TCS entrusted with creation of e-forms

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After two years of delay in implementing the digitisation of government offices in Kerala, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been entrusted with the creation of e-forms as part of the State Portal Scheme of the National e-Governance plan.
 It was proposed in October 2009 to implement the project in 13 government departments in the first phase. But, it was delayed following the government not issuing an order to go ahead with the e-form project.
 Sources from the Kerala IT Mission said that the government order in this regard was received only last month. The formalities for implementing the project has been completed and already TCS has been identified for it.
‘’A contract has to be signed with TCS along with framing the guidelines for implementing it at various departments. Once the project starts it could be completed in eight months’ time,’’ sources said.
 The government departments identified for the initial phase are General Education, Registration, Ports and Harbours, LSGD-Urban, LSGD-Rural, Employment and Training, Kerala Lok Ayukta, Motor Vehicles, Kerala Water Authority, Kerala State Electricity Board, Vocational Higher Secondary Education, Rural Development and Fisheries. With the introduction of the facility, the public could use the website of the respective departments to fill up various application forms and submit it online.
Once submitted, an electronic receipt will also be received by the applicant. There is also a provision for tracking the status of the application and this helps in completing the procedures without any delay by the government officials.
 Anyone can use this facility with the help of Akshaya centres across Kerala. The biggest beneficiaries will be NRIs who can submit applications for various purposes from anywhere in the world.
 The main objective of the project is to provide government services to the citizens through the State Government portal as well as to promote e-governance among the citizens. Already, government applications are available online, but it has to be downloaded and submitted as hard copy.
e-forms could be filled online and submitted directly to each department. The portal would be bilingual -- Malayalam and English.