Establish e-governance for easy access to govt info
Speakers tell workshop
Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a workshop yesterday called for establishing e-governance to ensure people's easy access to information about the services of different government agencies. They also stressed the need for training of government officials and setting up of infrastructure for information and communication technology (ICT) in government offices. The awareness creating workshop was organised jointly by United Nations Development Programme and Ministry of Planning at LGED auditorium in the city. The workshop was organised as part of the project titled 'Assistance to support for strengthening information and communication technology (ASICT) for strengthening different divisions of planning ministry through ICT.' Speaking as chief guest Planning Secretary Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury said the project would help ensuring better inter-departmental connectivity in the ministry. He hoped that the training of the government officials would also increase their efficiency. He however said e-governance cannot be established over night, it should be done in phases. Once an office gets the facility of ICT, people would get better services from it, he added. The secretary said the government plans to expand the information technology network to chief adviser's office as well as in the secretariat. "The three-year project, started in July 2006, aims at strengthening infrastructure in different wings of planning ministry and training up of officials working there," said National Project Director of ASICT Miah Abdullah Mamun. Commenting on the progress of the project he said they have almost completed recruitment of people and procurement of equipment. In the coming days, they would start setting up of infrastructure and training up of officials, he added. While presenting his paper Anir Chowdhury, e-governance policy adviser of UNDP, said e-governance does not only ensure speedy disposal of tasks, it minimises cost and ensures accountability at different levels. It is not enough that different offices are well equipped with high-tech ICT facilities, it is equally important that people can avail themselves of the benefits from the offices, he added. Anir said the government officials' commitment to serve people is also equally important for establishing good governance.
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