JAIPUR, NOV 20: While the state's Department of Information Technology has done a commendable job in preparing a system of e-governance, the government machinery in the state is yet to utilise it, or even to realise its utility.This, perhaps, is the reason it has not received any publicity like Andhra Pradesh, although the department here claims to have done as commendable a job. There is facility for monitoring any project and there are data bases for formulating or evaluating programmes. There is facility for e-link with all districts. All these await utilisation by those in governance.While the interest shown by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has helped project the achievements of his state in this field, the Chief Minister here was reportedly unaware even of the fact there was a site developed and dedicated exclusively for his use.When US-based Price Water House Coopers came to Rajasthan for a survey for irrigation projects, usually a tough and tedious task, they were pleasantlysurprised to find a ready-made system to serve their needs at a click of the mouse.PWHC were here a couple of months ago for a World Bank project for dam safety and rehabilitation, meant for the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, where there are small dams for irrigation purposes. These dams frequently suffer damage and the project is for strengthening of dams and the system in irrigation departments of these states.The project has a significant component of information technology, of which a prime requirement was for a statewide network for data transmission to facilitate handling of data generated in the field. The PWHC found a full-fledged department with precisely this aspect as one of its concerns.Down to the smallest village, data has been fed into the computer. One merely has to click anywhere on the map to get demographic, administrative and developmental information about the place. This is available in a special software developed by the Department ofInformation Technology (DoIT) of Rajasthan Government.Whatever has been done in computerising administration in other states, DoIT has done the same here. The Government of Rajasthan is online with its own website.All district collectors are connected with the state capital through intranet and so are all superintendents of police. Records and information about crimes and criminals are available on the computer for efficient and speedy crime management.The software for the police department developed by DoIT was appreciated by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) which reportedly approved the model for police all over the country.Similarly, the software for elections developed by GOR's DoIT was adopted by the Election Commission of India. Made for Election Department of Rajasthan Government, it contains information about every election held in the state.The election results have been broadcast live on the Net since February 1998, this being the only state to do so. The site received 2,70,000 hitsin one day in November 1998, several times more than the number for the site of the Election Commission itself.
