E-Governance Updates: 21/7/09

TAX DEPARTMENT TASTES SUCCESS WITH E-RETURN FACILITY FOR TRADERS
Tarannum Manjul, Lucknow
The Indian Express

A year after the state Commercial Tax Department launched the e-return facility through which the traders in the state could submit their tax online, the scheme seems to be paying off.

Of the 36,000 traders whom the department was targeting, nearly 31,000 have already started to file their returns online.

The scheme has led to timely submission of tax and has helped the department to keep a tab on bogus filing of returns.

“When we had launched this facility, the idea was to ensure that the involvement of middlemen or brokers is checked. Also, this helped us reduce manual work and maintain a soft copy of the records,” said Vishnu Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner (Commercial Tax).

“We have some 36,000 traders across UP who have over Rs 1 crore turnover mark. By launching this scheme, we were focusing mainly on these traders,” Tiwari said.

E-GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES HOLD OUT HOPE: KRIS
Arunima Rajan. Bangalore
DNA (Bangalore edition)

Powered by intellect, driven by values. Similar to Infosys' tagline, India's should focus on transformational projects that will enhance private sector participation in e-governance initiatives, feels Kris Gopalakrishnan, CEO and MD, Infosys, in his inaugural address at a seminar organised by Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) in Bangalore on Monday.

Talking about ex-Infosys co-chairman Nandan Nilekani's appointment as the head of Unique National Identification Authority of India, he said, "The unique ID project is a vehicle for corporate India to participate in transformational projects. I am optimistic that it will succeed. It will be a mechanism for private sector participation in government projects."

On the technology side, as companies subscribe to hosted services, Gopalakrishnan sees traction for cloud computing or 'pay-per use' model. Even as students quizzed him on the outcomes of the Union Budget, Infy honcho felt the government needs to action in on bringing down India's deficit.

As firms are coming to grips with the slowdown, Gopalakrishnan feels the need to build client relationships to stay afloat in hard times is crucial.

HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM LAUNCHED
Kannur
The Hindu

‘Dr. SMS,’ a project that allows people to use their mobile phones to access information on health resources in the State, has been launched.

Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy inaugurated the health information system at a State-level function here on Monday.

The project has been initiated by the Kerala State IT Mission, with technical support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Its objective is to enable the people to use their mobile phones to receive information on health resources such as a comprehensive list of medical facilities available in a locality.

The database now has information on health infrastructure in Kannur, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Thrissur and Ernakulam. The project is a venture of the IT Mission, the NIC, BSNL and the Health Department.

MGRM, BELL ID FORM VENTURE FOR SMART CARDS
Kolkata
The Hindu

MGRM Net, a player in the e-governance technology segment, has announced a joint venture with Bell ID, a technology-leader in card application and management solutions. The joint venture is expected to address the emerging opportunities in e-governance and identity management.

Both partners will equip the proposed 50-50 joint venture with their product IPRs, applications and requisite skills to lead this emerging space.

According to MGRM founder KVR Murthy, while MGRM will offer research based integrated e-governance platforms, the Netherlands based Bell ID has experience in managing a portfolio of international customers in key markets.

Bell ID Chairman Pat B Curran said the joint venture would explore smart card related opportunities secured by biometric applications. Both partners saw this venture as a significant investment initiative.

The joint venture would become operational in the next quarter as soon as it completed the necessary formalities a source said. An operational team is expected to step in as early as next month.

Bell ID, which has expertise in managing ID programme in diverse geographies, offers government ID solutions including national ID card schemes and e-passport solutions.