has been recently given the prestigious Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Award on Innovation in Governance, a result of the efforts of the whole team of Lucknow Metro.

The State Government is providing the land free of cost and reimbursing the State taxes.

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SMART CITY LUCKNOW

UP Takes Digital Route for Land Record Management

Pravir Kumar

Chairman of Board of Revenue, Government of Uttar Pradesh

“To computerise Uttar Pradesh’s land records, webbased portal Bhulekh has been created with an objective to provide all the land related information in a transparent manner.”

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To provide transparency and reliability in managing land spaces of State, the Uttar Pradesh Government has adopted technology for smooth processing of matters related to land records with full transparency. With such initiatives, users can access land records data and other information related to land records, e.g. whether the land is under dispute or whether it is mortgaged etc. on web-based portal, says Pravir Kumar, Chairman of Board of Revenue, Government of Uttar Pradesh, in an interview with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

Records/RoRs (Bhulekh), Revenue Court case Computerised Management System (RCCMS), Aadhaar seeding and shareholding in RoR (Records of Rights), Online applications for mutation and other permissions/ NOCs, assignment of Unique Identity/number for each Revenue plot and Unique identity/number for each village border pillar.

What is this Bhulekh initiative all about? Can you throw some light on it?

Tell us about digital initiatives taken for Land Management.

To provide land related information in an easy and transparent manner and facilitate land related transactions, we have set up a Digital Land Management system in the State. We have deployed technology for smoother workflow of land related issues. We have taken several digital initiatives in this regard that include -- Computerisation of Land

There are about 1.09 lakh villages in U.P. with about 7.65 crore plots, whereas the number of “Khatas” is about 3.38 crore. In view of these large numbers, to mange such a large data manually (as was being done till now) is almost a nightmare and gives rise to all sorts of manipulations, cheating, corruption and land scams etc.

Therefore, for managing Uttar Pradesh’s land records, computerisation is a necessity for us. In fact, the work related to management of land records

SMART CITY LUCKNOW

had undergone very little change since the British period. As a result there used to be lots of complaints regarding manipulation of land records by lower level Revenue functionaries, giving rise to corruption and land scams. Therefore, in order to bring transparency to the entire system, we have computerised the land records and created a webbased portal called “ Bhulekh” (http:// upbhulekh.gov.in/), where all the land ownership related information i.e.

“Khatauni” or RoRs (Records of Rights) can be viewed online. Anybody can obtain a digitally signed copy of RoR from Tahsil or any Common Service Centre (CSC) on payment of nominal fee. In 2016-17 alone, over 1.50 crore digitally signed copies of RoRs were issued (1.45 crore from Tahsils and 4.73 lakh from CSCs) and an amount of Rs 22.50 crore was earned (kept in a separate bank account at Tahsil level for undertaking new digital initiatives). This has not only brought transparency but also minimised the corruption.

What is this Revenue Court case Computerised Management System (RCCMS) meant for?

There are about 7.11 lakh Revenue Court cases pending at present in about 2333 Revenue Courts spread all over the State from Naib Tahsildar, Tahsildar to Collector, Commissioner and Board of Revenue. To facilitate transparency in all proceedings of revenue courts, we have created Revenue Court case Computerised Management System (RCCMS). The details of all revenue cases can now be viewed online at Board of Revenue website (http://vaad.up.nic.in).

The Litigants/advocates can view all the case related information online, such as name of the Court, case number, name of the parties, Act/Section, filing date, next date of hearing, its present status and the orders passed etc.

What is the online application process for mutation?

Now with the help of technology, applications for Mutation can be filed online on our website (http://vaad.up. nic.in/guest_page.aspx).

Under this mechanism, the details of the purchaser-seller (or donor-donee, Will testator- beneficiary etc.), the details of the registration documents and the land for which mutation application is being made can be filled online through web-based portal. After filling up and submission of details online, the user can generate a PDF cover page and submit his application in the Court concerned, along with the copy of the registration deed. This process is quite similar to Online Visa application procedure and ensures that the application is complete in all respect and all the required information has been provided.

How Unique Identity/number for Revenue plots is beneficial?

We have assigned a 16 digit Unique Identity or code to each and every Revenue plot or field in the State, in order to uniquely identify the plot/ field. This is akin to Aadhaar number of the plot. As all Revenue Court cases are related to some dispute regarding land only, we have made it a mandatory field in our RCCMS database. Thus, after a great deal of efforts the details of land under dispute/litigation in all the 7 lakh plus cases pending in various Revenue Courts have been updated in RCCMS. For fresh cases also, it has been made a mandatory field. Thus today, just on the click of a mouse, one can find out whether or not a plot of land is under litigation/dispute in any of the Revenue Court in U.P. Any prospective buyer/entrepreneur can check about the ownership of the plot, status of the plot like whether it is under litigation or mortgaged via our online service.

Also, by using the Unique number of the plot in conjunction with the case details available on RCCMS, we have

successfully checked and blocked the Illegal sale/purchase as well as mutation of land belonging to nontransferable category (e.g. Patta land, talab, pasture, Gaon sabha land etc.) at registry level as well as mutation-level in our Courts. It is proposed to introduce new categories for defence land, Wakf land, enemy property, migrant property etc. also, so that illegal sale-purchase of such lands by “Bhu-Mafias” can be checked.

With the help of this facility, it has now become very easy to generate lists of ponds, pasture land, Gaon Sabha land, public land etc. for allotment or for planning purposes for creating public infrastructure. Thus it is a very handy tool for decision makers and policy planners also.

What steps have been taken in management and maintenance of border pillars?

Instructions have been issued for assigning an 18 digit Unique number to all border pillars (about 8.50 lakhs) on village boundaries. Once identified with this Unique code, in the second phase, physical verification of the pillars (in place/ damaged/missing) will be done. In the third phase, the damaged and missing pillars will be repaired/ constructed (as per design given by IIT Kanpur). And, in the fourth and final phase, exact latitude and longitude of these village border pillars shall be ascertained and noted for future reference and records as well as re-construction, if damaged.

It is envisioned that by superimposing the coordinates of these border pillars on the scanned village maps (already being done under DILRMP scheme of Govt. of India), we shall be able to generate digitised maps of all the Revenue plots/fields, with exact coordinates, thereby realising the dreams of our Hon’ble Prime Minister of a truly “Digital India”.

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ADVERTORIAL

Renuka Kumar

D.O. No. 873/PS/MK/2017 Women Welfare Department Govt. of U.P. Room No. 103, Bapu Bhawan

I.A.S.

Principal Secretary

U.P. Secretariat, Lucknow.

Tel. No. 0522-2238668/ 2214649(Off.)

0522- 4028162 (Resi.)

Dated: 11 August, 2017

Renuka Kumar

D.O. No. 873/PS/MK/2017 Women Welfare Department I.A.S. I am pleased to hear that Lucknow Municipal Corporation,Govt.

Lucknow Smart City of U.P. Principal Secretary nd Lucknow Smart This along with Elets Technomedia Pvt. Ltd is organizing 2 Room No. 103, BapuCity.

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Knowledge Sharing platform will surely ensure exchange of U.P. information about initiative Secretariat, Lucknow. and practices adopted by different smart cities pan India. Tel. No. 0522-2238668/ 2214649(Off.) 0522-and 4028162 all its(Resi.) efforts in I congratulate e-Gov for its 150th edition of the magazine Dated: 11 August, highlighting e-governance steps and initiatives taken by the Government of India.2017 E-Gov magazine has created a platform which very closely brought the best practices being adopted by policy maker well as Lucknow stakeholders.

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and practices adopted by different smart cities pan India.

I congratulate e-Gov for its 150th edition of the magazine and all its efforts in highlighting e-governance steps and initiatives taken by the Government of India. E-Gov magazine has created a platform which very closely brought the best practices being (Renuka Kumar) adopted by policy maker as well as stakeholders.

I wish e-Gov magazine and its team good Dr. Ravi Gupta, luck for its further journey.

Editor in Chief & CEO, Elects Technomedia I also extendPvt. myLtd., best wishes to Lucknow Municipal Corporation, Lucknow Smart Noida.

City along with Elets Technomedia Pvt. Ltd for hosting 2nd Lucknow Smart City.

Dr. Ravi Gupta, Editor in Chief & CEO, Elects Technomedia Pvt. Ltd., Noida.

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(Renuka Kumar)

POLICYMAKER’S PERSPECTIVE

Time to Adopt ‘Supermarket’ Concept for e-Governance All the online government services should be brought under one roof by adopting a ‘Supermarket’ concept, in which, one app or a website can serve as one-stop source of information for citizens, says Amod Kumar, Member, Board of Revenue, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Amod Kumar

Member, Board of Revenue Government of Uttar Pradesh

“Few exceptions can be there. For instance, some transactions have to happen physically — examination, driving test, interview, voting, court hearing, field inspection, traffic control etc. Even for these transactions, CCTV recordings must be kept and preserved to avoid allegation and dispute in future.”

I

n India, the coverage of internet and mobile networks has reached every remotest possible area. Now it is easier for a person to do online transaction than to do a manual transaction. The scenario has reversed; and because of this reversal, the government should deliver every citizen the government-related services only online. In case a department lacks resources, communication, or any other limitation related to delivery of services online, that department should seek exemption from the government to do it manually. For instance, if the government allows any of its office to accept manually-filled forms, then later, it should be digitised in-house. Everything should be in an electronic state before the service is provided to the end users.

Secondly, all possible interactions between a citizen and the government — one may interact as a citizen, a beneficiary of a scheme, a vendor, a contractor, a government employee, a government officer, as well as interactions within the government — should be digitised, i.e., it should take place electronically with preserved records of each transaction. This will help in generating a timestamp for everything — to see and check. It will also reduce discretion and will lead to transparency. Few exceptions can be there. For instance, some transactions have to happen physically —

examination, driving test, interview, voting, court hearing, field inspection, traffic control etc. Even for these transactions, CCTV recordings must be kept and preserved to avoid allegation and dispute in future.

Thirdly, all the online government services should be brought under one roof by adopting a ‘Supermarket’ concept, in which, one app or a website can serve as a one-stop source of information so that a citizen doesn’t have to go here-and-there. Similarly, a common online assistance — like that being provided by Google Assistant or Siri in Apple, which we have in smart phones — can be applied where every information can be availed either through availing a helpline number or developing a mobile app. The government can develop separate apps for central and state governance with sub sections; by means of which a visitor can communicate directly with the concerned departments and ministries.

Finally, we see mobile phones reaching to every villages and slums along with connectivity and electricity. Only thing that prevents poor people in getting equal access to technology, or to an online space, is the availability of the device. The government can bridge the gap by making smart phones available to every citizen. This will finish the digital divide instaed of only bridging it.

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SPECIAL STORY

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with actor Akshay Kumar and actress Bhumi Pednekar during a cleanliness drive.

Governance in Uttar Pradesh Gaining a New Recognition It’s been over four months when Yogi Adityanath took over the reins of Uttar Pradesh as the Chief Minister. The change appears to have come as a blessing for all those who once rued about a rather rotten system devoid of reforms, writes Priyanka Sharma of Elets News Network (ENN) while exploring a sea-change in administration.

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SPECIAL STORY

A

week after taking over the reins of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath declared the benefits of development would reach all and nobody would be differently viewed based on on the basis of caste, religion, or gender.

Today, the State looks climbing up the growth chart with impressive steps for reformation.

Special focus on infrastructural development In the very first budget of the Yogi government, Rs 288 crore was allotted for metro rail projects in the State.

In another significant move, Uttar Pradesh completed a drive to fill up potholes on as many as 11,107 roads within 40 days, with the Government providing nearly Rs 1,400 crore for the work. The project started on May 6 and completed by June 15, much before the onset of monsoon in the State.

To widen and strengthen roads, Rs 598.65 crore are being spent. Another Rs. 451.58 crore have been allocated for connecting villages with link roads and construction of small bridges.

There is a provision of Rs.253 crore for road construction works under the proposed World Bank aided Uttar Pradesh Core Network Project and Rs. 202 crore for construction of roads with the aid of Asian Development Bank.

The State Government has given Rs. 185.69 crore for the construction of bridges, Road Over Bridges and under passes over roads of different category in the State.

E-Office For the maintenance, upkeep of records, files and making the running of the system more easier and

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurating development projects in the State.

Grievance Redressal

There is a target of providing electricity facility for 24 hours from October, 2018 and to every citizen of the State by the year 2019.

transparent, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has decided to establish e-office system in the UP Secretariat from 1st October, 2017.

With this, physical files will replace digital files. Under the e-office system, disposal of files would be expedited on one hand, while on the other, unnecessary time wastage on government works would also be cut down considerably. The Chief Minister has also formed a group of officers who would deliberate on required hardware, software, training of personnel and making way for digitisation of existing physical files.

Adityanath has issued strict instructions for penal action against officers found wanting in solving people’s problems in time. Every day between 9:00 am to 11:00 am, all divisional commissioners, district magistrates, police officers, tehsil and block level officers have been asked to be present in their offices and listen to the problems raised by the people.

He has instructed that efforts should be made on a priority for problems flagged on the social media as well.

Very soon, the State will establish a direct dialogue with the common people and to make social media activities stronger. A social media hub will also be established.

Industrial Policy The Chief Minister is keen to generate employment opportunities for citizens and for this, the State Government has formed an Industrial Investment & Employment Generation Policy- 2017 at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

To woo industries, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched this comprehensive policy, which involves creating land banks, promoting country-specific industrial parks to attract foreign direct investment (FDI)

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SPECIAL STORY and helping set up private industrial parks around Lucknow-Kanpur, Kanpur-Allahabad and VaranasiAllahabad zones.

The sectors to be focussed upon include information technology, Information Technology Enabled Services (ITeS), electronics manufacturing, agro and food processing, dairy, green energy, handloom, textile and tourism.

Some of the fiscal incentives, subsidies and concessions announced by the policy includes stamp duty exemption, capital and infrastructure interest subsidy, employee provident fund reimbursement and electricity duty exemption, subject to certain conditions, to attract investments.

The State also plans to host a Global Investors’ Summit to project Uttar Pradesh as an investment destination.

“The policy emphasises a need to ensure balanced regional development in Uttar Pradesh by means of facilitating linkages, fiscal incentives and leveraging regional advantages in Bundelkhand, Madhyanchal, Paschimanchal and Poorvanchal,” the policy stated.

Connectivity is an important theme of the policy and articulates the government’s vision of building new metro rail services, airports and a new road corridor connecting Mathura, Kashi, Jhansi and Gorakhpur on the lines of the Lucknow-Agra Expressway and upcoming Poorvanchal Expressway, thereby linking the entire State.

It has been decided that Rs 5 crore will be given to establish incubators in Lucknow as well.

Housing To provide housing for all, the State Government plans to build cemented houses for homeless people at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore.

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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath periodically listen to problems of the comman man.

It has been decided that Rs 5 crore will be given to establish incubators in Lucknow as well.

regard, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Union Government. There is a target of providing electricity facility for 24 hours from October, 2018 and to every citizen of the State by 2019.

Renewable Energy Uttar Pradesh will also implement new ‘Solar Energy Policy’ soon attracting investment from the private sector.

Besides, Rs 30 crore will be spent on the establishment of Solar Street Light Plants for community streetlight.

Drinking Water

Smart Cities Mission

To provide clean drinking water, the State Government has given an amount of Rs. 2,800 crore for ground water based rural drinking water scheme in Bundelkhand, Purvanchal and Vindhya regions. There is also a provision of Rs. 1,000 crore for National Rural Drinking Water Programme.

Seven Cities from Uttar Pradesh have already been selected under the ‘Smart Cities Mission’ programme. To develop these cities, Rs 1,500 crore has been allotted. A target has been fixed for providing better life style through economic development and basic infrastructure, e-governance and citizen services, waste management, water management and urban mobility in 13 cities of the State under the Mission, including the seven cities already selected.

Under the Agra Drinking Water Supply Project, the Government will bring 150 cusec raw water through 130 km pipeline.

Electricity The main focus of this government is to provide electricity 24X7 for all. In this

Rs 240 crore are being spent on cleaning the river Ganga while a provision of Rs 1,000 crore has been made for ‘Swachha Bharat Mission (Shahri) Yojana’.

SMART CITY LUCKNOW

Lucknow Enroute to Becoming ‘Smart’ IGRS is an integrated system for grievance redressal in Uttar Pradesh to achieve the goal of good governance using latest technology involving all stakeholders and it is functional all over the State. The State Government is quite pro-active about it, says Anil Garg, Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow and Chairman, Lucknow Smart City Limited, in conversation with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

Anil Garg

Divisional Commissioner Lucknow and Chairman Lucknow Smart City Limited

“LMC has joined hands with M/S Ecogreen Energy Private Limited to implement ICT enabled Solid Waste Management System in Lucknow city on Public Private Partnership mode.”

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Rumi Gate, Lucknow

What is the objective of ‘Drishti’ Surveillance project?

Smart City Surveillance project ‘Drishti’ has been successfully implemented in Lucknow City. It incorporates the latest technologies and encompasses a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre for 24x7 monitoring of CCTV cameras. The project comprises 280 IP CCTVs, Automatic Number Plate Recognition System (ANPR), Video Analytics, Mobile Surveillance System, Command Control Centre and Data Centre with the objective of controlling crime in the city. The project covers 70 junctions in Lucknow, with a special focus on entry and exit points in the city, VVIP areas, and all critical and

sensitive locations. It also helps in monitoring the traffic jam and red light violations. We are further going to increase the number of cameras for the command system.

How e-challan system is being implemented in the State?

E-challan system’s pilot-run started in Lucknow. Thereafter, its implementation was extended to other districts including all divisional headquarters districts. This app of transport department provides for automatic location logging through GPS. There is an in-built function to click and store photos of vehicle, documents, number plate etc. The

SMART CITY LUCKNOW

‘Drishti’ surveillance system of police which is working in Lucknow also has the E-challan facility.

Why was UP100 project established in the State?

UP100 is the official name of the ‘Uttar Pradesh Police Emergency Management System’. Police emergency systems have been operational in the form of distributed district level ‘Dial 100’ systems till now, where public calls police in emergency situations were handled by Police Control Rooms established at the district level. UP100 has been established to provide integrated emergency services relating to public safety across the State on 24x7 basis. A centralised contact center has been established at Lucknow for receiving all emergency calls directly from across the State, including remote rural areas.

The modes of communications at the centre are phone/mobile calls, emails and social media etc. The UP100 centre at Lucknow directly controls police response vehicles. It is targeted to reach the caller within 15 minutes in the city areas and 20 minutes in the rural areas most of the times.

The districts are being given new dashboards and software to monitor Dial100 at the SSPs and SPs’ level. The senior officials of State Home Department are personally monitoring the efficacy of disposal of Dial100 which has given impetus to the UP100 system.

Power saving is one of the key projects of the Government of India, how is Uttar Pradesh fairing in this department?

LED-based energy-efficient street lighting to reduce energy consumption is being implemented in the city of Lucknow. The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) to replace LED lights. The

Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has also started in adopting energyefficient street lighting by putting LEDs. Solar rooftops will be installed in few government buildings in Kaiserbagh area of the city. In these buildings, rainwater harvesting and treatment and reuse of wastewater has also been envisaged.

What steps have been taken by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) for effective management of Solid Waste Management in the city?

and RDF (refuse derived fuel) as a by-product. Within the next few months whole of the city will be covered by this door to door collection system.

Smart Transportation is also an integral part of a Smart City, how is Lucknow traffic adopting new technologies?

Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has implemented Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) project for real time tracking of fleet of more than 10,000

Proposed view of MSW Processing Plant in Lucknow

LMC has tied up with M/S Ecogreen Energy Private Limited to implement ICT enabled Solid Waste Management System in Lucknow city on Public Private Partnership mode. This system envisages door-to-door garbage collection through chip-enabled vehicles, its transportation and processing and waste to energy generation upto 15 MW. It includes setting up of control and command centre for real time tracking of garbage collection vehicles and user charge collection, designing route plan for all wards/zones to monitor and control timely service for each household. It also includes customer redressal mechanism for timely resolving all complaints received, MIS reports generation etc. This system apart from power generation has fertilizer/compost

buses and having provision of other services for benefit of the passengers.

These services include electronic ticketing, GPS-based vehicle tracking and passenger information systems. ITMS is passenger-centric and has projected positive impact on the performance and profitability of UPSRTC. This technology will be adapted by the Lucknow city transport services Ltd so that the Smart city bus service will have GPS tracking and CCTVs for the security of the passengers.The smart bus shelters which will be equipped with passenger information system and variable message sign which shall enable seamless travelling for city commuters.These bus queue shelters will also have provisions of water ATM, public toilets and solar panels.

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SMART CITY LUCKNOW

With Smart Transportation, are there plans to develop Smart Parking in the city as well?

Smart solutions have been proposed for existing parking terminals in heavy traffic areas like Jhande Wala Park (Aminabad), DayaNidhan Park(Lalbagh) and Jhandi Park (Trilok Nath Marg).

LMC is going to float Request for Proposals (RFPs) for development of three other smart parking on PPP basis.

How is Lucknow moving ahead in smart governance and citizen services?

We have integrated grievances redressal system (IGRS) which is working all over the State. IGRS is an integrated system for grievance redressal in Uttar Pradesh to achieve the goal of good governance using latest technology involving all stakeholders.

The present government is quite pro-active about it. Hon’ble Chief Minister has given strict instructions to all District Magistrates for quality and timely disposal of the complaints.

Biometric attendance system has started in few government departments.

How is the e-court being implemented in the city?

Revenue courts across the State handle cases related to land disputes, disputes regarding distribution of inherited property, regarding auction of property.

The dates of the revenue court cases are totally computerised. Even the petitioner and respondent get dates on SMS-based system. Every order is uploaded on the website. It is operational in UP till the lower most revenue court.

Under the leadership of present Chairman of Board of Revenue, we have implemented 16-digit coding system through which revenue data

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can be accessed easily for various governmental purposes.

What initiatives have been taken to uplift public parks?

Lucknow citizens are eagerly waiting for the Lucknow Metro, what digital initiatives are being introduced in the Metro?

It is being proposed to make Globe park disabled-friendly. Apart from that, free wi-fi services will be provided at all public parks in the city.

Existing lighting arrangements in the parks will be converted into solar lighting system.

For the convenience of people, unified smart mobility card will be introduced which will be applicable in Metro Train, buses as well as taxis.

Lucknow Metro’s ‘Go Smart’ card will also serve as ‘Common Mobility Card’ in future as it can be integrated with other

“1090 is a toll-free number to offer immediate help to harassed women suffering from an antisocial behaviour or for any other assistance.

It ensures speedy protection to women and girls.” transport agencies for passenger’s mobility need within the city. Metro users will be able to use this card while travelling in city and UPSRTC buses.

This card will have provision for additional 32 services.

What initiatives have been undertaken by the Government towards heritage wealth?

State Archaeological Department has undertaken the restoration work of heritage monuments like Chattar Manzil, LalBaradari, Darshan Vilas Kothi, Gulistan-e-Iram, Roshan-ud Daulah Kothi etc. Restoration of Lal Baradari has been already completed.

The City has many prominent parks like the Janeshwar Mishra, Lohia, Ambedkar, Joggers parks etc. in which additional facilities like free wi-fi and solar system will be enabled.

What is this Women Power Line 1090 all about?

The Women Power Line 1090 is an IVRS-based dedicated service in Uttar Pradesh to empower women and prevent them from all forms of harassment, ensuring their safety in society. 1090 is a toll-free number that provides immediate help to the harassed women suffering from an anti-social behaviour or any other format of assistance required. This helpline handles the cases of offense against women and ensures speedy protection to women and girls.

Have you also planned something for air quality monitoring?

Various environment sensors shall be deployed to inform about the prevailing environment conditions and send data to the integrated control system where real time data resides.

The same shall be made available to various other departments and applications for decision making. The information is relayed instantaneously to signage – large, clear, digital-display screens which let citizens know regarding the prevalent environmental conditions. At present environmental sensors are deployed at: Dayanidhan Park, Nishatganj Bridge, Polytechnic Circle & UP Dial 100 office on Shahid Path.

POLICYMAKER’S PERSPECTIVE

UPSIDC — A Catalyst in UP’s Industrial Growth Uttar Pradesh has been a leader in the industrial sector, and we have achieved this position with consistent efforts, taking right steps to execute that. And, in effect, industries are not just coming to Uttar Pradesh from other States. But huge investment is flowing from overseas as well, says Ranvir Prasad, Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC), Commissioner and Director Industries, in an interview with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

Ranvir Prasad

Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC)

What e-Governance and ICT initiatives have been undertaken by the UPSIDC to ensure transparency and efficiency in the corporation?

The core job of UPSIDC is land acquisition for establishment of industrial area or integrated industrial townships. UPSIDC has been spearheading the industrial promotion in the State and has been instrumental in keeping the State at the numero uno position among the States for several decades now.

Till date, UPSIDC has developed a record of 154 industrial areas on

“Stating foreign investors are eager to invest in various sectors in the State after being convinced of the change in culture and ease of doing business.”

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approximately 43,788.54 acres of land across Uttar Pradesh. We have 40,000 acre of land, of which 12,000 acre is allottable and 28,000 acre have been allotted. Allottees have to undergo different processes such as they have to deposit maintenance charges etc.

Likewise, as and when land is vacant, we re-allot it. A simplified system has been put in place to ensure investors do not face hurdle. All clearances will be given through a single window system. Earlier, the allotment process was decentralised and regional offices were involved in the process which used to cause a lot of delays up to three to four months. Now, we have implemented an e-allotment process through which the

POLICYMAKER’S PERSPECTIVE

entrepreneurs can apply for allotment online. This process has helped us to get rid of interview process.

There shall be calling of points on different parameters. If there is more than one application for the same plot, we always go by the priority of whoever scores more marks.

We finalise the allotment maximum in one month from the date of application submitted. Land allotment process is open-ended. Anybody can apply for land online depending on the availability of land. This is basically discretion with respect to allotment. Interview process was highly discretionary and we have eliminated it to the large extent. The time limit for allotment has also been reduced.

We are going to launch around 1,800 plots and have requested the Chief Minister for time to discuss on the same. As and when we get time, we will launch this for the entire State. This allotment will become an open-ended process. People will not wait for the advertisements to apply.

UP Government is planning to launch ‘Make in UP’ initiative on the lines of Government of India’s Make in India drive. Would you elaborate?

As far as Make in India and Make in UP are concerned, the primary responsibility of UPSIDC will be investment promotion and allotment of land. We have identified various pockets of land available with us, which can be given to industries for establishing different kind of clusters i.e. defence food processing (EMC) electronic manufacturing cluster.

We are in the process of finalising requirements of an Enterprise resource planning (ERP) for our organisation and all end-to- end processes of UPSIDC shall be put on ERP. Its implementation will create seamless process for

industrialists, our employees and citizens. We look forward to implement ERP in another five to six months and after that we shall be expanding our work to provide different services to industrialists.

Uttar Pradesh cabinet has approved the new Industrial Investment and Employment Policy, 2017? What is it aimed for” The government aimed to bag investments through the new industrial policy and have various kinds of incentives in it. The innovation, is that the definition of mega projects which qualify for incentives has been modified.

They have also added requirement of labour.

If any industry does not invest that much in plant and machinery, but is able to provide employment to large population up to 1,000 is able to qualify for mega projects which itself is a great innovation. Secondly, we have also made a provision to provide incentives to private industrial parks.

These days, it has become difficult for government institutions to acquire land for industrial parks as we have to pay four times of the market rates, which makes industrial land very expensive.

But, now any private party can apply and get loan and interest subsidy from

government on the purchase of that land for industrial park. We intend to provide various kinds of facilitation so that anybody can buy 50 acres of land and set up industrial park. This is also one of the innovations and we expect lot many industries will come in the forefront.

What all sectors do you feel have more opportunities to invest in UP? There are lot many advantages of investing in UP. As, we have one of the largest number of MSMEs across the country and I expect addition to sectors like leather, hosiery, garments, plastic, manufacturing etc.

As far as heavy industry are concerned, I expect investments from industries like electronics manufacturing, defence clusters, chemical and textile industry investment, etc.

As observed, lot many mobile companies are coming up, so to provide ancillary support to those companies lot of electronics manufacturing cluster will come up, and I see opportunity for this industry.

The sectors to be focussed upon include information technology, ITeS, electronics manufacturing, agro and food processing, dairy, green energy, handloom, textile and tourism.

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SMART CITY LUCKNOW

Uttar Pradesh Rising Digitally by Leaps and Bounds

G S Naveen Kumar

The Government of Uttar Pradesh is digitising its processes to make the administration quick, sensitive, transparent, problem-free, simple and facilitative, along with managing administrative inefficiency and reducing expenditure, says G S Naveen Kumar, Special Secretary, Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, in an interview with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

Special Secretary Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has set up a startup venture capital fund of Rs 1,000 crore recently, how is it going to help the youths of the State?

“The main objective of the Uttar Pradesh IT and Startup policy is to facilitate all stages of startups/ entrepreneurs.�

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We are creating opportunities of employment for the youths of the State so that they can scale new heights in life and ensuring in their own villages, towns and cities.

Startup venture capital fund of Rs 1,000 crore will be utilised to promote unemployed youths in the direction of self-reliance, industrial development and for developing small and mini-scale, khadi, and rural industries. This funding

will provide support to the entrepreneurs and build a strong foundation for startup ecosystem.

Uttar Pradesh has unlimited possibilities in the areas of export because of its distinguished customs and capabilities. The Government is committed to the development of modern information technology, services sector and infrastructure, and will work primarily to address problems of the entrepreneurs and businessmen of the State to expand their work.

How is e-tendering system helping the Government of Uttar Pradesh departments?

SMART CITY LUCKNOW

It will bring transparency in tender process and also ensure a good number of participants in the process of allotting a tender that will result into getting a cost price for it. Officials of more than 50 government departments have been trained under it. Around 1,000 officials and around 2,000 tenderers have obtained their digital signatures under the scheme.

How are IT parks going to help in making people digitally literate in the State?

The Government is keen to develop IT parks across the State which will also help young entrepreneurs in setting up their ventures. Currently, seven IT parks are proposed in the State. These IT Parks will be established in Agra, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly and Varanasi. It is expected that all seven IT Parks will provide direct employment to approximately 20,000 people. An indirect employment to approximatley 6,000 people will also be generated.

The land for the development of IT Parks in Agra, Meerut and Gorakhpur has been provided to Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) free of cost. The boundary wall for the Agra and Meerut IT Park has been constructed and soon the work of the main building will be started by STPI. Within next six months, the construction work for Gorakhpur will also commence.

HCL IT City, Lucknow, will be developed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with the investment of Rs 1,500 crore under the UP IT & Startup policy 2016. It is expected that total employment generation through this project will be 75,000. Also IT/ITeS companies like Northshore Technologies, Veatives Labs, Amartech, Newgenapps, have been provided a “Letter of comfort” to facilitate them under UP IT and Startup policy.

How technology is helping the State Government to eradicate corruption? What is the plan of Government to provide digital literacy to the last mile?

A mega call centre has been set up under the supervision of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office. The operators at the call centre will help the common man in resolving their every kind of corruption related complaints.

In order to provide digital literacy to the last mile, the Government has decided to give free laptops to all the students irrespective of caste and religion while taking admission in a

“Startup venture capital fund of Rs 1,000 crore will be utilised to promote unemployed youths in the direction of selfreliance, industrial development and for developing small and mini scale, khadi, and rural industries.” college. After getting admission in a college, the State Government will also provide 1 GB internet free of cost to the youths under “Swami Vivekananda Yuva Internet Scheme”.

What is the idea behind ‘Infuse’ model, through which the UP Government is trying to inculcate the startup culture in Uttar Pradesh?

The main objective of the Uttar

Pradesh IT and Startup policy is formulated to facilitate all stages of startups/ entrepreneurs. The Government succeeded in its effort of supporting and creating the incubators in the State by providing fiscal incentives to four premium institutions namely Kamla Nehru Institute of technology (KNIT) Sultanpur, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow for their Noida campus and iB-Hubs Lucknow (in collaboration with UPDESCO).

All these incubators are operational and startups are getting enrolled in these incubators, where they are getting mentorship and financial support. To nurture the fund of funds model in the state, the Government is establishing an initial Rs 100 crore startup corpus under ‘fund of funds’ model and for professional management of corpus.

What is the motive behind setting up an incubation centre at Hindustan College, Mathura?

The educated but unemployed youth of the area are likely to establish themselves as young entrepreneurs through this incubation centre. They will also generate employment and help others to earn livelihood.

India’s largest incubator centre is going to be established in Uttar Pradesh. Please give some details about it.

The newly elected government has promised to set up the world’s largest incubator in the city of Lucknow. The incubator is proposed on the land of IT and Electronics department near the Amausi Airport of Lucknow. The proposed incubator will help in boosting the startup culture in the State.

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SMART CITY LUCKNOW

Smart City Lucknow Gets Digitally Charged Under the Lucknow Smart City project, it has been proposed to invest about Rs 578 crore under the pan-city proposal for mobility, ICT, and e-governance. On the lines of identified goals, the focus would be on projects two prime focal points: Sugam Lucknow and Jeevant Lucknow, says Udayraj Singh, Commissioner, Lucknow Municipal Corporation and CEO, Lucknow Smart City Limited, in conversation with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

Udayraj Singh

Commissioner Lucknow Municipal Corporation and CEO, Lucknow Smart City Limited

Give us an overview of Mobility-Sangam, Lucknow.

“Street lights will be introduced with energy efficient lights to improve the quality and longevity of the service by reducing the energy usage.�

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This is a part of Integrated Traffic Management System and has led to reduction in traffic congestion and improving travel time. We have started it to encourage public transportation, to provide a holistic, viable and effective approach towards traffic management through data driven measures for integration of operation, coordination and scheduling.

What is the idea behind Smart City Management System Portal?

The intent of the portal is to facilitate government and citizens for better interaction i.e government to government or government to citizens (G2G/G2C) interaction . The portal has led to better delivery of services and has enhanced inter-departmental coordination.

What are the focal points of the city proposal of Lucknow?

The pan-city proposal of Lucknow comprises a number of proposals under the focal points of Sugam Lucknow and Jeevant Lucknow.

Mobility Sugam Lucknow: This is an

SMART CITY LUCKNOW

Integrated Traffic Management System which led to junction improvement, intelligent traffic signals and traffic sensors. There is a provision of variable message signs, pelican crossing, augmentation on and strengthening of existing command centre.

Smart City Surveillance System: It boasts of installation of additional CCTV Cameras, networking and augmentation and strengthening of existing command centre.

There are smart solutions for existing parking, an electronic ticketing system and ICT for city bus services.

There is also provision for GPS bus tracking system (automatic vehicle tracking system), CCTV cameras on board, on board display panels, automatic fare collection system and bus operation command centre, smart bus shelters, passenger information system, ticket vending machine and water ATMs. Unified Smart Mobility Card – This is one card for all, one mode of payment card for buses, metro, parking and bicycle hiring (urban mobility nodes) in the initial stage which can be further extended to various other modes like city taxi service, auto etc.

Energy efficient street lighting (LED) - Street lights will be introduced with energy efficient lights to improve the quality and longevity of the service by reducing the energy usage.

With the help of these digitial initiatives, what future plans do you have?

Lucknow Municipal Corporation plans to achieve various things n next five years through digital initiatives such as: • Bus utilisation increment by 20 per cent (Current: 153.6km/bus/day) • Number of road cutting cases reduction by 50 per cent on account of better coordination among various departments through One Lucknow

“The portal has led to better delivery of services and has enhanced interdepartmental coordination.”

Smart City Management System (Average number of cases in last three years: 91, with an average affected road length of 76 kms] l Traffic on One Lucknow Smart City website/portal to be increased by 50 per cent (No such integrated website/portal exists and current annual traffic on LMC website: approx. 430,000) l Increment on a number of app users: 2.5 Lakh users (No such integrated app exits and current LMC PGRS has 9200 users) l Increment in house tax collection efficiency by 12.5 per cent (Current Level: 75 per cent with collection of Rs 143 crore (2014-15)) l Timely response to citizen grievances as per charter: 99.9 per cent (current: 99.7 per cent) l Increment in revenue generation from international tourists: 25 per cent [current: Rs 30 crores) l Rs 0.88 crore saving in fuel consumption (public transport) by improving traffic condition on account ITMS and ICT solutions for bus system (current fuel efficiency: 4.4 Km/kg of CNG)

How such initiatives would serve the public at large?

Through these initiatives, average travel time by public transport will be reduced by 25 per cent on account of reduced congestion by provision of 179 junction with Intelligent Traffic Signals (Current: 20 minutes). There will be an addition of PTZ camera at 70 locations (Current: No PTZ cameras). 30 per cent reduction in time spent for parking

vehicles in organised parking on account of IT enablement for 60 existing parking locations (smart parking) (Current time spent for parking: 11 minutes) is also expected.

Public transport share will increase by 67 per cent on account of ICT solutions for city bus system and 25 per cent addition in fleet and 200 smart bus shelters (Current modal share of public transport: 3 per cent).

There will be reduction in average number of non-functional street lights by 70 per cent on account of conversion of 91,000 conventional street lights to LED street lights (current average number of nonfunctional street lights: 10 per cent, total street lights: 1,14,000 approx.)

There will be reduction in traffic congestion, ease of access to online services (E-suvidha Kendra-One Lucknow) on account of creation of 80 urban mobility nodes.

How Lucknow is targeting Area Based Development(ADB)?

Lucknow Smart City proposes to invest about Rs 1,475 crore in its ADB. The chosen retrofitting area, Qaiserbagh of 813 acres, is an inter-phase between the old city and the relatively newer part of the city. This basic nature of an inter-phase is used as an opportunity to create an area that not only binds various parts of the city but also tries to bring in layers of city level activities.

The opportunities are tremendous for this area to not only become the socio-cultural hub of the city but also create continuum within the various parts of the city. Based on these facts, initiatives have been undertaken to set an example with significant interventions in a seamless manner, ensuring measurable impact and ease of replicablity. The projects identified are in line with the vision and goals.

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GHAZIABAD PERSPECTIVE

Ghaziabad Fostering Sustainable Development With ‘Swachh’ Moves Taking the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favourite initiative of cleanliness and integral part of general public’s life, our Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation is also making an endeavour towards ‘Swachhta’, says Chandra Prakash Singh, Commissioner, Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, in conversation with Ritika Srivastava of Elets News Network (ENN).

Chandra Prakash Singh Commissioner Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation

Ghantaghar, Ghaziabad

“We have started working on a detailed project report for bio -remediation of existing waste dumpsite, the work on which will start by midOctober, 2017.”

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Share with us how ICT is being leveraged by the corporation to deliver services to the citizens?

Ghaziabad is gateway to Uttar Pradesh and a large number of people working in Delhi are living here. Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam is making an endeavour towards ‘Swachhta’ with steps like:

l Promoting Google toilet locator: For this, we ran a month-long special drive at all public toilets and offered a small gift to each one who shared their feedback/review post usage of public toilet. l Swachhta App: This is one app that helps to report various sanitationrelated issues to the Nagar Nigam, and we have gone a step ahead to

ensure that a turnaround time for such issues reported via Swachhta app is maximum 24 hours. l IGRS: We have worked very hard to improve our statistics over IGRS. l Tax Collection Services are available online. l Social Media: Today, we are actively present over Facebook, MyGov Discussion forum, WhatsApp, mass emails, mass SMS and Twitter, and very soon we shall be active over linkedin, Instagram and Google Hangouts too.

And of-course we have not forgotten senior citizens for whom

GHAZIABAD PERSPECTIVE

we are running a toll free number (1800 1803 012) through which they can reach us anytime without any cost.

Tell us about the road map of

transforming Ghaziabad into a ‘Smart City’?

For the past two months, I have been doing self-assessment on what do we lack and why we have not been able to secure a place in the Smart Cities Mission in the last three attempts. I am trying to figure out what should we do now and how can we make Ghaziabad a ‘Smart City’.

After pondering over the issue, I realised that a city which is sandwiched between Delhi and Noida has every reason to become a Smart City. Most of our citizens are tech-savvy and are welltravelled. The only thing needed is to indulge people in dialogue using various e-governance tools. Ghaziabad is the first priority for many people who want to live in Delhi NCR.

But it is the most polluted city in India.

This cannot be ignored, and should be seen as an opportunity to implement best environmental solutions.

When I took over as the Municipal Commissioner of Ghaziabad, the daily average waste collection was approximately between 900 metric tonne (MT) to 1,050 MT. Now the waste collection has reached up to 2,000 MT per day and that shows that we have improved significantly in terms of collection of waste, and we envisage the next step will be to manage the entire municipal solid waste. For this purpose, we have taken some significant steps. As a first step, we have started working on a detailed project report (DPR) for bioremediation of existing waste dumpsite, the work on which will start by mid-October, 2017.

To overcome the challenge related to untreated waste, we have invited

‘Expression of Interest’ for setting up waste-to-energy plant.

Ghaziabad has a glorious past and the city has been an industrial township for a long time. We are planning to revive its status as an economic powerhouse. We are in dialogue with various business houses and large scale service providers, so that Industries which cannot be set up in Delhi due to high cost of infrastructure can be set up in Ghaziabad.

opportunity to work upon: l Industry Area l Common facility centre l Business facilitation l Skill Development l Smart Mandi l ICT solutions like billboard management, mobile wallet payments through central eKYC l Decentralised waste management with compost machines l Canal front development (Solar Walkway)

We understand when a city aims to become an economic powerhouse, a very serious problem of sanitation arises, for which we have already constructed sanitation related infrastructure at a fast pace and have a target to declare our city as open defecation free by December 31, 2017.

What are your future plans for the city’s development?

What e-governance initiatives has been undertaken

by Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation?

Since I took charge as the Municipal Commissioner of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam, my aim has been to empower common man (our source of revenue), and the tool to empower is e-governance. In today’s life, in a city like Ghaziabad where people are bound to live in nuclear families and majority of the members belong to working class, I understand that they may not have time to reach out to us in a traditional manner, so e-governance is the need of the hour.

Once people are empowered using various e-tools, we are able to get feedback from people and I firmly believe that we will be able to improve our performance.

What sort of challenges are you facing in ensuring development of the city?

We have been trying to convert all the challenges into opportunities. We foresee following as an area of

There is no specific definition of a ‘Smart City’. For many, the term is interchangeable with technologies that make cities work better or more efficiently. In my view, it is “planning for tomorrow and today”.

We have many urban challenges, such as, safety and security, traffic congestion, ageing infrastructure, effect of climate change and disasters that needs to be addressed. We wish to address these challenges by forming an SPV once we are able to secure a rank in the ladder of Smart Cities.

Transforming city into an economic powerhouse, implementing best of waste management and environmental solutions are on my agenda table.

Switching from conventional streetlamps to LEDs presented an interesting opportunity as smart city on which we have already started working upon.

But we need to understand that the global rush to roll out mobile apps, e-governance services and other Smart City tools are leaving behind people with disabilities. But I want to have a smart city for all. I believe in sustainable development goals to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable and I am working towards these.

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SMART CITIES PERSPECTIVE FROM UTTAR PRADESH

UP Cities Spearheading The Tech Drive Seven cities from Uttar Pradesh have been selected under the Smart Cities Mission, paving way for Allahabad, Jhansi, Aligarh, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur and Agra to embark upon on a journey to become ‘smart’ through digital innovations. Use of ICT can be viewed not only in these selected cities but also in every nook and corner of Uttar Pradesh. Susmriti Sahu of Elets News Network (ENN) interviewed Municipal Commissioners of Agra, Aligarh and Moradabad to gauge the pulse of these cities in terms of e-Governance.

Tell us about the digital initiatives of the Aligarh Municipal Corporation.

e-tendering, complaints, property registration, etc. We are also offering DES (Double Accounting Entry System) through which people can pay their taxes.

Arun Prakash

Commissioner Agra Municipal Corporation

What digital initiatives have been taken by Agra Municipal Corporation?

By adopting e-governance, today birth and death registrations can be done online. People can avail birth certification from nursing homes by applying online.

The corporation has digitised services like property tax,

Avinash Kumar Sharma Commissioner, Moradabad Municipal Corporation

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All the documentation processes have been fully digitised. We are now trying to integrate all these services on a single platform.

How are you planning to develop Agra as a Smart City?

Under the Smart City project, we are working in Solid Waste Management and Traffic Management System. The State Government is working on 91 components of the Smart City of which 26 components will have a direct impact on the development of Agra.

Santosh Kumar

The Aligarh Municipal Corporation aims to offer all its services online. We are trying to create tech-driven services so that residents can avail all the necessary services digitally.

We have made services like birth / death registration, property tax information, water tax, tax collection, etc online.

Commissioner, Aligarh Municipal Corporation

Under Swachhta project, Swacchta application has been deployed through which complaints, gestions and feedback related to sanitation, cleanliness, etc can be done online, and city residents are very actively using this application.

In this financial year, we have rolled out online platform for tax collection. This initiative has resulted in reducing the longe queues and crowded offices. Secondly, people are using Swacchta application to register complaints which has driven cleanliness project in a different way. Additionally, this has enabled authorities to monitor and address complaints which has brought one-of-its-kind revolutionary change in people’s life and the way they voice themselves about different issues. many online services.

What e-governance initiatives have been taken by the Moradabad Municipal Corporation?

What initiatives have been taken to make Moradabad a Smart City?

We have digitised birth and death registrations. We have also adopted e-payments mode and bills are being generated online. The portal of Moradabad Municipal Corporation has links to

Based on the guidelines of the Smart City, we had submitted a proposal to the Central Government. But unfortunately Moradabad was not shortlisted. Now, we are trying to work upon the

mistakes due to which we were not selected.

What are the key focus areas of the Municipal Corporation?

Our major focus is on cleanliness. To promote cleanliness in the city, we would engage and seek maximum public participation.

SMART CITY LUCKNOW

How LMC Plans to Transform Lucknow into a Smart City

P K Srivastava

Additional Commissioner, Lucknow Municipal Corporation and Additional CEO, Lucknow Smart City Limited

“We expect an increase of annual footfall in green spaces by 15 per cent due to better maintained green areas, free Wi-Fi, drinking water facility and organised parking.”

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Lucknow is all set to witness major transformation in smart infrastructure and public utility spaces in coming years to develop the Uttar Pradesh capital as one of the top smart cities in the country, says P K Srivastava, Additional Commissioner, Lucknow Municipal Corporation and Additional CEO, Lucknow Smart City Limited, in conversation with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

How is Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) planning to develop Qaiserbagh area in a new way?

The key components for retrofitting Qaiserbagh area include utility improvement, smart grid, infrastructure development for slums and urban poor and Gomti riverfront development.

UTILITY IMPROVEMENT: Under this scheme, utility duct (electricity, water, telecom, Optical Fiber Communication and Piped Natural Gas) will be improved.

There are also plans to cover nullahs (open drains), strengthen and augment the existing network. For water supply, LMC aims to strengthen and augment the distribution network, increase use of smart metering, and use Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).

For electricity, we are planning to improve our underground distribution cabling and relocate transformers, and at the same time increase the use of smart metering.

SMART GRID: We plan to install rooftop solar panels on all city buildings. All government buildings will be included in the first phase of

SMART CITY LUCKNOW

the project. We are also aiming to harvest rain water. There are plans to treat and reuse the waste water as well.

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SLUMS AND URBAN POOR: For people living in slum areas, we will undertake various infrastructure development works.

Night shelters will also be set up for homeless people or the poor.

GOMTI RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT: This is one of the most talked about project of the LMC. We are beautifying the parks and green belts along the riverfront and are also establishing open gyms there. Wi-Fi hotspots will be created in this zone and a Smart City Knowledge Management Centre will also be established there.

Brief us about the new initiatives taken up by LMC for the development of the city?

We are setting up barrier-free pedestrian infrastructure and street furniture; building pelican crossings for interconnecting parks (Begum Hazrat Mahal Park and surroundings); setting up variable message signs; building new multi-level car parking at Globe Park; building infrastructure for vegetable markets, fish markets; developing Qaiserbagh crossing and providing smart parking solutions for off-street parking at Qaiserbagh bus stand, Dayanidhan Park and Sarojini Naidu Park; and smart parking solutions for on-street parking at nine locations. We are establishing smart ticketing system, which is a kind of temporary encroachment regulation and penalty system. We are also trying to improve roads and junctions.

For safety and security of the city, CCTV cameras have been installed at various important locations. There are emergency call points and modern police kiosks.

We are also replacing traditional streetlights with energy efficient street lighting system.

Lucknow was not included in the top 100 ‘Swachh Cities’ under the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ 2017 ranking, what steps have been taken to make the city clean?

To improve the drainage system, we are creating sewers along nullaha and are also strengthening the existing network.

We have started door-to-door collection of garbage through vehicles which are installed with GPS. We have also started using sensor-based smart road bins and smart community bins.

How are you promoting the rich heritage of Lucknow?

Lucknow indeed has a very rich culture.

Samruddh Lucknow Movement is about rejuvenating existing heritage buildings.

We have started the Lucknow Awadh Walk on Thandi Sadak.

We have also created an Awadh Point – which is a centralised recreational space at Begum Hazrat Mahal Park.

We are also developing an International Culture and Heritage Centre at Chhattar Manzil; tourist information centre at Sibtainabad Imambara; façade lighting and restoration of Lal Baradari; Archaeological Research and Heritage Centre at Roshan-ud-Daula Kothi; a public library at Kothi Darshan Vilas; Heritage Conservation Institute at Kothi Gulistan-e-eram; Cultural Club at Rifa-e-Aam Club and restoration of Morris Market near Qaiserbagh Crossing.

We also organise cuisine and handicraft festivals from time to time; cultural theme events; awareness campaigns through radio and television vision.

What are the corporation’s future plans for the city?

We are aiming to reduce electricity pilferages by up to 40 per cent in the next five years. This will happen through underground cabling of electricity distribution lines. Currently, approximately 60 lakh kwh units are lost annually in the Area Based Development (ABD) zone due to pilferage.

In the coming five years, house tax coverage will be increased by 5.50 per cent. Currently, there are approximately 6,800 residential and 2,200 nonresidential properties under tax assessment in ABD zone, which is around 90 per cent coverage.

We are expecting seven per cent increase in house tax collection efficiency in the next five years.

In the next five years, 60 kms of utility ducts will be created.

We expect an increase of annual footfall in green spaces by 15 per cent due to better maintained green areas, free Wi-Fi, drinking water facility, and organised parking. Due to Gomti River Waterfront, 58 per cent of area availability of public spaces will also be increased.

In the next five years, we plan to build around 16 smart bus shelters in ABD. Currently, there are no such shelters in Lucknow. We are hoping that due to our efforts, open defecation in slum areas will be reduced to zero per cent from the current four per cent.

Rs 50-crore worth of electricity would be generated from installation of solar panels in smart grid, which account 14.28 per cent of the total value of electricity consumed in the ABD zone.

The current value of electricity consumed from conventional sources is Rs 10.50 crore.

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SPECIAL STORY

India’s First

Magazine on

e-Governance Since 2005

Celebrates 150 Issue th

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. With India becoming one the most attractive destinations for business and smart administration, e-Governance has emerged as a major tool in terms of improving efficacy and bringing the much expected change.

The eGov magazine has dedicated itself to document the odyssey of this big transformation, writes Elets News Network (ENN).

R

iding on the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favourite initiatives ‘Make in India’, ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, and ‘Digital India’, the nation is creating waves globally.

E-governance, an effective way of providing governance through technology, is being used as a major weapon to transform the common man’s life, while easing procedures for theGovernment to execute policies and deliver services for the common good, ensuring economic growth and bringing the social change.

All this is happening with the use of ICT-based technologies, with eGov playing a pioneering role as a magazine focussed on e-governance.

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SPECIAL STORY of articles and interviews featuring in the magazine.

The eGov magazine’s biggest advantage is its ability to carry the views of all the stakeholders in e-Governance domain – policymakers, experts, industry leaders, administrators and the academia.

The eGov, a premier magazine, has been playing a role of a prime witness to all this transformation since 2005 and recording major developments or finest practices being applied in the system through a series of special stories, interviews, case studies and guest columns.

The eGov magazine is India’s first and only dedicated English language magazine on e-governance. Started in 2005, the magazine today takes pride in launching the landmark 150th issue (Part II), a rare feat achieved perhaps by any other magazine, which is dedicatedly working to document and spread awareness on the importance of ICT for good governance in India.

Published by Elets Technomedia, eGov today exists as Asia and Middle East’s premier media and technology research organisation.

The magazine provides an in-depth coverage of e-governance initiatives being undertaken by various States governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and documents various initiatives across India. It also features opinions of ministers, policymakers, global thought leaders through articles and interviews.

At the same time, there is also coverage

of the industry to highlight new trends in the field of IT and e-Governance.

In a congratulatory message, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Information and Technology, and Law & Justice, in a special message to eGov magazine, said: “I am glad to know that eGov, Asia & Middle East’s premier and India’s first magazine on e-Governance, has reached the landmark 150th issue in July 2017.

It is indeed a commendable feat for a magazine, which is dedicated to e­-governance and being published for last 12 years uninterruptedly.”

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, while congratulating eGov magazine on its 150th issue opined: “eGov Magazine has played an important role in creating awareness on e-Governance initiatives in the country.

I congratulate eGov Magazine for completing 12 years of its journey and for coming up with the 150th edition.”

The magazine has usually featured well-defined sections, Big Data Analytics, ICT, Cloud and Data Centers, security, Internet of Things, etc. From movements of bureaucrats to important government officials to industry bigwig movements, all draw a focused attention of the Team Elets and influence an array

The experienced team of editors, researchers, and marketers take a 360-degree approach for creating content – breaking news, feature articles and interviews – that can keep the growing global audience wellinformed on issues of e-governance.

The who’s who in the industry can be found disseminating expert opinions, ideas and innovations through magazine.

To spread awareness and to create knowledge sharing platform between stakeholders on IT & e-governance, Elets started one of its kind ConferenceeINDIA 12 years ago.

Over the years, eINDIA conference has brought together policy makers, experts and industry leaders across India to discuss and deliberate upon various aspects of e-governance and documented their views expressed in the conference as an unique repository on the use of ICT for good governance. eINDIA event reports are also published in eGov magazine.

Secretaries from State IT, Health, Urban Development, Education departments have been part of eINDIA conferences along with top notch Industry leaders from India and world over. Also key policymakers from the Government of India has enriched eINDIA conferences with their presence and visionary deliberations in 12 editions of eINDIA- country’s premier conferences on ICT.

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POLICYMAKER’S PERSPECTIVE

Punjab way of eGovernance: Transforming Governence

Sarvesh Kaushal

Happiness of citizens is the foremost objective of a welfare state. It is the fulcrum on which rests its other goals. Driving its fulfilment calls for good governance that has such sacrosanct elements as adherence to rule of law, participatory decisionmaking, equity, inclusiveness, responsiveness, transparency and accountability. Technology is an enabler for good governance and is an empowering tool for the citizen and an accountability medium for the government, highlights Sarvesh Kaushal, Former Chief Secretary and present Special Chief Secretarycum-Director General, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, Chandigarh.

“The common man is the focus of our e-Governance programmes and schemes.Citizens have been immensely benefitted with the setting up of these centers as they are able to get services of various departments from these singlewindow centers.”

Dramatic developments in the IT sector have transformed the society. It has created an ecosystem for the Government to tap technology-enabled solutions for deployment in the area of governance for the benefit of the

Former Chief Secretary and present Special Chief Secretary cum Director General, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, Chandigarh

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common man. Information Technology opens up tremendous opportunities to provide basic government services to a much broader segment of the population at the optimal quality, time, place and cost.

POLICYMAKER’S PERSPECTIVE

An important step for good governance is simplification of procedures and processes in the Government so as to make the entire system transparent and faster.

The push towards self-certification in place of affidavits and attestations is another indicator of the relationship of trust between the citizens and the Government. Punjab was awarded the Prime Minister Award in public administration for its initiative on abolition of affidavits. Now, this initiative has been replicated by almost all the Ministries in Government of India and other States.

“The State Government is committed to provide transparent and effective governance to the citizens of the State.” bring in greater accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically. Punjab has been using ICT as an effective tool towards good governance and Punjab is a frontline State in the country for implementation of eGovernance projects.

Punjab State derives its e-Governance mission from Digital India programme launched by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi which shall ensure that government services are available to citizens electronically. It would also

Our e-District project which is the backbone of e-Governance in the State has been rated No.1 in the country consistently by Ministry of Information and Technology (IT), Government of India.

The e-Government strategy for the State consists of a portfolio of ICT applications that will electronically

deliver services of the highest quality to citizens (G2C), businesses (G2B), government functionaries (G2G) and government employees (G2E).

The State Government is committed to provide transparent and effective governance to the citizens of the State.

The common man is the focus of our e-Governance programmes and schemes. The State of Punjab has established the State of Art single window front-end delivery channels like Sewa Kendras, Fard Kendras (Land Records), Saanjh Kendras (Police services) which have been instrumental in providing across the counter citizen services. Citizens have been immensely benefitted with the setting up of these centers as they are able to get services of various departments from these single-window centers.

Punjab has implemented many e-Governance programmes like backend computerisation of various departments, online service delivery using State Portal and State Service Delivery Gateway, e-Sarkar, e-District, etc. which have improved the functioning of the government to provide all services in an efficient and hassle-free manner and identified services on an online basis.

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POLICYMAKER’S PERSPECTIVE

Case Watch System For Speedy Disposal of Cases The project titled ‘Case Watch System (CWS)’, being implemented in the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal (KAT), in consultation with Centre for e-Governance, Department of e-governance, Government of Karnataka, has unique and advanced features such as e-filing, e-payment, online scrutiny, dashboards to all stakeholders, etc, says Kapil Mohan, Chairman of Karnataka Appellate Tribunal, in an interview with T Radhakrishna of Elets News Network (ENN).

Kapil Mohan

Chairman of Karnataka Appellate Tribunal

Give us an overview of Case Watch System.

CWS is a state-of-the-art application for e-filing and processing of cases at the KAT. Its objectives are: 1) To automate the existing process based on the Act, Rules and Regulations of KAT for speedy disposal of cases, and to improve communication between the stakeholders.

2) To make the system more citizenfriendly and integrate the State Government Departments (Revenue,

“CWS is a state-of-the-art application for e-filing and processing of cases at the KAT.” 48

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Commercial Taxes and Cooperation to resolve their disputes with the stakeholders in an effective and time-bound manner.

3) The CWS is developed with plans to link up with lower and higher courts for improving functionality with quasi judiciary authorities.

How does the CWS function?

What benefits does it offer?

The CWS enables the petitioners and petitioner counsel to file a case online as well as through the judicial service

POLICYMAKER’S PERSPECTIVE

manned counter at KAT. It enables status tracking of cases, viewing of judgement copies, view various documents on Acts and Regulations; viewing of cause lists. Registration is mandatory to file cases online-a valid mobile number and email ID are necessary, advocates, citizens and CA/ STP, companies and societies can easily register online. The application is available on all gadgets including mobile app. Some of the benefits are: Promotion of teamwork: From the requirement stage to the implementation stage, all stakeholders are actively involved and made everyone felt responsible for the successful implementation.

Improved quality of services: Through CWS web portal, judicial service counter, kiosks, SMS/email and through mobile app, quality of services have improved drastically, and the same have been commented positively by all stakeholders.

Introduction of a unique idea or a distinctively new approach: The time allotted for a file to move from case worker to section head and then to next senior officer has a time limit of three hours, and any delay in that gets escalated to the next higher officer immediately and suitable action is taken.

Facilitating ICT–enabling /e-governance: Through web portal, kiosks, LCD screens, SMS, emails and mobile apps, CWS has ensured the speedy delivery of justice, transparency and accuracy.

Enhanced citizen role, involvement and participation, citizen centric services, easier case filing mechanism, quicker scrutiny and feedback on submitted documents, SMS and email alerts in Kannada and English about every event in the case, judgment search option up to 30 fields

Usability of mobile app and kiosk, survey number verification can be done for knowing whether there is any litigation on that particular land, promotional of sustainable PublicPrivate Partnership.

Increased efficiency or cost service delivered: Efficiency has been increased by making information available to all stakeholders with a touch of a button. Information is digital now and updated on a daily basis.

Computerisation of records and access to citizen:15,000 running case files are completely scanned and uploaded which consists of an average of 100 pages each, with metadata entry of close to 100 fields for each file.

What is the technical architecture of the application and what are its benefits?

The entire application has been built on open source technologies-Java as programming language and Liferay as DMS are used. The application has integrated with the document repository. The database used for the solution is postgres.

How CWS is different from e-courts application?

Unlike e-court project, the CWS has

unique and advanced features. The e-courts application, which is currently used in all the lower courts and High Courts in India, enables stakeholders to see the case status, cause list and judgments online. These are the only three things that are made available.

What are the key features of this project?

The CWS offers many features which can be classified under Transparency, Accountability, and Responsiveness.

Transparency: CWS provides seamless access to the information regarding the status of the case and other important information through web portal, kiosks, LCD screens, SMS, emails and mobile apps.

Accountability: The complete registry part of the Court, which handles its backend court process like scrutiny, call for records and serving notice, etc., and the in-court process like assigning next hearing date, etc., are all automated and an escalation matrix is part of the system.

Responsiveness: CWS provides access to their case files from anywhere and at any time to law practitioners, litigants and department users including Judges, which makes the system more responsive and also easy in carrying out the court process.

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STPI PERSPECTIVE

STPI Flying High on Digital India Mission The Government of India through its Make in India, Digital India, Atal Innovation Mission and Startup India initiatives, is focusing on creation of indigenous products and digitally-empowered society. We are confident with these initiatives in place, the IT Industry will also achieve an unprecedented growth in the times to come, says Dr Omkar Rai, Director General, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), in conversation with Souvik Goswami of Elets News Network (ENN).

Dr Omkar Rai

Director General Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)

“This is the time when we have to reap the benefits and work collaboratively with the Government, Industry and the Academia, so that the country can be transformed from a service-based economy to a product-based nation.”

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Give us an overview of STPI. The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) was established in 1991 and registered as an autonomous society under the Societies Registration Act 1860, under the then Department of Electronics (the present Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology), Government of India. Created as a nodal agency to promote software development, hardware manufacturing and export of both, STPI has been providing statutory services under a ‘single window clearance’ mechanism from 57 STPI centres spread across the country since its inception.

STPI was also entrusted to provide the IT industry with incubation support and Internet bandwidth support. It was licensed to provide bandwidth services to the IT exporters and the IT industry as a whole.

Basically, apart from being a singlewindow support and clearance authority for IT exports, we are also providing infrastructure and other necessary support to the IT industry.

STPI also promotes secondary and tertiary locations in the country by establishing STP facilities in such places to extend the coverage of the

STPI PERSPECTIVE

STP / EHTP scheme and dispersal of the IT/ITeS/ESDM Industry beyond metros for all inclusive growth of the sector.

Will you shed some light on the IT export scenario in India with the help of STPI? STPI, through administration of Software Technology Park (STP)/ Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) scheme, provisioning of High Speed Data Communication and Incubation support to the software exporters, has played a seminal role in the phenomenal growth of IT and ITeS sectors. STPI has come a long way and become highly successful in its mission as a catalyst in positioning India as the most preferred destination for outsourcing IT and ITenabled services. This fact has been aptly proven by the stupendous growth in IT exports, from Rs 52 crore in 1992-93 to a staggering Rs 341,490 crore (tentatively) in 201617, which represents around 50 per cent share in national IT exports.

“Massive adoption of digital payments has encouraged Fintech Industry to explore opportunities in Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies.”

The Government of India has launched India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS), how do you perceive its likely impact in near future?

of emerging technologies such as IoT, Big Data, Cloud, Mobility and AI (Artificial Intelligence), which will engage IT and ESDM industries to innovate and prosper in a significant manner. Also, massive adoption of digital payments has encouraged Fintech Industry to explore opportunities in Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies.

companies with the objectives such as: l Creation of employment opportunities for the youth by promoting the IT/ITES Industry particularly by setting up the BPO/ ITeS operations in Smaller Cities/ Muffassil Towns. l Promotion of lot of investment in IT/ITeS Sector to expand the base of IT Industry and secure balanced regional growth. This scheme would ensure substantial investment and would have a multiplier effect on the economy in times to come.

Indian software and BPO industries have earned brand equity globally and are the largest urban job creators in the country.

The sector contributed around 7.7 per cent to the GDP. The growth of the sector has been centred around metro cities so far. To create approximately 1.5 lakh job opportunities and further propel the growth of IT-BPO industry, especially MSMEs and startups in smaller cities/muffassil towns, the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), Government of India, has notified the “India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS)” under the Digital India programme. The scheme provides financial support in the form of Viability Gap Funding to eligible

How do you foresee the growth of Indian IT Industry in future?

IT/ITeS Industry has reached a level where we can be proud of it. This is the time we have to reap the benefits and work collaboratively with the Government, industry and the academia, so that the country can be transformed from a service-based economy to a product-based nation.

I must mention that for all inclusive and stable growth, demographic shifts are required and it is the need of hour. The Government of India, through its Make in India, Digital India, Atal Innovation Mission and Startup India initiatives, is focusing on creation of indigenous products and digitally-empowered society.

Moreover, the initiatives like Smart Cities and Digi Gaon will leverage a host

I am confident with these initiatives in place, IT Industry will also achieve unprecedented growth in the times to come.

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LEADER’S PERSPECTIVE

Knowledge & Skill Can Shape India’s Future In our country, leadership has been confined to management science, whereas all other areas also require leadership. In order to offer that knowledge and help students understand and evolve, we have established the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership, says Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of Parliament and National Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in conversation with Gautam Debroy of Elets News Network (ENN).

Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe Member of Parliament National Vice-President Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

“In our routine life, in rural and urban environment, we have created a third environment – digital environment. In order to understand and evolve to digital protocols, not only knowledge but skills are also required.”

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Share with us your vision on Indian education sector.

Education in India is in flux. Too many changes are happening and many more are required. The urgent requirement is that the educators who are running the educational institutions in India — principals, headmasters, vice-chancellors —need to take into account employability of the students.

Most of the Indian universities produce graduates, post graduates and diploma or certificate holders who are not worthy of employment. This

has been the observation of trade and industry sectors. They have their own examination and they are not happy with the results. Therefore, universities need to fine-tune their syllabus in such a way that the ‘employability quotient’ of a student could be enhanced.

The process of teaching has become very technical and has lost its vibrancy. Our glorious tradition of education puts emphasis on a very healthy and vibrant teacher-studentrelationship. Unfortunately, this is missing in the changing scenario.

Therefore, greater coexistence –

LEADER’S PERSPECTIVE

staying together of the teacher and the student – is required. If that happens, we can achieve the objective of teaching and learning by illustrations and examples.

The management in our world-class universities and institutions is in shambles. There are issues with which we are grappling for decades. For instance, admission procedures in our schools, colleges and universities are not very transparent and people are also not very confident that merit alone will be a decisive factor. So, it requires an urgent attention.

If we talk about examination procedure, it is also becoming extremely complicated. Universities have become examination conducting machines. Even evaluation of answer sheets is something which requires urgent attention. The course content is fairly Westernised, or is based more on theory and sometimes based on superficial understanding of the subject. The comprehensive mess in the content of our education requires special attention.

Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership has been recently setup. Tell us about this institute.

The primary object is to promote the social, political and democratic leadership and thinking. The idea is to provide the largely technocrat young community with a chance to learn about political leadership, science and governance. In our country, leadership has been confined to management science, whereas all other areas also require leadership. In order to offer that knowledge and help students understand and evolve, we have established the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership.

The government is taking a lot of initiative on Digital India. What

“Greater coexistence – staying together of the teacher and the student – is required. ”

do you think about it?

Digitisation is a process nobody can stop. It is impacting every citizen in multiple ways and multiple arenas.

Therefore, a sound understanding of digital protocols is required. In our routine life, in rural and urban environment, we have created a third environment – digital environment. In order to understand and evolve to digital protocols, not only knowledge but skills are also required. These are the things we need to prepare our society for in the days to come.

Late President APJ Kalam had a dream of making India a ‘superpower’ by 2020. How do you think this dream can be fructified?

Under an able leadership, India can certainly dream of becoming a ‘superpower’ by 2020. However, the superpower status should not remain confined to only possessing arms, ammunitions and technologies that are used in establishing military supremacy. When we say superpower, it also means that we should be capable of helping and mentoring all the disadvantaged, deprived and marginalised communities and countries world over to move towards progress. To take everybody towards development, ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’ is the only mantra and is applicable

not only to India but to the whole world. In that context, I believe, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is certainly poised to become a Viswaguru or a superpower.?

eGov Magazine is coming with its 150th edition. What message would you like to convey to our readers?

As far as e-governance is concerned, magazines like eGov have a cut-role.

With society moving towards an e-era: e-Public life, e-Governance, e-Administration- our social, professional, administration and governance lives are also changing. In a situation like this, magazines like eGov have a particular role in educating people because everything ‘e’ is not always good.

In that context, magazines like eGov play a crucial role in developing a confidence on ‘e’ systems and working and fine-tuning wherever some reforms are required. All these issues need to be the agenda of the eGov magazine. I am sure whatever work you have already done, and contribution made in a particular sector so far, is certainly something which generates confidence and you will discharge your duties with conviction in the days to come.

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GUEST ARTICLE

Smart City: A new Urban form for Sustainable Development

Prem Narayan

Deputy Director General, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

“Wind, water and the sun are well known sources of sustainable energy. Biomass, a source of sustainable energy from organic materials, is less well-known sources of sustainable energy.”

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Urbanisation is a science devoted to add value to the territory in the sectors including water, power, mobility and green spaces whereas a city is a hub of urbanisation and made up of environment, infrastructure, public spaces, nodes and information network. Due to these challenges and trends, the cities of future have already started working on managing the urban infrastructure and buildings the smart way, writes Prem Narayan, Deputy Director General, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Smart city

The Vision of a Smart City

The concept of smart city puts emphasis on the idea that information technology and digital data can make our cities far more efficient. A smart city brings together different parties on a common platform with an aim to initiate projects and activities to make living, working, mobility, public spaces and connectivity more efficient for its citizens.

l Livability: Cities that provide clean,

healthy living conditions without pollution and congestion. l Workability: Cities that provide the enabling infrastructure – energy, connectivity, computing, essential services – to compete globally for high-quality jobs. l Sustainability: Cities that provide services without stealing from future generations.

GUEST ARTICLE

Essentials for a Smart City A smart city capable of becoming both environmentally sustainable and attractive to citizens and businesses requires a new kind of intelligent infrastructure — an innovative, open platform based on smart technologies that can help forward-looking cities more predictably integrate a complex suite of services cost-effectively, at pace and at scale. l Services – Services to the inhabitants in a smart city include hospitals for healthcare, schools for education, sports centres, city hall for administration, police station for security, museum for cultural activities, shops for commercial uses and courts for delivering justice so that overall objective of complete infrastructural facilities is fulfilled. l Use of Sensor Technology – A smart city can create an efficient and smart services delivery platform for public and municipal workers by installing sensors in the city and to create platforms that allow the share of information and give it for proper use to the public, city managers, businesses and professionals. l Remote Control Network – An integrated control network which has a common data transmission infrastructure that monitors all the municipal and supply networks of the service companies involved in the project. l Information and communication Technology – ICT improves the way cities function and communication flows increase the sustainability of cities as it gives people the appropriate information to make well informed decisions. l Smart Mobility – It is extremely important to ensure availability of open public data for its analysis and onward distribution to its users for the use of colleagues and friends and public at large for smooth mobility. l Waste to Energy – Wind, water

and the sun are well known sources of sustainable energy.

Biomass, a source of sustainable energy from organic materials, is less well-known sources of sustainable energy. l Adoption of Bio-climatic Principles – Applying bio-climatic principles in architectural design in a smart city is when we design a building based on and incorporating the micro climate conditions of a given site aiming to secure comfortable

internal climatic conditions (thermal comfort, visual comfort and good quality of internal air) and to minimise energy consumption and utilise renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, water or geothermal energy.

Smart Cities Mission In the approach to the ‘Smart Cities Mission’, the objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of ‘smart’ solutions. The Smart Cities Mission was launched on 25th June, 2015. The focus is on sustainable and inclusive development and the idea is to look at compact areas, create a replicable model which will act like a light house to other aspiring cities. The mission is an innovative and new initiative by the Government of India to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens.

Financing Of Smart Cities The Smart Cities Mission will be operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and the Central Government proposes to give financial support to the mission to the extent of Rs 48,000 crores over five years, i.e., on an average Rs 100 crore per city per year.

Challenges This is the first time a Ministry of Urban Development programme is using a competitive method to select cities for funding and using a strategy of area-based development. This captures the spirit of ‘competitive and cooperative federalism’.

States and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will play a key supportive role in the development of Smart Cities. Smart leadership and vision at this level and ability to act decisively will be important factors determining the success of the mission.

The Smart Cities Mission requires smart people who actively participate in governance and reforms. Citizen involvement is much more than a ceremonial participation in governance. The participation of smart people will be enabled by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) through increasing use of ICT, especially mobile-based tools.

The Prerequisites Smart city is an integration of technology to ensure a balance of competing goals of sustainability, citizen well-being and economic development.

Smart city is an open platform and Smart living and smart working is possible by empowering people through three means – Inform, Inspire and involve. For the Smart City to be sustainable, it is essential that robust systems on infrastructure services monitoring as well as financial resources generation is in place.

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ADB PERSPECTIVE

Future of e-Governance in a South Asian Sub Region ADB’s vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty. Its mission is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people. ADB is committed to reducing poverty through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration, writes Harshita Bhatnagar, National ICT Expert, Asian Development Bank, for Elets News Network (ENN).

Harshita Bhatnagar National ICT Expert Asian Development Bank

“The South Asia Sub regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme of ADB brings together seven countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in a project-based partnership.”

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B

ased in Manila, ADB is owned by 67 members, including 48 from the region. Its main instruments for helping its developing member countries are policy dialogue, loans, equity investments, guarantees, grants, and technical assistance.

Currently, the Asian economy is growing at the rate of 5.9 per cent per annum.

Asia is home to approximately 60 per cent of the world’s population.

Collaboration in various areas is imperative for the growth of Asia.

South Asian South Asia region is one of the fastest growing economic regions. Collaborating through ICTs in South Asia has

produced good results. The large IT workforce in India and China has been instrumental in ICT advancements in the south asian region.

Regional Integration through South Asian Sub regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).

Regional integration is one of the important ways through which ADB works to achieve its vision. It is worthwhile to introduce the efforts regional development initiative by ADB, especially in the field of ICT. The South Asia Sub regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme of ADB brings together seven countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,

ADB PERSPECTIVE

Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in a project-based partnership. The objective of this partnership is to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries, and strengthening regional economic cooperation to build a better quality of life for the people of the sub region. SASEC countries share a common vision of boosting intraregional trade and cooperation in South Asia, while also developing connectivity and trade with Southeast Asia through Myanmar, to the People’s Republic of China, and the global market. SASEC programme was launched in 2001. It has entered its 16th year of implementation this year.

SASEC Information Highway Project (SASEC IH) Essentially, future lies in the integration between South Asian countries for social and trade development goals. To achieve this objective a futuristic Information Highway project was conceptualised by SASEC in 2011.

This project is being implemented in four of the SASEC countries, namely, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Border towns have been selected to provide high speed cross –country connectivity.

Multi-Lateral Regional Government Co-Operative Network Agreements as well as bilateral infrastructure agreements were signed between the relevant ministries of these four countries. The project is being implemented through four implementation agencies with delegated powers of controlling Ministries in all four countries. Kathmandu, Dhaka, Thimpu and Siliguri are the regional hubs in participating countries.

Information Highway project has three components: Village Network(VN), Regional Network (RN), and SASEC Research and Training Network (RTN).

The SASEC VN permits high speed access to rural communities through the CeCs or Community eCenters.

While VN and RTN are IT infrastructure improvement projects that have provided Optical Fiber(OF) based networks to the rural communities in four participant countries in the defined geographic region. The utility of both these networks has been fully achieved by the third component of SASEC IH project, that is, Research and Training Network (RTN). The RTN is dedicated network between four countries and resources are shared between them.

RTN provides direct peering between the four countries. Thr RTN provides essential services in three areas: l Education through ICT l Rural Development and business promotion through ICT l Telemedicine A set of 31 distance learning (DL) courses have been developed on open source LMS -Moodle. Students can access these courses through Citizen

e-Centres or CeCs (called Common Service Centers in India) for as low as Rs 100-200 for a full course on Information Security, Basic of Farming and many more. RTN portal also offers the option of ecommerce portal- Village Bazaar to local businesses. For a small registration fee, villages can sell their products through the portal. The third and very important component of RTN is Telemedicine project.

Telemedicine Module under SASEC Research and Training Network Noteworthy features of telemedicine module under SASEC RTN are that internet access is not required, sites are connected through VPN; doctors at referral hospital can enable instruments at remote site and take readings, and the software interface is very user friendly.

Telemedicine module is a part of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation– Information Highway (SASEC-IH) Project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programme is an initiative to promote economic cooperation between Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and India. Regional Training Centres ( RTC) have been created in all the four countries.

SASEC RTN component has a telemedicine project. This project is benefitting difficult to reach communities in the South Asian sub-region by providing them medical facilities.

For example, in Nepal, Telemedicine System connects Dhulikhel Hospital, as referral hospital and Baluwa Outreach Center, Pachakhal, as a remote site to provide tele-health services to the villagers living around the Baluwa

Outreach Center. In India, MMCH, Guwahati will be the referral hospital connected to Sualkuchi Primary Health Centre Research and Training Network.

Future Trends SASEC Operational Plan 2016-2025 was launched last year. It is a 10-year strategic roadmap, SASEC members gather regularly to discuss and address shared interests, creating support and ownership for the program at the policy level as well as practical collaboration at the technical working level. The SASEC operational plan will adhere to the twin pillars of country ownership and partnership that have anchored the SASEC programme in the past.

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SMART CITY PERSPECTIVE FROM MEGHALAYA

Shillong All Geared Up to Shine As Smart City There are several plans to make Shillong a livable and Smart City while reclaiming its premier status as the educational, cultural and tourist hub of the region, says Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya, in conversation with Souvik Goswami and Ritika Srivastava of Elets News Network (ENN).

Frederick Roy Kharkongor

Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya

“Future ICT initiatives include a dynamic citizen engagement portal, clean Shillong website, mobile app for garbage, traffic and other citizen centric services, etc.”

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Tell us about the mandate of Government of Meghalaya’s Urban Affairs Department?

India’s present urban system consists of 7,933 cities and towns with a population of approximately 377.16 million as per 2011 census. The country is fast emerging as the second largest country in terms of urban growth rising from 5,161 towns and cities in 2001, which is only 10 years ago in comparison to 2011. India has always been a reluctant urbaniser but it has made quite a departure since the adoption of the Habitat-II agenda in 1996. In this backdrop, the mandate of

the Urban Affairs Department in the State is to catalyse and transform our urban spaces into livable city spaces while addressing the enormous challenges of infrastructure deficit, governance and urban development.

How is Meghalaya leveraging the Smart Cities Mission to change the urban transformation scenario in the State?

Meghalaya’s capital city of Shillong has been shortlisted as a probable Smart City as per the latest round of Smart City selections announced on June 23. While Shillong aspires to be a leading and a

SMART CITY PERSPECTIVE FROM MEGHALAYA

livable hill city, due to the limitations and the constraints of the expected current 50:50 fund sharing pattern ratio, efforts are still on to find a solution to address the above complexities, with a view to benefit the State.

Meanwhile, no stone is being left unturned to ensure structural and functional transformations, which are introduced while also suitably focusing on strengthening municipals systems and their governance and to ensure that they are consistent, and in tune with contemporary changes and challenges. There are efforts to converge to take forward the key principles of Solid Waste Management, garbage disposal and waste energy through various projects like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Swacch Bharat while also making maximum leverage through both Central Schemes and State efforts etc.

What are the challenges being faced by Meghalaya Municipal Corporation?

The challenges that can be briefly enumerated are infrastructure deficit, low level of sanitation, urban governance, mobility and transportation issues, unplanned urban growth and development in the backdrop of complex administrative

“A hackathon is being planned to involve and engage students of both schools and colleges and concerned citizens on critical urban issues.� difficulties, traditional body administration in urban spaces, and seismological issues.

How can ICT help in building Smart Cities?

ICT is a critical component in building

up a smart and livable city. In our State, ICT is being used for registration of birth and death, and proposals are at an advanced stage for developing ICTenabled services and citizen interface for areas like property tax, online license building permission, building by- law, etc.

Future ICT initiatives include a dynamic citizen engagement portal, clean Shillong website, mobile app for garbage, traffic and other citizen centric services, etc. A hackathon is being planned to involve and engage students of both schools and colleges and concerned citizens on critical urban issues that matter to them. The above applications are planned to be launched on August 15.

What are the future plans to transform urban landscape in your State?

There are several plans to make Shillong a livable and Smart City while reclaiming its premier status as the educational, cultural and tourist hub of the region. Plans are being formulated to introduce new systems of mobility, innovative mass rapid transport systems and creation of new township, which will absorb the growing urban population in the context of Shillong having far exceeded its carrying capacity.

Frederick Roy Kharkongor at the National Waste Management Summit, Hyderabad.

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SMART CITY PERSPECTIVE FROM MIZORAM

Mizoram Pushing e-Governance to The Next Level

Dr C Vanlalramsanga

Secretary, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department Government of Mizoram

“Mizoram Government has made computer skills mandatory for entry into government services. We also have e-governance society who spearheads public awareness campaign for e-governance initiatives in the State.�

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The Government of Mizoram has a dedicated ICT Department to closely monitor the growth of ICT projects in the State. The ICT Department has set up the State Data Centre for data security, and they are also planning to set up Cyber Security Centre, says Dr C Vanlalramsanga, Secretary, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department, Government of Mizoram, in conversation with Ritika Srivastava of Elets News Network (ENN).

As e-governance has created a buzz in the country. How do you view it as influencing the administrative style in your region?

E-governance is an important driving force for efficiency in public service delivery and innovation in public administration. The influence of e-governance in a small State with high literacy like Mizoram has been tremendous. However, we will need credible, reliable and flawless internet connectivity to effectively implement

e-governance in the State to be able to transform public administration in a very significant manner.

Do you think e-governance is the need of the hour for a developing country like India, especially where access to basic amenities has been a challenge?

The implementation of e-governance will improve public service delivery in the country. The effective use of e-governance will enable the delivery of

SMART CITY PERSPECTIVE FROM MIZORAM

public services to a large base of people across different segments and geographical locations, and marks a giant step forward towards creating a more inclusive society. However, to effectively implement e-governance, we will have to address digital divide particularly challenges relating to capabilities of the Government to deliver e-government services and the capabilities of the people to avail e-services.

How do you view the impact of e-governance on employment front in the light of high unemployment rate in the country? Kindly give an example from your region.

ICT revolution has put tremendous pressure on Governments to do more with less by implementing e-government; improvement in public service delivery while saving on costs, will enable higher public investments and therefore, generate larger employments. Moreover, e-government will put women in a more level playing field or make them more competitive that will also provide better employment opportunities to them.

What steps have you taken for public awareness with regard to new methodologies of providing services being increasingly adopted by digitised Government system?

Mizoram Government has made computer skills mandatory for entry into government services. We also have e-governance society who spearheads public awareness campaign for e-Governance initiatives in the State.

How do you foresee in the changing scenario of availing Government schemes and services? What are the major challenges?

“Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department has been the first Department to use e-office in the State.

Aizawl Municipal Council has also started implementing e-services.�

To effectively implement e-governance, we will have to first address challenges relating to capabilities of the Government to deliver e-Government services and the capabilities of the people to avail e-services. Public Financial Management System (PFMS) is going to change the way Central Sector Schemes are implemented. Direct Benefit Transfer is going to benefit people, but there are many people still unreached by the banks. We will

have to first make financial inclusion.

Unless these problems are addressed, we will not be in a position to successfully implement e-governance in the country.

What kind of security measures have you already put in place to make the system foolproof from sabotage like recently attempted through ransomware cyber attack?

The Government of Mizoram has a dedicated ICT Department to closely monitor the growth of ICT projects in the State. The ICT Department has set up the State Data Centre for data security, and they are also proposing to set up Cyber Security Centre.

How e-governance is driving the State of Mizoram for its urban development?

The Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department has been the first department to use e-office in the State. Aizawl Municipal Council has also started implementing e-services.

Moreover, Aizawl has been selected as a Smart City and our pan-city proposal focuses mostly on digital initiatives. We’ll continue to explore more avenues for e-governance.

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SMART DEHRADUN PERSPECTIVE

Dehradun’s Tryst with Smart Cities Mission Dehradun has been facing rapid urbanisation for last few years, and the Smart Cities Mission will help in making the valley citizen-friendly, sustainable and a refreshingly beautiful city in the times to come. Smart Cities Mission would help in providing us the required thrust, says Ravneet Cheema, Commissioner, Dehradun Municipal Corporation, in conversation with Souvik Goswami of Elets News Network (ENN). Excerpts: Ravneet Cheema

Commissioner Dehradun Municipal Corporation

“The Solid Waste Management Plant coming up at Sheeshambara will turn waste into compost, has a capacity of 300 metric tonnes per day and will be functional from October, 2017.”

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Give us an overview of Dehradun Municipal Corporation.

Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) is spread over an area of 65.5 sq km with an approximate population of 10 lakhs.

It has 60 Wards. The waste generation ranges from 250-300 metric tonnes per day. Surrounded by mountains, Dehradun, the largest city of Uttarakhand, is famous for its scenic beauty. In fact, the corporation area is rapidly increasing due to suburbs, posing a major challenge for waste collection.

DMC is committed to provide cleanliness and other related facilities to citizens. It’s using the latest techniques to minimise human intervention, and using modern technology to ensure that DMC delivers according to its full potential. Being the capital of the State

of Uttarakhand, Dehradun is always bustling with activities and ever increasing inflow of tourists and other people. We try our best to ensure visitors or tourists take along wonderful memories of the Dun valley.

How is Dehradun leveraging Smart Cities Mission to bring urban transformation?

Dehradun has been facing rapid urbanisation for last few years, and Smart City Mission will help in making our valley citizen-friendly sustainable and a refreshingly beautiful city in the times to come. The Smart Cities Mission would help in providing us the required thrust; be it smart ATM’s, green buildings, smart poles etc. overall a very smart city for smart Doonites is

SMART DEHRADUN PERSPECTIVE

on the way. A major impediment in implementing new things is usually funds and the Smart Cities Mission would help clearing that. We are open to new ideas and smart solutions exposure of the mission will definitely help us in achieving targets.

Be it GIS mapping, LED streetlighting or Waste Management, the DMC appears to have undertaken some impressive and effective steps for urban transformation, can you throw some light on the endeavour?

DMC has around 42,000 streetlights, all of which were sodium lights. However, we’ve signed MoU with EESL (A Govt.

Of India PSU) wherein they will change all these into LED lights thereby saving energy by over half of which was used before. A centralised control panel would also be installed for easy monitoring-since earlier we found instances of some of the lights remaining on during the day and a lot of complaints regarding electricity supply.

The maintenance would be taken care of by the company itself. We would be saving the cost under salary wages and repair maintenance annually.

DMC has installed GPS in all of its waste management vehicles. It has made it quite easy for us to monitor the route of each vehicle; speed and stoppages, through geo-fencing. If the vehicle goes out of boundaries of DMC limits, we get notification about it as well. The Solid Waste Management Plant coming up at Sheeshambara will turn waste into compost, has a capacity of 300 metric tonnes per day and will be functional from October, 2017.

We have also launched Swachh Dehradun app through which we are ensuring citizen participation wherein citizens can click photographs of the garbage dump and send it on the app through which it will be sent to the

concerned sanitary inspectors for necessary action.

A Swachta (cleanliness) song is also played on the local radio to educate general public regarding various aspects. We have also distributed blue and green dustbins among our staff to segregate bio-degradable and nonbiodegradable waste at source.

DMC has also identified vacant plots of land for ensuring green space in the city with a high plantation target.

Fifty-four garbage vulnerable points have been identified so that, according to the requirement, a dumpster can be kept and littering and uncomfortable sights could be avoided.

DMC has started Animal Birth Control/ Anti Rabies programme on November 16. DMC has sterilised almost 6,000 stray dogs through its ABC/ARV programme. Our target is to carry out 8,000 sterilizations in a year to put a check on the rapidly rising stray dogs’ population.

What challenges do you face as a Municipal Administrator?

People live with a particular mindset for years. If some changes are brought, there are resistances; first and foremost due to lack of public awareness, motivation, lack of sufficient knowledge on benefits of segregation. The public has to be made aware that garbage should be dumped or transferred in dustbins rather than thrown at the

space adjacent to it and also that it is no more ‘waste’ but the ‘new wealth’.

Can you shed some light on the kind of plans the DMC has near future?

Door-to-door collection and transfer stations are on the way for PPP mode.

GIS mapping of properties and PPP collection of property tax is in the pipeline. Night sweeping and garbage disposal will bring significant changes in the overall cleanliness of the city.

Another important aspect of sustainable growth is decentralised waste management. We are going to involve all the bulk generators who are

the stakeholders for coming up with composting bio-degradable wastes on sites and handing over nonbiodegradable waste to DMC workers.

We also plan to rope in individual households for composting of biodegradable wastes. DMC also plans to introduce a more mechanised and modern way of garbage liftng, so that the drudgery manual of lifting garbage is brought to some minimum level. We are also planning to buy smart dustbins through which we will monitor if they need to be cleaned or not. Sweep machines and drain cleaning machines would be shortly added to the fleet of DMC. And, of course, we are going to give a lot of emphasis on source segregation. We have already started the drive by distributing green and blue dustbins to our staff.

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TELANGANA PERSPECTIVE

Telangana Leading e-Governance, M-Governance Revolution in India GT Venkateshwara Rao

Commissioner, Electronic Service Delivery and Mee Seva, Government of Telangana

“We have over 4,500 Mee Seva centres across the state at the mandal-level and citizens are availing them by paying nominal user charges.”

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There is no need for the citizens to interact with the officials for most of the services, and it has been made possible due to a strong Mee Seva network in the state, says GT Venkateshwara Rao, Commissioner, Electronic Service Delivery and Mee Seva, Government of Telangana, in conversation with Sudheer Goutham of Elets News Network (ENN).

Telangana has a legacy of being a frontrunner in e-Governance, innovation and integration of information technology (IT) for administration and delivering services to citizens. Can you highlight the work taken up by your department?

The information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives that were taken up in undivided Andhra Pradesh for better service delivery included e-Procurement, digitisation of records, transport services, Mee Seva, eSeva services and many others that became national models and were replicated across the country.

Telangana IT Minister’s vision is to have contactless service delivery for increased transparency and accountability in the state. This has been the core principle of Mee Seva and eSeva initiatives and, over the time, we have increased the number of services through these platforms. However, we understood that only 20 per cent of the citizens were availing these services due to certain challenges, including lack of ICT infrastructure and digital literacy. Therefore, the government came up with the assisted online service initiatives which are powered by trained staff members.

TELANGANA PERSPECTIVE

We have over 4,500 Mee Seva centres across the state at the mandal level and citizens are availing services offered by them by paying nominal user charges.

The system is accepted so well that over 1.25- 2 lakh transactions take place each day. At present, over 600 services are provided through these platforms, covering 34 different departments. This demonstrates the trust citizens have developed on the system.

A rapid transformation can be seen in other departments of the state in terms of integration of e-Governance and service delivery. Can you tell us about the collaborations of the IT department with the user departments?

Ever since our Hon’ble IT Minister KT Rama Rao and Principal Secretary of IT Department Jayesh Ranjan took charge of the department, the perception towards the IT Department has changed. Unlike earlier, when the department was confined to supplying hardware and handling some projects internally, the collaboration of IT Department with other user departments has increased rapidly in the past few years.

The Civil Supplies Department took up a series of IT initiatives including benefit transfers to farmers, tracking civil supply vehicles and others, while the Transport Department could offer its complete range services online, which can also be availed through Mee Seva centres.

The Transport Department alone accounts for 25,000-30,000 transactions through Mee Seva. There is no need for the citizens to interact with the officials anymore, and it has been made possible due to a strong Mee Seva network in the state. Even the State Police Department is ensuring smart and safe policing and issuing

contactless challans through various IT initiatives.

These initiatives, besides bringing about transparency and accountability, also increased the revenue of the Traffic Police Department. The state civic bodies including Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and others have made several of their services online through MyGHMC App, biometric attendance, online building permissions, GPS tracking of bin vehicles and others.

Similar IT initiatives were taken up by the State Health and Education departments in collaboration with the IT Department. The tremendous work in IT initiatives has fetched the State Government national recognitions.

Amongst all the states in the country, Telangana has been recognised as the best state in terms of e-Governance initiatives for the year 2017 by CSI Nihilent and in 2016, Telangana bagged 46 awards (across all the departments) out of the total 100 Skoch Awards.

Can you tell us about the m-Governance initiatives taken up by the State Government?

Keeping pace with the fast progressing technology, the State Government has made available several citizen services on mobile. One of the first and most successful government mobile app is RTA M-Wallet, which allows a motorist to digitally store his driving license, vehicle registration and other related documents. Since its launch, over 12 lakh RTA M-Wallet downloads speak volumes about its acceptance. It is the highest downloaded government app in India. Similarly, GHMC has launched MyGHMC mobile app which allows the citizens to avail all the government services, register complaints and resolve civic grievances online.

Can you tell us about the T-Folio project of the IT Department

which is believed to be yet another significant initiative towards m-Governance?

We have embarked on a major project called ‘T-Folio’ that will facilitate future upgradations and integrations in the m-Governance space. Mobile app is one of the key elements of m-Governance, while there are other essential infrastructure aspects including payment gateways, SMS gateway, USSD and IVRS Gateway to keep the system of m-Governance running.

Every department that wants to progress towards m-Governance needs to build the entire infrastructure in addition to mobile app. However, the IT Department is building a central m-Governance infrastructure – T-Folio – and providing it to the user department.

With T-Folio, the user department that wants to take an m-Governance initiative can just create a mobile app and integrate it to T-Folio and it will be ready to use in one day. We have been working on the T-Folio for the past one and a half year in collaboration with National Institute of Smart Governance on DPR, RFP and other related works.

The IT Department will be the first government department to use this platform, where 150 services provided through Mee-Seva will be made available through this T-Folio on mobiles. In phase-2 and phase-3, the remaining 250 services that are provided through Mee-Seva, will be made available on the mobile with a time-span of six months for each phase.

This is a very unique initiative and Telangana is only the second state to implement it, while Karnataka is the first state that introduced this system through Mobile One project. The pricing will also be very competitive.

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PSU PERSPECTIVE ON SMART CITIES

India Requires Resilient Cities More Than Smart Cities Growth in the Indian perspective has taken place in an organic manner except for a couple of cities. Each city has evolved in different eras and have inhibited different cultures making them unique, their challenges towards urbanisation are unique and so are their solutions.

Urbanization requires our cities to be resilient, adaptive and ever evolving. Tackling the very nature and concept of urbanisation for cities is nothing less than re-innovation, opines Engineers India Limited (EIL).

“Building urban resilience requires looking at a city holistically: understanding the systems that make up the city and the interdependencies and risks they may face.�

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T

he concept of SMART Cities was conceived with an objective to provide convenient living solution to its citizenry. The thought leaders presented multiple ideas and carried out brain storming to arrive at specific solutions leading conceptualization of a Smart City. The focus for the cities was also on creating

a resilient infrastructure to inculcate the evolving technologies for betterment of citizens.

Emerging countries view urbanisation as a major attribute to revive their economies. The constant migration from villages is creating immense pressure on the already stranded infrastructure of the cities. The rapid

PSU PERSPECTIVE ON SMART CITIES

urbanisation leads to high density in urban population, load on physical and social infrastructure, unauthorised settlement, pollution (air and water) etc, thereby creating a chaotic scenarios at city level as well as State level.

In the cities that are amongst the most livable and declared Smart Cities of the world such as Melbourne, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Adelaide etc, the Smart city concept was imposed in cities only after they became livable with all basic infrastructure and amenities. Most of the cities around the world practiced implementation of this concept on the similar lines. However, the same is not the case with our nation as most of our cities have had an organic growth.

Resilience helps cities adapt and transform in the face of these challenges, helping them to prepare for both the expected and the unexpected. Building urban resilience requires looking at a city holistically: understanding the systems that make up the city and the interdependencies and risks they may face. Therefore, by strengthening the underlying fabric of a city and better understanding the potential shocks and stresses it may face, a city can improve its development trajectory and the well-being of its citizens.

International Scenario The World Bank’s Resilient Cities Programme reflects the conceptual shift in transformation of the cities and aims to help cities adapt to a greater variety of changing conditions with abilities to withstand shocks while maintaining essential functions.

Resilient cities are identified generally on five categories of vulnerability (climate, environment, resources, infrastructure, and community) and five categories of adaptability (governance, institutions, and technical capacity, planning systems, and funding structures).

Indian Context The Indian subcontinent is vulnerable to droughts, floods, cyclones and earthquakes. Among the 36 States/ Union Territories in the country, 22 are multi-disaster prone. As much as 40 million hectares of land in the country has been identified as flood prone, and on an average 18.6 million hectares of land is flooded annually. A total of 18 per cent of country’s total area and about 68 percent of total sown area is drought prone, affecting approximately 50 million people. India has a long coastline of 7,600 km, which is exposed to tropical cyclones and tsunamis. As such, almost the entire country is prone to disasters for which preparedness and preventions are necessary.

Issues and Challenges with Smart Cities Mission The major issues and challenge for the Smart Cities concept in general and specifically the Smart Cites Mission, in India are: l Selective area based development/ non-inclusive approach l Livability and Sustainability Concern l Financial Plan Feasibility l Funding Strategy for Smart Cities (Tier-II & tier –III cities) l Project Implementation plan along with institutional framework l Good Governance Agenda

Benefits of a Resilient City The resilient city provides enormous opportunities for the citizens to grow in the parlance of sustainable infrastructure, cohesive community and thriving economy.

A few tangible advantages are: l More Livable Communities l Economic Growth and Job Creation l Social and Human Gains from Disasters

EIL’s Perspective of SMART Resilient City EIL during the preparation of SMART city proposal, focused on creating a resilient city that would enhance the safety of the citizens and imbibe a sense of belongingness amongst citizens.

EIL also encapsulated the disaster management proposal along with other projects relating to public health services, resilient infrastructure facilities, etc. A River front development project with a total of 7km of retaining wall is proposed in Moradabad, with the prime objective of avoiding flash floods in the city.

Indian cities suffer from the lack of basic minimum services. There is a strong relationship between the size of the cities and availability of civic services.

The access to civic services/amenities is much lower in smaller cities as compared to larger cities. The challenge is to induce resilient infrastructure for creating a sustainable city.

At EIL, we believe in bottom up approach for uniform development and growth of the city. We strongly believe in holistic approach for development of the project/ cities. The project should be proposed in creating a resilient city, understanding the fabric of the place/ neighbourhood, geographical features, availability of resources and morphology.

The projects identified should be feasible enough to implement within the given time frame. EIL with its five decades of service to the nation believes that it could play a prominent part of a programme manager for the cities in the transformation process.

(The article has been written by Adnan Ahmad, Atiq Khan, Dr. Ranjit Rath, Snigdho Majumdar, Corporate Strategy & BD, Engineers India Limited)

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ADVERTORIAL

ABM Knowledgeware - A Category Leader in e-Governance Solutions for Cities ABM is one of the front runners in e-governance solution providers and the only company which has implemented 750+ Urban Local Bodies (ULB) in India

A

n important point here is projects are not just successfully implemented but have been supported and sustained from the range of five to 15 years. There has been continuous improvement aiming at better citizen service delivery and transparency, and ease of doing business at ULB level during this period.

The success and the sustenance of a pilot project in Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) enabled the Maharashtra Government to decide on replicating this solution across the State.

ABM Knowledgeware was selected as Software Implementation Partner for State-wide roll out of ‘e-Municipality in Maharashtra’ in 231 ULBs. This implementation was done between 2010 and 2014. ABM is providing post implementation services to these ULBs and has institutionalised IT in these ULBs by enabling urban reforms. The total number of citizen transactions in these ULBs is more than 816 Lakhs and the volume of financial transactions executed is Rs 8,240 crores approximately.

ABM Knowledgeware has continued to create the footprints of success in ‘E-Municipality’. For Example, ERP Practice at Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), where ABM started in 2006-07, is growing,

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benefitting MCGM significantly in areas of reforms and improved citizen services. Property tax reforms in Mumbai for which ABM developed a capital based value assessment system, ABM also developed the systems for various utilities like AQUA for water billing, ABM CFC and ABM CARE for power sector, etc.

ABM then glided into providing solution of Accrual based Double Entry Accounting System to the Ministry of Defence in pan-India initiative.

Maharashtra, believing in ABM’s versatility with unified quality in its services, trusted ABM’s capability to

make tourism sector ‘e’ centric.

Although all these projects seem countable, it took uncountable hard work, perseverance, focus, skilled manpower force and at last but not the least ‘Adaptability to technology’.

It is needless to say that ABM Knowledgeware gave its best shot while implementing any project and ensured sustenance, and continuous improvement in all projects.

“Smart City and Smart Governance are inseparable for achieving holistic success. ABM has proven itself multiple times giving best RoI to its esteemed patrons across India and looks forward

ADVERTORIAL

to partner with many more States,” says Prakash Rane, Founder and Managing Director of ABM Knowledgeware.

ABM Knowledgeware being a proven leader in ‘E-Municipality’ in India, other big State Governments like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar entrusted ABM with their most ambitious state-wide roll out of ‘E-Municipality’ solution. Thereby, ABM Knowledgeware brought ‘E-Nagarpalika’ to the stage of its successful opening this year in Madhya Pradesh and ‘Bihar Nagar Seva’ in Bihar by respective Chief Ministers.

ABM is trying to bring all best services under its umbrella to cater to the needs of the State. The most recent enhancement is being done by appending Cyber Security ‘the real need of an hour’ to its offering chain.

In this way, ABM Knowledgeware gradually expanded its offerings in various categories.

Some of them are: E-Municipality Solution – This provides e-Municipality solution for ULBs, which caters to crores of citizens by giving Government to Business (G2B) and Government to Citizen (G2C) Services.

Tax Revenue Reforms – This offering

by ABM is to assist municipal-bodies in migration from rent based property tax system to capital-value-based property tax system as well as its automation.

Accounting Reforms Solution – It helps government bodies in migrating from Single Entry Cash Based System to Double Entry Accrual Based Accounting System.

SAP Practise – ABM has been providing ERP implementation along with vital post implementation support to large sized government organisations, with large interface to citizens, since more than a decade.

Mobile Apps – ABM develops apps to

“ABM Knowledgeware was selected as Software Implementation Partner for Statewide roll out of ‘e-Municipality in Maharashtra’ in 231 ULBs.” provide anytime-anywhere service to the citizens as well as for the back offices.

Smart City solutions – Smart City is formed by Smart Governance, which is solely dependent on e-governance solutions and is being rendered by us through our leadership in this domain.

GRP – Government Resource Planning - GRP is an ERP for Government. It is an indigenous ‘integrated office automation system, for government and other government bodies, built with an objective to run a paperless office in all its administrative transactions.

Utility Billing Solution – Water Services - The offering provides billing, accounting, collection and MIS services.

It also provides Consumer Relationship Management solution for water distribution bodies through standardisation of customer facilitation centres and extending services that can be availed online, by mobile app, Kiosk, etc.

Solution for Tourism Corporations – This offering provides central Reservation System with development of tourism portal for the Government.

Cyber Security – This offering empowers your digital workforce which enables user to work faster with a highly secure, yet simple to use remote access solution.

ABM Knowledgeware, playing the major role in e-governance solution and services, is the most ready IT Company to contribute to Smart City initiatives.

It is already making contribution in seven Smart Cities listed by the Indian Government.

In addition to this, it is conducive for other Smart Cities as well to get the maximum e-governance services. This is because its solutions are designed on the guidelines of Digital India. Whereas, various smart components of Smart City like transportation, health, education, security, etc, needs integration with smart Governance solutions given by ABM Knowledgeware.

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INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Abhitech: Harnessing Power of IT to Improve Health Abhishek Tiwari

Managing Director and Amit Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, Abhitech IT Solutions Private Limited

“The mobile solutions has helped PCDF to ensure there is full transparency in the system and the orders are delivered to Anganwadis, some of which are located in remote areas of the state.”

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Abhitech IT Solutions Private Limited developed a comprehensive supply chain management system which has proven to be a powerful, affordable solution tailored to the business needs of Pradesik Cooperative Dairy Federation (PCDF), say Abhishek Tiwari, Managing Director and Amit Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, Abhitech IT Solutions Private Limited, in an interview with Elets News Network (ENN).

Give us an overview of the Supply Chain Management system implemented in PCDF. The Government of Uttar Pradesh announced ‘Hausala Nutrition Scheme’ – an ambitious programme to improve nutritional health of women and children in the State.

The order of milk and ghee under this scheme was placed with PCDF. To supply whole milk powder and ghee to millions of ‘Anganwadi’ centers spread across 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh was a huge task for PCDF. We developed a comprehensive Supply Chain Management system

that had a browser-based interface for computers and mobile phones and app-based interface for iOS and Android smartphones. We used infographics to provide insights and automatic alerts in mobile apps. It was an open source and a fullycustomised solution. This system was easy to use, modern and mobile friendly.

What were the challenges you faced in Uttar Pradesh?

We faced several challenges including large population of the state and limited budget available for IT. There were many stakeholders involved in the entire

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

process who needed to be brought together. The business processes were still evolving for the scheme, but the management wanted to ensure that the delivery was made to the last element of the supply chain – ‘Anganwadis’ in remote villages, and the updates were required on a real-time basis.

How Abhitech managed to deliver the project in record time?

Using agile methodology, Abhitech delivered the entire project in a span of merely two months. Our experienced team used agile development to ensure it was ready just in time. We had done scrums on a weekly basis to meet the tight deadline.

Open source solution: Abhitech used open source platforms to develop this application. This ensured that PCDF did not have to pay for any licensing fee of any proprietary software. This also allowed the dairy federation to have complete ownership of the application along with the source code.

Custom dashboard for each stakeholder: Abhitech provided each stakeholder a custom dashboard that allowed him/her to have quick overview of the information of interest to him/her.

Android app to generate picture receipt for delivery at ‘Anganwadis’: To ensure that the orders were delivered to Anganwadis, Abhitech developed an androidbased app that allowed the delivery person to click a photograph with the random code generated by app and the geo-location coordinates. iPhone app for top management to access real-time reports: Abhitech delivered an iPhone app for the top management to view reports related

“Using agile methodology, Abhitech delivered the entire project in a span of merely two months.” to production, delivery, finances and more. The app has modern infographics and provides insights into short-term and long-term operations of ‘Hausala’ scheme milk and ghee supply by PCDF.

What results did you get after implementing the solution?

Abhitech’s Supply Chain Management system has proven to be a powerful, affordable solution tailored to the business needs of PCDF. Business insight improves productivity: Power business analysis tools help provide real-time insights into performance of all designated organisations and staff Rapid implementation meets needs of business: With rapid deployment of the system, Abhitech has helped PCDF achieve its targets.

Better information management cuts

reporting time and boosts efficiency.

To meet the pressures of managing huge demand of WMP and ghee for ‘Hausala Nutrition Scheme’, PCDF now has flexible system in place to standardise reporting and access realtime information.

All PCDF manufacturing units, nodal officers, milk unions and head office now work in sync to deliver orders timely.

PCDF has 75 nodal officers across Uttar Pradesh, each stationed at a district office. There are about 18 milk unions that work to complete these orders and there are currently two (and more coming soon) manufacturing units at Lucknow and Meerut districts. The head office for PCDF is located in Lucknow.

With Abhitech’s solution in place, all these work are in sync to ensure time delivery of the orders received.

Mobile solutions help PCDF track delivery at ‘Anganwadis’ The mobile solution has helped PCDF to ensure there is full transparency in the system and the orders are delivered to Anganwadis, some of which are located in remote areas of the state. The receipts generated are made available for all stakeholders to see.

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Can Digital India exist without the Information Security?

Rana Gupta

Having born and brought up in semi-urban part of India, I am used to Indian way of doing things when it comes to spending – one step at a time and in all probability think of what is immediately needed. This frugal way of living has served us for generations – though one can argue the efficiency of this way on a long term basis. writes Rana Gupta, Vice-President, APAC Sales, Gemalto.

Vice-President APAC Sales Gemalto

“The Data Integrity attacks, while arguably new to the world of Cyberattacks, are probably known to mankind for a long time whereby the empires have been won/lost on the back of wrong information.”

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W

e worry about building the highways only when the requisite traffic is already there and hence there is no longer any worry about the return on investment.

When we are used to frugal way of living then can that be the guiding light to building Digital India faster and at a lesser cost to the public exchequer?

Why bother about spending the resources on Privacy and Security?

Shouldn’t we be first focusing on having the availability of requisite

digital services and let their adaption be in place before we start spending our resources on securing those?

Having said that, let us spend some time to look at the attack surface that our Digital India is likely to be exposed to. Broadly speaking, there are three category of attacks that the Digital India shall be subjected to.

Denial of Service attacks render the targeted service unavailable for consumption by its users. For example, if the website that is to issue the road-permit for material that is being sent over the road route, becomes

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

unavailable then all the new shipments would come to a halt during the period.

So, essentially, a Denial of Service attack pretty much cripples the service under attack and its impact is visible instantaneously. While one can argue about the likelihood of a service being subjected to such an attack, the very objective of Digital India being to provide the services through digital channels requires the service infrastructure to be publicly available and hence providing a set of readily known entry points for an attack to begin. While a successful attack requires a lot more than just an entry point, it certainly means that these entry points cannot be left unguarded and have to be secured in order to resist unauthorized attempts to enter.

So, really the question herein is, will Digital India be effective and successful if the services are crippled every now and then?

As against the Denial of Service attack that leads to crippling of the very service, in case of a Breach of Information Privacy attack, while the service itself remains available for usage the appeal of service to its user-base starts fading away and hence the service may end up eroding its usability. This is due to unauthorized access to information that is considered sensitive and hence valuable to the business or the individuals that leads to embarrassing situation (for example, public sharing of sensitive medical information can be embarrassing for individuals whereas the public sharing of increase/decrease in per capita income by religion/caste can create embarrassing situation for the governments) or creating a situation of vulnerability (for example, public sharing of income data can make the individuals/companies vulnerable to criminal elements whereas the loss of privacy for sensitive defense information or even the insights to the email communication by ministers and

officers of Government of India, can leave the entire nation vulnerable to a competitive nation). Either way, the service runs the risk of dying a slow death.

Think of this as human being either sick or disabled or dead (all various forms of Denial of Service situations) vis-à-vis the human being losing its competitive position in the society to engage in any fruitful social, personal and/or commercial activities because no one wants to engage with the person. Will Digital India be effective and successful if the citizens stay away from consuming those services? Building citizens’ confidence is a critical aspect to their usage of that service. One can think of the prevailing concerns about the privacy of UID data that is coming in the way of citizen’s adaption of UID linked services.

Lastly, the Data Integrity attacks, while arguably new to the world of Cyberattacks are probably known to mankind for a long time whereby the empires have been won/lost on the back of wrong information. In a Data Integrity attack, the underlying data-set is modified without anyone being aware of the same and hence leading to incorrect outcomes for the decisions made on the basis of that incorrect data-set. Think of someone altering the data related to rainfall or area under

cultivation or the amount of food-grain available in the storage or the number of people below poverty line etc etc.

What will be the outcome? The decisions being made in the wake of that incorrect data shall be incorrect – garbage-in-grabage-out. The challenging part herein will be that it will be far too late before such an attack is discovered and possibly in all the cases the damage would have already been done – for example, the decision to have a particular mix of area under crop cultivation because it was incorrectly thought that there is an abundance of a particular set of food-grain can lead to a situation whereby one set of food-grain will be available in far too excess (leading to crashing of prices for those food-grains and hence bankruptcy for the farmers involved) whereas the other set of food-grain may be available in way too little quantity (leading to sky-rocketing price inflation for those food-grains leading to social unrest). Do we want to build a Digital India that can lead to such a scenario?

The jury is still out there as to whether the answer to these questions is a resounding ‘’no’’ and hence there is no other choice but to explicitly acknowledge the need to build Information Security as a critical part of the Digital India that we intend to have in place. What do you think?.

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INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Honeywell — Playing vital role in Smart Cities Development

Aseem Joshi

Regional General Manager, Honeywell Building Solutions, India

“The Honeywell project in Aurangabad was a network of 30 locations, including the installation of 30 fixed cameras, 10 pan-tilt-zoom cameras, 10 180 D-directional cameras, a CCTV control room, and monitoring centre.”

Honeyell’s products and solutions are at work in 150 million homes and 10 million buildings worldwide, giving customers the ability to capture more and better data faster and across the wireless landscape, improve productivity, safety, and security, drive better decision-making, and reduce costs, says Aseem Joshi, Regional General Manager, Honeywell Building Solutions, India, in an interview with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).

What kind of smart solutions is Honeywell providing for Smart Cities in India?

which are aligned with India’s demographics and ambition to provide ease of living to its citizens.

Honeywell is playing a defining role in the building of smart cities in India with a focus on people, process and technology. Honeywell has emerged as an established ‘thought leader’ with its dedicated team of subject matter experts who share knowledge around technology and policies. This team of experts is continuously sharing the best practices on what could enable government in building smart cities,

Our products and solutions are at work in 150 million homes and 10 million buildings worldwide, giving customers the ability to capture more and better data faster and across the wireless landscape, improve productivity, safety, and security, drive better decision-making, and reduce costs.

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Honeywell’s building management

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

systems are involved in Delhi airport project, enhancing safety, security and comfort for over 36 million passengers each year and in Kolkata airport for more than 10 million passengers annually. We are enabling cities like Ujjain, Bhubaneswar, and Aurangabad, with state of the art surveillance solutions to help build the foundation of a better life. We want to reach out to the farthest corners of the country, equipping them with smart solutions, and helping them improve the overall quality of life.

To which cities have you provided ICT solutions?

Honeywell Building Solutions is engaged with 14 cities in India to make them smart and secure including Bhubaneshwar, Aurangabad, and 11 cities in Madhya Pradesh.

It is also helping Odisha Police with a city-wide surveillance system that helps boost security, prevent crimes, maintain law and order, and control traffic in the State’s capital city.

Around 114 closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) cameras have been installed at 28 strategic locations in the city, including high-traffic junctions.

Cameras and digital video recorders have also been installed on police vehicles.

The same assignment has been undertaken by Honeywell in Madhya Pradesh, covering 11 cities where Honeywell has helped the police department in city surveillance and emergency response technology during Simhastha Kumbh. In total, 667 video cameras were installed across 134 locations in the city. The project covered traffic and crowd management at checking bays, river banks, temples, and ashrams.

During the event, the command and control room gathered real-time data to help authorities react to any incident and monitor areas with

automatic number plate reading cameras (ANPR) using a command and control centre, which integrates the emergency response and traffic management system for the Madhya Pradesh Police Department.

disturbance alert.

The Honeywell project in Aurangabad consisted of a network of 30 locations, including the installation of 30 fixed cameras, 10 pan-tilt-zoom cameras, 10 180 D-directional cameras, a CCTV control room, and monitoring centre.

The results enabled real-time checking and control on traffic violators, crimes and thefts, which enabled Aurangabad to become safer and more secure.

Kumbh Mela, Ujjain, 2016 was a highly successful event of the Madhya Pradesh Government.

How was Honeywell involved in this project?

Honeywell has successfully completed a city-wide installation of surveillance and emergency response technology in Ujjain to support the Madhya Pradesh Police Department’s work in crime prevention, traffic and crowd management during the Simhastha Kumbh.

The Simhastha Kumbh is among the world’s largest holy gatherings that attracted approximately 70 million devotees last year, challenging the city’s resources to effectively maintain safety and security.

Ujjain’s city-wide surveillance project covered all major checking bays connected to the city with integrated closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and

The cameras supporting ANPR technology recognised the number plates of suspicious vehicles against the police department’s pre-loaded data in the system and helped in counting vehicles from various checking bays. Facial recognition cameras facilitated identification of people on the police department’s alert list against their pre-loaded images in the system.

As part of the project, 667 video cameras were installed for the Simhastha Kumbh event at the famous Mahakaal Temple, Ujjain, and at 134 locations around the city. The project covered traffic and crowd management at checking bays, ghats, temples, and ashrams. During the event, the system gathered real-time data to help authorities react to any incident and monitor areas with high disturbance. Cisco, the networking partner for Madhya Pradesh city surveillance project, helped Honeywell manage and process huge volumes of video data on its platform.

What kind of new solutions are you planning to launch soon?

Honeywell continues to invest in advanced technologies such as integrated digital video manager which integrates closed-circuit televisions, automatic number plate recognition cameras, red-light violation detection systems and advanced video analytics, and a unified command and control center, which integrates the emergency response and traffic management systems, and is uniquely positioned to support India’s 100 smart Cities Mission.

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INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

Democratisation of Knowledge-Based Economy While the initial emphasis was majorly on connectivity, networking, setting up systems for processing information and delivering services, we are now moving to automation and computerisation with the ‘Digital India’ initiative, writes Anand Ramamoorthy, Managing Director, South Asia, McAfee.

Anand Ramamoorthy Managing Director South Asia, McAfee

“Digital India initiatives are playing a major role in the Smart Cities Mission, with technology being the pivotal factor that will add the smartness quotient to the task.”

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L

et’s travel back in time when any job related to the Government department involved long queues, lengthy paper work and, at times, lack of clarity. However, from the early 90s e-governance has come a long way with the successful implementation of digital technologies, using IT for wider sectoral applications, reaching out to rural areas and taking in greater inputs from the private sector.

‘Digital India’ is a vision resonating three key areas of focus: l Make various utilities available to the

citizens through cutting-edge digital infrastructure. This will enable

delivery of services like banking and access to service centres at the doorstep of citizens with the assistance of high speed internet. l Focus on governance and services.

This aims to bring everything in the palms of people across departments and places. It will enable providing services to people in real-time, cutting across every hindrance.

l The third and the foremost vision

would be to empower citizens digitally. Consider this, by 2019, the Government is looking forward to having broadband in about 250,000 million villages, 400,000 public internet access points, and 17 million

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jobs created directly with Digital India.

Below are a few points for consideration as we move forward sowing the seeds for future:

Changing Paradigm of Governance With our country gradually embracing technology and progressing towards the realisation of Digital India, Governance, as we know it, has transformed into a two-way channel of communication between the Government and its citizens.

One of the key pillars of the Digital India initiative, the objective of the campaign, is to use business process re-engineering to transform Government processes and make them simple, automated and efficient. Under this, forms will be simplified and only minimum and necessary information will be collected.

Aadhaar, the largest digital identity programme in the world, is now being commended as a marvel of India’s technological innovation and prowess.

The future could see the unique identification number’s potential to bring massive changes in the social welfare sector as a whole and industries alike.

Emergence of Mobile First Economy While we look at e-Governance, let us think about ‘mobile first’ and thus give importance to m-Governance as well.

India is the second largest mobile phone market globally with over 1 billion mobile subscriptions. Of this, smartphone users are expected to grow to 520 million by 2020.

Considering this, no e-governance revolution is possible without focusing on mobile.

l Mobile-based transactions are

growing rapidly, driven by digital wallets and mobile banking, riding on an upsurge in the number of smartphone users. Such a dramatic increase in India has been possible due to the push from both Government and the private sectors. l Mobile technology has the potential to disrupt the basics of business models and habits established over the years and will continue to change the economy of India.

Overseas companies have been increasingly showing an interest to invest and tap opportunities in India, particularly in retail.

Inherent Cybersecurity l Cybersecurity is becoming a top IT

priority among chief information officers (CIO) at both the Government and enterprise levels.

What enterprises and Digital India also need is an integrated and connected architecture approach towards security, so that all points of vulnerability within the network and even externally, when on a cloud platform, are secured. l Apart from state and city level, cyber threats can also emerge from connected municipal services, from public transportation to water purification. In some cases, these services are managed by private companies. So, potential cybersecurity threats can come from many different intrusion points at once. l When it comes to shielding the deluge of data that’s being created with the digitisation initiatives, it would require the adoption of an advanced protection paradigm. The need of the hour is to make cyber security an unavoidable pattern in the IT infrastructure of our country.

Employment Opportunities l There is an abundance of capital all

over the world, but the skilled human resource is at scarce. Here, India’s demographic dividend is going to play a crucial role. Therefore, Digital Skilling is going to become a great potential for growth in the overall architecture of the digital economy. l Technological enablement across industries will impact the employment scenario immensely by increasing skills and job prospects. It is estimated that by 2019, about 1.7 crore young Indians will have proper training in IT, telecom and electronics.

Smart Cities l Digital India initiatives are playing a

major role in the Smart Cities Mission, with technology being the pivotal factor that will add the smartness quotient to the task. The project will make it seamless to monitor everyday concerns of life such as safety, transport, and environment. l The first 60 names for the Smart City project are already in place, and the second list includes 30 more cities under this plan. This would leave aside another 10 to be filled in the near future. Twenty four projects have been completed as of January 2017, and implementation has begun in 49 cities. l IoT will have a major role in “Smart City” initiatives and when everything is connected with each other, security will be the guardian for not just devices but it will also help develop the vision for an integrated IoT ecosystem.

Conclusion Over the next decade, we will see Digital India initiatives become increasingly pervasive. Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality will be a part of the digital agenda of the Government as well. It could enable easier access to a wide number of services for billions of citizens.

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The Path to Smart Governance A rather plain Jane way of looking at it is the evolution of ICT in the public sector from ´Informatisation’ to Smart Governance. The old model (1980 – 2000) led to high costs but yielded limited results, and was merely an attempt to computerise brick and mortar, writes R Chandrashekhar, President, The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).

R Chandrashekhar President, NASSCOM

“The growth of internet connections and smartphone users has truly been astounding – 400 million internet subscribers, 300 million smartphone users, 50k Wi-fi hotspots have all contributed hugely to India’s remarkable digital journey.”

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here were gaping holes in critical areas like Change Management techniques, Process Re-engineering etc, which birthed silos and led to needless duplication. In the subsequent period till about 2014, things were much more wholesome (in comparison). The secondgeneration led to ICT-enabled transformation which was more citizen-centric in outlook and integrated in approach. Some of the areas found severely lacking in the earlier model were addressed, but only to a limited extent.

The implementation of National eGovernance Plan (NeGP) in the last decade, laid the foundation for Smart Governance. A herculean effort was required to bring it to the core of

Government functions. Now contrast it to the current situation, where the Hon’ble Prime Minister himself has been at the forefront of change through e-governance. It is to the Government’s credit that it has rightly identified the growing impatience in citizens as the trigger, and has been working towards a “single window” clearance including real-time response. Good Governance is a fundamental promise of any government. It should entail, a reduction of internal complexities in the functioning of the Government, including faster response time with a high degree of transparency. Levered on New Age technologies and services being accessed by mobile savvy citizens, the government is now trying hard to play catch-up.

LEADER’S VISION

Today, no Governance reform programme can be designed without e-governance at its core. For example, in recent times there has been a huge push to ease of doing business; a closer look would reveal that the best practices suggested by DIPP rests on e-governance and ICT principles.

Secondly, the pointer has moved in other aspects as well. The Government departments have shifted focus from buying software or hardware to procuring services and solutions. This approach has led to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) getting defined with the far greater accountability and transparency. Thirdly, the infrastructure that has been created is in itself commendable, given the sheer scale.

This is not to imply that things are perfect but it has to be appreciated that shared infrastructure (SWAN, SDC, CSCs, UID) created under NeGP has indeed laid the foundation for next generation innovation. It is the resourceful individual who will view the glass as half-full.

experience the “Good and Simple” aspects of it, as vouchsafed by the Prime Minister. And of course, demonetisation and the overdrive to go cashless will always find a special mention whenever we talk about disruption on a truly massive scale. In a different context, Nandan Nilekani in his latest book says, “It’s re-booting a billion aspirations through technology.”

The Internet Economy is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 22% (FY16 – 20).

The growth of internet connections and smartphone users have truly been astounding – 400 million internet subscribers, 300 million smartphone users, 50k Wi-fi hotspots-have all contributed hugely to India’s remarkable digital journey. Staggering numbers as they are, have placed India at number two, after China.

In as much, a new set of opportunities

India’s hard perennial problems towards presenceless, paperless, and cashless service delivery. The “set” includes, Aadhaar for authentication (presenceless layer); eKYC documents, e-signatures and digilockers (consent and paperless layers); and, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which rides atop the National Payment Corporation of India’s immediate payment system (cashless layer). The opportunities presented by this framework are immense for tech startups to develop apps through open APIs which will benefit India’s teeming millions.

Post demonetisation, the drive to go cashless had been extraordinarily bountiful for those who were driving online payments. E-Wallets, RuPay cards, UPI and USSD have all registered mythical growths which were perhaps inconceivable earlier. To overcome the

Digital India Given its wide expanse, it is as much about people’s perception. The first year was marked by an all-around cheer, a nation visibly stirred by the heady promise of “acche din”, a ubiquitous term which came to pass and nearly shoehorned its way into the Webster’s lexicon. As is the case with transformational ideas, it too had its fair share of detractors and naysayers.

The ‘din’ grew perceptibly louder in Year two, when these very same people started questioning the Government on the progress made. Mind you, there never really was a doubt on the intent.

As the months passed by, it became evident that Digital India was also intrinsically linked to other marquee projects – Smart Cities, Make in India, Swachh Bharat, to name a few. The much avowed GST launch is now a month old. Undoubtedly, it’s a landmark of sorts and we will

are being seen, those who are consuming internet-enabled services, using the vernacular medium and opening up a plethora of opportunities for service providers. Typically, these users access the internet on their mobile phones, as opposed to laptops / desktops.

“India Stack” is a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) which allows Governments, businesses, startups and developers to leverage a unique digital infrastructure to solve

lack of internet penetration in remote locations, National Payments Corporation of India, NCPI, created National Unified USSD Platform (NUUP) which works even without the internet. In Aug 2016, NCPI and RBI launched Unified Payments Interface, UPI, which can be used to transfer money between multiple banks using a smartphone.

Some Learnings In the last decade, we have witnessed several instances where merely by

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“going live” e-governance projects have achieved precious little. Often the issues were related to the project design which had been done in silos, at best a piecemeal approach which did not take into consideration the big picture with respect to delivery of services. It only ended up rendering internal processes more efficient, without impacting the delivery significantly. Why would it induce the consumer to switch over?

Capacity building and garnering leadership to deliver on scale remain a huge challenge. The technical agencies of both the Central and State Governments take up advisory or adjudicatory roles leaving little room to develop technological expertise. The resultant loss of focus dilutes overall impact. Technology is changing at a rate which may not always be comfortable, and this has led to a war for talent.

When it comes to hiring people with best technical expertise, the nodal agencies often lose out to the private sector. The impact is often ineffectual, thereafter.

It is rather stark to see a disengagement of large Indian or even global players to be part of transformational projects, and not without good reason. The procurement model is often fuzzy about addressing what is required to deliver on e-governance projects. Fixed pricing without clearly defined boundaries work at cross purposes. In addition, the Government is found dithering in taking timely decisions, fuelling cost overruns which works to its detriment. It ought to be underscored here that in Public Private Partnership models, the payment position leaves a lot to be desired and it’s a grey area where the Government needs a complete overhaul in its approach.

The Significance of Business Intelligence The data which is being churned out every millisecond has three dimensions – velocity, volume and variety. The first

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two dimensions have been around for a while now, but it’s the third dimension which has seen huge traction in the last few years, especially after the advent of social media. Obviously, the Government is a custodian of humongous amount of data that may best be quantified by thousands of multiples of zetabytes, petabytes, terabytes and such other. The real challenge for the Government today is to be able to mine all this data intelligently with the aid of analyticsdriven tools, to cull out meaningful information and be proactive in its delivery. Simply put, data needs to talk to each other. If a person is eligible for Old Age Pension, then the system

“Post demonetisation, the drive to go cashless had been extraordinarily bountiful for those who were driving online payments.” should be able to prompt the applicant well before time. We want to move to a situation where the Government is able to act first before the individual does.

“Customer Delight”, and here’s an opportunity for the Government to truly delight its citizens. For it to be possible, there needs to be a single electronic address for all the citizens and towards this the achievements of UIDAI in driving Aadhar is truly commendable.

It may also be highlighted here that just as we expect the Government to remove silos, we too as citizens need to adopt a collaborative way of thinking and add value by partnering with them to drive desired outcomes. India is a 2.3 trillion dollar economy and one of the few large economies in the world today

which is growing at more than seven per cent. The Government has laid out its grand vision in the shape of marquee projects like Digital India. In addition, India has the largest and amongst the brightest tech talent in the world today.

It is most reasonable to expect that people, processes and technology can effectively combine to deliver on Maximum Governance with Minimum Government.

A Final Word That, India is making a rapid progress towards e-governance, cannot be doubted. The speed at which this is happening is most impressive too, given the nation’s size. In this, the redoubtable contribution of the Indian tech startups deserve a mention.

However, the journey has really just begun, and we are still some distance away from witnessing a truly transformative change in delivery.

Firstly, the rural tele-density penetration at 50% is still quite low and a large segment of society is beyond its present purview. Secondly, PPP projects have to take off in a much bigger way, otherwise it will be impossible for the Government to scale up. Thirdly, change management is vital and it remains to be seen if this transition will be smooth and is able to successfully address the localisation of services angle. Fourthly, it has to be about people – those who are digitally literate (8.2 million trained under NDLM, 2016) and others who are required to develop these technologies and help build scale. Finally, though not wanting to sound ominous and yet - are we living in an environment where we are cyber-secure?

Presenceless, paperless and cashless are fine enough, but it should not come at a cost of security lapses.

Ransomware, to say the least, was a rude wake-up call but thankfully we paid a low price. We may not be as lucky the next time.

The time to act is NOW!

Host Partners CONFERENCE REPORT

The Raipur Municipal Corporation and Raipur Smart City Limited in association with Elets Technomedia Private Limited

Smart City Summit CONFERENCE | AWARDS | EXPO RAIPUR

#elets_smartcity

24th - 26th May 2017 VW Canyon, Airport Road

@SmartCityElets

organised the three-day Smart City Summit Raipur from 24th to 26th May at VW Canyon hotel.

The Summit was inaugurated by Chhattisgarh’s Minister for Urban Development, Commercial Taxes and Commerce and Industry Amar Agrawal. The then Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu participated in the valedictory session of the Summit and inaugurated the Expo along with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh.

Dr Raman Singh later also participated in the Summit and presided over the CEOs roundtable session along with key policymakers and industry decision-makers on the first day.

With Raipur Municipal Corporation completing 150 years of its existence, a special Coffee Table Book and an envelope of Postal Department were also launched on the occasion by the Chief Minister, highlighting developmental journey of the city over the decades. He also launched a special issue of Elets’ eGov magazine, Asia’s first monthly magazine on e-governance. The Summit witnessed participation fromvarious policy makers, stakeholders,and industry experts from across the country who brainstormed over various aspects related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Smart Cities and discussed transformation of Raipur.

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M VENKAIAH NAIDU

The then Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Information & Broadcasting

DR RAMAN SINGH

Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh

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CONFERENCE REPORT

AMAR AGRAWAL

Minister for Urban Administration & Development Government of Chhattisgarh

RAJAT BANSAL

PRAMOD DUBEY

Mayor Municipal Corporation Raipur

Commissioner Raipur Municipal Corporation & Managing Director Raipur Smart City Limited AUGUST 2017 / egov.eletsonline.com / egov

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CONFERENCE REPORT

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Presents

Smart City Summit CONFERENCE | AWARDS | EXPO RAIPUR

24th - 26th May 2017 VW Canyon, Airport Road

Presents

Presents

Presents

Presents

Smart Infra Partner Smart Infra Partner

Smart Infra

Smart In

Smart Infra Partner

Smart Infra Partner

Presents

Smart Infra Partner

Smart Infra Partner

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12th

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12th

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12th

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12th

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12th

Department of Industries Government of Rajasthan

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Department of Local Self Government of Rajasthan

Jaipur Smart City Limited

Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water, Sewerage & Infrastructure Corporation Government Of Rajasthan

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