Digital signatures for depts

Technology to ensure faster decision-making

The Delhi government is close to completing the process of allotting digital signatures to decision makers in all departments to speed up file movement under the e-governance plan.

Officials said most department heads have sent to National Informatics Centre lists of top three officials involved in decision-making.

“The three categories of officials identified for allotting digital signatures are those who are involved in disposal of files at the level of initiating, processing or disposing of cases on files,” said an I-T department official.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia hinted in his Budget speech that the Smart City-Smart Governance would be a focus area of the Arvind Kejriwal government with free Wi-Fi and e-governance being top priorities.

The NIC has been engaged by the Delhi government for expanding e-governance services and registration and de-registration of digital signature certificate.

“Each digital signature is going to cost Rs 1,005, so all departments were advised to observe restraint while drawing up the officials who would be given the facility,” said the official.

Sources said digital signatures would also help in faster movement of files and implementation of cabinet decisions, a priority of Kejriwal.

“Apart from transparency, the digital signature step would also give access of file movement information and decision making person to the Chief Minister or the Chief Secretary,” said an official.

The digital signature set is in sync with Smart City projects announced in the Budget. The e-district services launched at sub-divisional magistrate office level has been an achievement in that direction.

On the e-district issue, Sisodia said the entire process of issuing certificate has been computerised. “The executive magistrate will issue the certificate through digital signature. Citizens can take authenticated copies of certificates any number of times,” he said.

The Delhi government has also set up a High Powered Steering Committee headed by Chief Secretary K K Sharma to implement the Smart City projects.

Projects related to e-governance, Wi-Fi transport infrastructure, skywalks for pedestrians, BRT corridors, pollution control, solar power generation, water and sewage treatment and battery-run vehicles are likely to figure in the Smart City Plan.