State IT Centre an undertaking of building golden Madhya Pradesh: CM

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that 2013 will be observed as IT Empowerment Year. A campaign will be launched to develop mindset for using information technology in the state. Training centres will be started to train government employees, youths, women and other people of the state in use of information technology. Shri Chouhan was addressing the inaugural function of State IT Centre here today.
Shri Chouhan said that IT Centre will emerge as the most effective undertaking in building of Madhya Pradesh. He said that a separate Directorate of Information Technology will be constituted soon. IT Cadre will be raised. Electronic products clusters will be developed in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior.
Shri Chouhan said that maximum application of science should be made for uplifting common people’s living standard. Noteworthy good governance works have been carried out in Madhya Pradesh through e-governance, which have been lauded at the national as well as international levels. He informed that international award of United Nations Service Sector has been conferred upon Madhya Pradesh for delivering government services to common people within stipulated time-limit. Experts in Japan, Korea and Singapore were taken aback when they were informed that 84 lakh metric tonnes of wheat was procured in Madhya Pradesh.
Shri Chouhan said that education is incomplete without information technology. Nowadays, even farmers are using mobile phones to avail various services. Out-of-order transformers are being replaced through SMS. Rural people are being greatly benefited through programmes like Samadhan Online and Governance One Day. He said that use of information technology should be expanded further. Process of taking rounds of offices to avail government services should be ended. He stressed the need to issue copies of khasra online.
Information Technology Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya said that newly constructed State Data Centre is among five best IT buildings in the country where ten most ultramodern techniques in the world have been used. He said that Madhya Pradesh has the honour of being one among top five e-governance states of the country. There are immense possibilities in this sector. The department has chalked out a scheme to make school education IT-friendly. Final report on it will be presented after final consultation with experts.
Madhya Pradesh Electronics Development Corporation Chairman Shri Premshankar Verma said that information technology is being developed at a rapid pace in Madhya Pradesh. MoUs worth Rs. 300 crore have been signed in the IT sector of Madhya Pradesh as a result of new IT Policy of the State Government. About 3 lakh persons will get direct and indirect employment following implementation of these MoUs.
At the function, the guests were welcomed by Secretary Information Technology Shri Hariranjan Rao. He said that the centre will meet all kinds of departmental necessities in information technology sector. It was informed that the data centre has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 56 crore with earthquake-resistant and anti-missile technologies. Apart from providing data to all the departments of Madhya Pradesh government, the centre will also collect Aadhar information of state’s 7.50 crore population.
Madhya Pradesh Electronics Development Corporation Additional General Manager Shri A.K. Tiwari proposed a vote of thanks.
Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh, Seed Corporation Chairman Shri Madhukar Hande, Social Welfare Board Chairperson Smt. Sarita Deshpandey and Chief Secretary Shri R. Parasuram were also present on the occasion. At the outset, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan gave away letters of citation to experts and executors linked with construction of State Data Centre. He inspected the centre and lauded construction works. He also stressed the need to make it more fabulous.