The Hindu

Mangalore, Jan 13: A new web-based system of tracking files related to applications or complaints is likely to be set up in the district in about two months’ time.

Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj told The Hindu that National Informatics Centre (NIC) was developing software in this regard. The new system would be modelled on the Sitapur district experiment in Uttar Pradesh, where it is working well.

Mr. Ponnuraj said that the proposed system would enable officials to fix responsibility for failures. Under the present system, an official could either attend to a file or sidestep his responsibility, he said. Under the new system, all applications or complaints will be received centrally at his office and forwarded to the sections concerned or district-level offices of the respective department. There is a proposal to provide Simputers to 300 village accounts so that data gathered by them can be quickly made available with the district administration. “This would be done depending on the availability of funds,” he said. The Nemmadi Kendras — counters that receive applications for services at the taluk level — are in for a major change. Beginning January 26, the kendra at Bantwal will start issuing caste and income certificates in five to 10 minutes of receiving applications.

Staff shortage was the major problem in taking governance closer to the people. Of the 300 posts of village accountants approved more than 60 years ago, 107 were vacant. The recruitments to these posts had just been completed, he said.