Sitapur, UP state's DM unique partnership with Cyber Cafes for spreading E-governance

Shri Amod Kumar, DM of Sitapur, UP has initiated a smart public private partnership with the launch of "Lokvani" A E-governance software. Its been issued to Cyber Cafes in the area . Lets look forward we hear more such initiatives. Sitapur's Lokvani to make an echo - The Times of India LUCKNOW: Lokvani - the e-governance system indigenously developed and launched in Sitapur by a team of officers last year, blazes a trail in information technology sector as UP government decides to officially adopt the software and implement it across the state by August 15, 2005. A circular issued by the industrial development commissioner Atul Kumar Gupta to all district magistrates and commissioners along with all principal secretaries and secretaries makes the use of software mandatory in order to ensure an effective transparent and accountable online public redressal system specially for the rural sector in UP. The software, the GO passed on June 16 says, shall be used for online registration, follow up and disposal of public grievances apart from providing latest update on the progress of applications for firearm licences or general law and order complaints. The common man can also, at a minimal cost, have access to the list of all development projects under way in a district, details of land and revenue records and even procure online income/ caste/ domicile/ birth or death certificates and driving licence. Priced at Rs 75,000, the software can be bought from Sitapur and all district magistrates are expected to raise their resources at the district level. A brainchild of Amod Kumar, DM, Sitapur, Lokvani has been inspired by similar attempts made by MP and Rajasthan governments in Dhar and Jhalwara. Kumar, who is an IIT alumni, and his team studied, analysed and assessed the projects and developed a package which suited the local needs and aspiration. The best part of the software, says Kumar is that unlike the other two models it does not depend on government’s freebies. The modus operandi, he explained, entails “training and giving licences to operate, to select local cyber cafe owners who would charge for putting complaints on the Lokvani website. The website is linked with the central computer at the collectorate’s National Informatics Centre (NIC) that will be monitored personally by the DM and updated by his staff. The complainant thus can monitor the progress of his complaint. Kumar had demonstrated the software at the senior administrative officers’ conference held on March 4 in presence of chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Following a keen interest shown by the CM, the project was immediately referred to the IT department for a feasibility check.