Located in “Pentapotamia” [Greek word for Area with Five Rivers] in the north-west part of the sub-continent, Punjab - “The Granary of India”, came into existence in Nov,1966. One of the most prosperous, wealthiest and vibrant states of the country with typical language, food habits, attire and music, it comprises of 22 well connected administrative districts each having its distinct historic and locational importance. INTRODUCTION Punjab has maintained its growth momentum because of a number of policy measures by the state government, implementation of several vital projects and most importantly never-say-die attitude of Punjabis. ICT projects have been a significant contributor in improving citizen-government interactions, modernization, improving government processes, administrative reforms and gaining people’s confidence. The focus of state government in creating conducive environment for building efficient and cost-effective government is bearing fruits now with the implementation of a host of ICT projects and Right to Service Act. E-COUNSELING FOR PUNJAB STATE TECHNICAL EDUCATION BOARD AND PUNJAB TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY Web-based online Off-Campus eCounselling has been implemented successfully for PSBTE and PTU admissions. This year eCounseling was done for admissions to 55000 seats and 74000 seats for PSBTE and PTU respectively. ePROCUREMENT GePNIC has been implemented in PWD and PMGSY scheme to publish tenders, bid submission, bid Opening and Award of Contract to help bring in transparency and efficiency. Since July 2010, more than 2600 tenders worth Rs 3761 crores have been successfully processed. Single User-friendly WIndow Disposal Help-line for Applicants - A highly successful and acclaimed ICT initiative for the convenience of citizens, SUWIDHA has been successfully running at 95 sites for the last many years improving and upgrading with each passing year. Application status dissemination is done through E-Kiosks, SMS as well as Web. It has received several accolades. SUWIDHA has been refurbished now as SUWIDHA-Web, a web-based centralized system, to offer integrated solution for services like Marriage registration, Bus Passes, Arms License Issuance, Certificate issuance, Identity Card issuance etc. MOTHER AND CHILD TRACKING SYSTEM Web-based system for tracking pregnant women and children for their Ante-Natal Care Check-ups, Post-Natal Care & immunization in order to reduce IMR/MMR/TFR has been successfully implemented. A series of trainings for more than 250 field staff has been held. On an average, 6000 entries are done per day in more than 220 health facilities. Around 7 lakh mothers and around 5.7 lakh children have been registered till date. PROPERTY REGISTRATION INFORMATION SYSTEM MODULE An ISO-certified project running successfully for more than 10 years at 150 sites, it automates all major activities of Sub-Registrar office and covers 27 deeds. Its major features include token issuance, online capturing, storage, printing of photographs on stamp paper, valuation of property, scanning of deed documents online/offline, issuance of mutation notice, etc. NATIONAL ANIMAL DISEASE REPORTING SYSTEM Initiated in 141 blocks for which hardware has been deployed and VPNoBB has been provided. Trainings have been organized for all the field staff and a State level workshop was organized in March 2012. RAKESH SINGH IAS, Chief Secretary, Punjab I am glad to learn that “Informatics” in the forthcoming issue, is focusing on the eGovernance initiatives in the state of Punjab. In recent times, IT has pervaded the Government setup and has radically changed the way our Government establishments function. Committed to provide people-oriented, transparent and effective governance, our state has taken up a number of ICT initiatives in order to make qualitative change in the lives of the citizens and improve the governance mechanism. NIC Punjab has played a pivotal role in improvising a number of government processes by developing and implementing ICT based solutions tailored to meet our requirements. These changes have increased efficiency, made information more accessible, and increased the level of communication with citizens. NIC has successfully facilitated ICT deployment in a number of eGovernance projects such as SUWIDHA for district administration services, eCounseling in in Technical Universities and Technical education board, eProcurement in PWD Punjab, Elections (DISE), eCourts, Health (MCTS), ePanchayat application suite (PRIASoft etc), Agriculture (NADRS), Rural Development and Panchayat, Property Registration (PRISM), Transport (VAHAN, SARATHI) and many other ICT projects. I take this opportunity to express my best wishes to the editorial team of Informatics and appreciation for the contributions made by NIC Punjab. ePANCHAYAT e-Governance in Panchayati Raj Institutions to make them efficient, transparent and accountable, modules namely Local Government Directory, PRIASoft, PlanPlus, National Panchayat Portal and Area Profiler have been successfully implemented. NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME BPL beneficiaries are given a minimum social assistance through different pension schemes. Legacy Data entry has been completed and process for Pension Disbursement is under process. PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Recently initiated central project, master details of various stakeholders has been completed using the SIMS. Digitisation of 68 lakh ration card holders has been taken up using the eRCMS. Thereafter, the issuance of Smart Cards, system of Supply Chain Management and rations cards management system shall start. PRISON MANAGEMENT SYSTEM & VISITOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Successfully implemented in Central Jail Ludhiana, the system is working as a deterrent to undesired and frequent visitors. The government is now planning to replicate the system in eight major prisons in the state. NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK A state-of-the-art multi-gigabit pan-India network conceived to enable scientists, researchers and students engaged in the generation and dissemination of knowledge has been established with 21 nodes. TRANSPORT VAHAN, for Registration of Vehicles, Fee & Fine Collection and Fitness Validity and SARATHI, for Learner’s/Permanent/Conductor/Driving School License is implemented at 65 locations providing Smart Card based RCs and Licences. An initiative to issue Learners’ License through Schools and Colleges has also been taken. Data consolidation to form State and National Registers is also done to provide online services to citizens, issuing authorities and investigating agencies. National Permit Portal, for issuance of National Permit, Stage Carriage Permit and Contract Carriage Permit, is implemented at all the Four Regional Transport Authorities. ELECTION Punjab Poll Day Monitoring System, to capture activities on polling day through SMS from authorized mobile numbers for monitoring reports on CEO’s website. District Information System for Election, a randomization software, to facilitate formation of polling parties, counting parties, EVM randomization, election orders for individual polling parties, micro-observer parties and EVM orders, constituency-wise distribution of employees, department-wise & sub-department wise orders, attendance sheets, Election Duty Certificate, issue of ID Card, etc as per ECI guidelines. In use since 2007, it has also been used by many other states. DISE-MC and DISE-NP have been developed for State Election Commission for Municipal Corporation and Nagar Panchayat elections respectively. WEB BASED COURT CASES MONITORING SYSTEM eCCMS Web (http://ccmspb.gov.in) facilitates departments / officers to manage and monitor court cases. They can track cases, prepare cause-list in advance, and maintain complete history of the case. FILE TRACKING SYSTEM A system to enable tracking and monitoring of file movement in electronic form, has been successfully implemented in Police Housing Corporation, Local Government, Police Hqrs, State Infrastructure Board and Department of Information Technology. eFILE AND eOFFICE eFile is for enablement of paperless office by scanning, registering and routing inward correspondence with creation of file, noting, referencing, docketing, attachments, draft for approvals and movement of files as well as receipts. eOffice enables employees to create their own document online and submit the same for review and publication on the portal. eFile and eOffice implementation has been initiated in Punjab Technical University. AGMARKNET Under AGMARKNET, 199 market nodes are computerized and are reporting daily prices of commodities reaching these markets which is updated and reflected on portal. CENTRAL PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PORTAL Implemented in CPMG office, Punjab circle to publish their Tenders, Tender Enquiries, Corrigendum and Award of Contract details with an objective to provide single point of access to information. SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CASTE CENSUS 2011 of the national population in the year 2011 has been carried out by state. Trainings, creation of users, data transfer were the main activities and more than 1900 GB of household wise image data has been uploaded on the SECC servers. ONLINE SCHOLARSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Merit-cum-means scholarship for the post matric students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and minorities. Eligible students can apply online and the scholarship amount is deposited directly in their bank accounts. Eighth All India Education Survey has been started in all the districts of Punjab. The input for planning new schools, upgrading existing schools, and for enhancing essential facilities, is being collected and captured through a web based application. Border Area Development Plan for development of areas falling on international border, has been implemented for balanced development of border districts by way of infrastructural facilities and promoting sense of security amongst citizens. WAQF MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF INDIA It is successfully implemented for the Management of Properties Registration, Muttawalli Returns, Leasing of Properties, Litigations Tracking, Documents Archiving & Retrieval, Funds to Mosques, Durgah, Kabristan, Imams, Muazzins, Widows, Girls Marriages, Scholarships, Schools, Hospitals, Dispensaries, Musafirkhanas, Skill Development Centres, Loan Management for Development Of Urban Waqf properties etc and GIS of Waqf Properties. E-GRANTHALYA E-Granthalaya, a library automation system, has been initiated in various State Libraries and College libraries of Punjab. A 3 days workshop was also conducted recently conducted. COMPUTERIZATION OF MEDICO- LEGAL AND POST MORTEM REPORTS Conceived under the directions of Hon’ble Punjab and High Court, MedLEaPR is to be implemented at all concerned Health facilities. Successfully tested at Mohali and Ludhiana, MedLEaPR is due for launch for which state data centre infrastructure is being upgraded. eENTRYPASS A web-based solution for issuance of entry passes to visitors to Punjab Civil Secretariat and Punjab Technical University has been implemented. Web Presence / Coordination for 70 Punjab government and 19 District websites covering interaction with users for finalizing the structure / contents of site, cost estimates, URL registration, Remote publishing facility, etc. Technical support is also being provided for the development, deployment & maintenance of web-based projects. Some of the other initiatives are Consumer Courts, Agriculture department, Health Department, Passport office, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, PIB, Sarv Siksha Abhiyaan, Midday Meal and Sakshar Bharat MIS, FCI, General Post Office/Postal Life Insurance, Registrar of Companies, Director General of Foreign Trade etc. Dr. RAJNEESH ARORA Vice-Chancellor Punjab Technical University I am pleased to know that Informatics - an e Governance Publication from NIC has decided to cover IT activities in Punjab State under its "State in Focus" section. Over the period IT has taken long strides in State of Punjab and in particular at Punjab Technical University. PTU is committed to give best services through IT to its stakeholders i.e. Students, Faculty Members, Institutes and University staff. In this regard, PTU has taken many steps forward by providing online services to its community like online payments, online transmission of question papers, interaction with students through its portal etc. PTU joined hands with NIC in the year 2009 for conduct of Online Counseling for Engineering and Pharmacy Undergraduate courses. Till that time, Counseling was a very major event, which consumed lot of manpower and logistics. With start of Online Counseling, there has been a sea change in Admission procedure and it has reduced burden considerably. At the same time, it has brought transparency in our system. Today counseling for each AICTE approved courses is being done by NIC. We have taken a step further by introducing eOffice product of NIC in our University. It is being used by whole of the staff and it has made our life lot easier in searching Information. Recently PTU awarded another project to NIC Punjab namely "DPR study for University Management Solution". We are very eager to get develop an ERP system based on this study. I am proud to say that officers of PTU and NIC work in tandem with each other for bringing in new technologies to PTU. Let PTU and NIC be a team in bringing the much needed change in Education Fraternity. I would like to place on record the work done by NIC Punjab Officers and wish them Success in coming days. CONCLUSION With the dynamic & visionary support of the state government and efforts of NIC Punjab, an impact has been made in the lives of the citizens. The commitment of NIC to explore new vistas of ICT-enabled government processes is continued and shall be perceptible in the shape of further projects with the sole objective of establishing transparent and accountable governance in the state. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Navneet Kukreja State Informatics Officer NIC Punjab State Unit Room No.109, Punjab Mini Secretariat Sector-9, Chandigarh. Tel – 0172-2745776 Email: sio-punjab@nic.in