Specialized IT cadre to ensure effective implementation of e-governance programme to boost ‘Digital Punjab’

The Punjab government led by Chief Minister CaptainAmarinder Singh envisioned ‘Digital Punjab’ project to transform the State intoa digitally empowered society and knowledge economy by transforming the oldestablished physical ways of doing business and providing government servicesin new ways that are optimized around real-time system.

The department of Governance Reforms and Public Reforms,being the nodal department, has been mandated to undertake the recruitment ofState Level IT Cadre to execute various IT and e-Governance projects in thestate. The personnel recruited under the IT cadre would be deputed to variousstate government departments for the purpose of extending technical guidanceand support for e-governance programme/initiatives.

According to a spokesperson of the department of GovernanceReforms and Public Reforms, the recruitment process for 324 IT Cadre Officialshas been started and 26 officials have already joined who would soon be deputedto various departments. The second phasewould of hiring Senior System Managers, System Managers, Assistant Managers andTechnical Assistants would  be initiatedsoon.

The cadre would provide technical assistance to thedepartments involved in the execution of various e-Governance/m-Governanceprojects by ensuring their timely implementation, as well as support inGovernment Process Re-engineering and simplification of the processes. The movewill also help foster the state’s IT capabilities by building a cadre of ITprofessionals to be recruited through a well-structured process.

The need for the cadre was felt by the government onaccount of the general lack of capacity in various departments for properimplementation of Administrative/Governance Reforms, e-Governance and backendcomputerisation initiatives. The specialized IT manpower would help thedepartments coordinate closely with the Department of Governance Reforms andPublic Grievances, enabling efficacious implementation of EnterpriseArchitecture and various e-Governance projects including e-Office.

The move will help in effective implementation of thePunjab Transparency and Accountability of Delivery of Public Services Act, 2018that was enacted with the aim to provide government services within thestipulated time-limits in an electronic manner, by leveraging reforms and emergingtechnologies.

The officials recruited through centralized IT cadre wouldreport to and support respective Heads of the Departments/AdministrativeDepartments and work closely with Department of Governance Reforms and PublicGrievances/Chief Minster’s Office for the implementation of transformativeagenda, various sectoral reforms and e-Governance Projects besides achievingthe principles for better governance.