E-Governance News: 2/2/10

UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION’ LOGO CONTEST OFFERS RS 1 LAKH
Rakesh Ranjan, Ranchi
The Pioneer

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has given citizens of India an opportunity to win Rs one lakh in cash. A member of the public can win the prize if he or she is able to suggest an appropriate logo for the UIDAI, the ambitious project of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and headed by IT czar Nandan Nilekani.

The UIDAI has organised a logo competition. The last date for submitting suggestions is February 28, 2010. The UIDAI has also announced a consolation prize of Rs 10,000. The suggested logo can be sent by email (logo@uidai.gov.in) indicating name, email and contact details of the sender.

The role of UIDAI is to issue a unique identification number (UID) to the citizens of the country to eliminate duplicate and fake identities. The UID would become single source of identity verification in the country. It would be based on biometrics containing details of face and fingerprints. It will also provide the opportunity to the citizens to get rid of using supporting identity proofs like passport, driving license and voter identity cards. It will become single source of identity and will be recognised and accepted across country.

The UIDAI has also planned to connect the project with various schemes launched by the Centre for poor and unprivileged communities to bring them under UID system. Interestingly, the UID can help create a level-playing field for the masses irrespective of State, language, caste, creed, gender, age, geography, experience, social hierarchy.

 

KERALA IT LAUNCHES BLOG FORUM
Kochi
The Hindu

Kerala IT, a State government initiative offering a single-window service to usher in information technology (IT) companies, professionals, investors and service providers to the State’s IT world, has launched a blog forum on its official web site.

The service, said to be part of a concerted effort to increase Kerala IT’s online reach, can be assessed on www.keralaIT.org/blog

The stated objectives of the blog forum include creating a platform for the online community to know about Kerala IT’s various initiatives and projects, projecting the State as a strong contender among the destinations attracting investments in IT and IT-enabled services, and eliciting opinions and suggestions from citizens in general on how to increase the State’s visibility worldwide.

It has been perceived as a channel facilitating interaction between IT professionals and companies and Kerala IT. To ensure that the purpose for which it has been launched is served, the IT facilitator has urged Netizens to sign up and become contributors to turn the platform into a vibrant online community benefiting everyone involved. As a contributor, one can blog about the events and updates about his or her company as well as provide insights to other bloggers through meaningful comments. The Kerala IT team behind the initiative has requested the visitors to inform it about the additional features they like to see on the blog platform to turn it into a truly interactive community.

Besides, the online community has been requested to e-mail vital information or events to be posted online, which will enhance the utility of the web site. The new link offering space for blogs adds to the links, such as those on IT parks, investment opportunities, IT enablers and careers, on the official website.

 

 

NOW, BUY GIDC PLOTS ONLINE
Gandhinagar
The Times of India

If you are an entrepreneur wanting to buy a plot in a Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) estate, all you need to do is click a mouse.

By April 2010, purchase of any of the 50,000-odd plots spread over 181 GIDC estates will be possible online from anywhere in the world. The GIDC unveiled the first-ever online allocation of plots programme on Monday. A complete list of every plot, including a geographical map showing its location, roads and infrastructure facilities, ownership detail, accounting, cost and the latest status will be put online.

“It is single window clearance system in action. We plan to increase the area of GIDC estates by adding another 35,000 ha,” said minister of state for industries Saurabh Patel, who clicked the master computer button to make the allocation at the GIDC office.

The Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics is working on installing a visual information system. “We want to minimise human interface and eventually eliminate it as part of our e-governance initiative for all the GIDC estates,” GIDC managing director Arvind Agrawal said during the online plots allocation ceremony. “Immediately, online applications will be received and plots allocated for 19 large GIDC estates. We plan to expand it for all the estates.”