SALEM: The e-governance initiative of the Salem Corporation has virtually lost momentum, as the civic officials have not taken any serious efforts in the last two years.

The civic body had started the initiative to end red tapism prevalent in its offices, reduce the paper work, speed up file processing and transactions and realise its ultimate goal of `paperless office.'

As part of the initiative, it has implemented the computerised tax collection process in 2004. Since then, there has been virtually no effort to realise its goal.

Additional services and features such as an integrated collection of electricity and telephone bills through the computerised tax collection centres (CTCC) are also planned. Except establishing two more CTCCs in the city in addition to the four centres in the last two year, the civic administration has not taken any steps to achieve its goal.

A year ago, the Corporation officials conducted a meeting with bankers for the online payment of property tax and water charges. But the service is yet to come up.

Corporation Commissioner A.M. Selvam has said that administrative problems and lack of trained manpower were the main hindrances in achieving the goal of paperless office.

"But we are serious about implementing the e-governance initiative to facilitate the transition of the Corporation offices into paperless offices and make it convenient to the public."

The civic administration has planned to outsource and implement the e-governance initiative, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail