e-Gov dept to go paperless

In a bid to infuse transparency and accountability in its working, Karnataka's e-Governance department has decided to go paperless in a week's time.

e-Governance secretary M N Vidyashankar told PTI that 12 other government departments which predominantly have an interface with the public would go paperless by December end this year.

"Which of the 12 departments would go paperless would be decided after discussions with the government," he added.

Meanwhile, there is good news for government employees retiring in April this year. If things go as planned, they can go home with all pension papers on the day of their retirement.

"Pension papers are normally ready after a long time. So, the day you retire, we want to ensure that even the pension papers are handed over," he said. e-governance department has already developed a human resource management system to implement this service.

Vidyashankar said Karnataka government was spending Rs 450 crore (Rs 4.5 billion) to Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) in the current fiscal on e-Governance in government departments spearheaded by his office.

Meanwhile, minister for law and parliamentary affairs S Suresh Kumar said all the courts in Karnataka will get an e-library, making the state first in the country to have the facility.

Speaking at the inaugural function of a new court at Ponnampet in South Kodagu, he said the libraries would help in providing any data required.

The minister also sugested that the advocates should have an academy of their own on the lines of academy for judges.

He said that an 'e-CD' containing information on laws would be available for sale at a price of Rs 200 for the benefit of the public seeking detailed information.