Lying 526-km northwest of New Delhi, Dharamshala is the headquarter of the Kangra District and was recently declared as the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh. Kangra valley is one of the most pleasant, relaxing and spiritual places in the Himalayas. Marvelously scenic, the upper Dharamshala is well wooded with oak, cedar, pine and other timber yielding trees and offers some lovely walks and finer views. In 1855, more than 3,000 Tibetan made Dharamshala, especially Mcleodganj as their temporary abode. It is also the Headquarter of Tibetan Government. His Holiness Dalai Lama also resides in Dharamshala.
The NIC District Office was setup at Dharamshala in September 1988. It started its activities immediately and created a lot of awareness about computers in the district. To help the district administration, many software namely Schemes Monitoring, Revenue Recoveries, Driving License, Arms & Ammunition Information system were developed and implemented. Since then, the District Centre is providing a yeoman service to not only the administration but also various other departments viz Excise & Taxation, Revenue, Education, Welfare, Cooperatives, Treasury, District Courts, Food & Civil Supplies etc.
Local Area Network has been established in the District Collectorate and all the branches of Collectorate are linked to each other. Officers have been provided with Window based machines and Internet Connectivity has been provided to each officer through DAMA VSAT
E-Governance Centre
Due to keenness to see District Kangra on the top in the area of good governance, Sh. Prabodh Saxena, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, with the active support of NIC, has set up an E-Governance Centre within the premises of the Collectorate at Dharamshala. The Centre, the first of its kind in HP, showcases several e-governance applications. The E-Governance Centre has been established with the following objectives.
• Transparency in the working of the Government; • To ensure greater efficiency, objectivity, accountability and speed in providing services and information to the public. • To provide cost effective service and quality . • To provide single window for all Govt. Services at District Level. • Responsive Administration. • To provide a friendly, speedier and efficient interface. • To eliminate the middlemen
Following activities have been covered in the e-governance centre.
Vehicle Registration (VAHAN). Driving License (SARTHI) Registration of Land Deeds (HIMRIS). Arms License (ALIS). Cash counter. Passport Form Collection Counter (WEBPASS) Land Records –Issue of Record Of Rights -Nakal (HimBhoomi)
The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh inaugurated the E-Governance Centre on 2nd July 2002. In an attempt to improve efficiency and responsiveness in administration, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) has established a Video Conferencing facility at Dharamshala. Hon’ble Chief Minister inaugurated this facility also on 2nd July 2002.
The conferencing system has multipoint conferencing facility through which nine sites can confer with each other simultaneously. The VC studio has been established in the e-governance centre itself. For senior IAS / HAS Officers undergoing training on computers, six VC sessions were held from Shimla on "E-governance in District Kangra" The complete presentations were given from Dharamshala on the activities being covered in this centre.
The Road Map
In future the citizens will be able to see the status of their applications through Internet. Touch screen is also being proposed to be installed in the e-governance centre. Following activities are proposed:
• Driving License Application Status • Arms License Application Status • Vehicle Registration RC Status • Vehicle Details i.e. Owner, Chassis No. etc. • List of Developmental Works sanctioned in Panchayat.
Acknowledging the contribution made by NIC in Himachal Pradesh in general and in District Kangra particularly, Hon’ble Chief Minister honoured Dr. Ambreesh Kumar, Sr. Tech. Director & former SIO HP for providing full support for setting up the e-governance centre. He also honoured Sh. J.P. Kukreti, Technical Director, Transport Div. NICHQ for implementing the Vehicle Registration software in the e-governance centre.
Kangra district took another lead forward in land records computerisation when Honorable Chief Minister inaugurated the facility of distribution of the Records of Rights on 26th Dec. 2002 at newly constructed Mini Secretariat which became functional on the same day.
The Website of district Kangra will be launched soon and which will have information from G2C viz. Blood Donor directory, Complete District telephone directory, Old aged/Widow Pensioner’s database, Disabled/ Handicapped persons database, Board of School Education results etc.