Updating websites

Govt. departments fail to comply with GAD order

Tahir Mushtaq (TNI)

JAMMU, Aug 01: Despite directions by government to update government websites immediately, not a single website has been updated even after passage of one week.

The directive was issued by General Administration Department (GAD) keeping in view that fact that despite investing crores of rupees under e-governance project since past over a decade most of the websites does not provide updated information.

About ten years back the government had taken a major initiative to implement E-Governance in all the departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSU)s and other organisations under the centrally sponsored scheme.

National Informatics Centre (NIC), a premier institution of the Government of India, established in 1976 is main agency which is looking after the e-governance projects in the state. However respective departments had to maintain the infrastructure which includes the software content.

“Lakhs of rupees were invested in introducing Information Technology (IT) and e-Governance in the day to day working of the government but it is not proving useful information, only few departments keep regular updated information”, said Keshav Sharma, who runs a NGO.

Talking to TNI, Secretary GAD, M A Bukhari said it will some take time to implement the order as there no timeframe has been fixed.

Bukhari further said, “I have recently taken over as secretary of the GAD and I am also very keen about this matter. Directions will be given to officials to speed up the process to update the process”.

Sources said that the departments are not giving any heed to the directions of the government and they are not showing any concern to update the websites which could provide information to the masses.

“Whenever I try to get some information about the state from any government website, it is always shows outdated data. How can a student of person preparing for competitive exams rely on these sites”, said Akhil Sharma, a scholar in Jammu University.