7 months ago
2
The unexpected removal of the e-application module from the Kerala government’s e-Office national portal (eoffice.kerala.gov.in) has created difficulties for galore users who had relied connected the user-friendly and accessible level to avail assorted online authorities services.
Launched successful 2014, the e-Office portal was designed arsenic a single-window strategy to simplify governance and guarantee speedy processing of nationalist applications. However, with the abrupt withdrawal of the e-application feature, users tin nary longer taxable complaints straight to authorities departments oregon make acknowledgements arsenic impervious of submission — a work that had earlier been disposable to everyone.
Rights activists person questioned the determination to region the module without anterior announcement oregon nationalist connection connected the reason. They allege that some the Kerala State Information Technology Mission (KSITM) and the National Informatics Centre (NIC) person not provided a satisfactory mentation contempt repeated petitions filed nether the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
According to the complainants, officials associated with the portal absorption justified the removal by claiming that e-Office is simply a generic bundle developed by the NIC and implemented State-wide by the KSITM. However, activists reason that this does not clarify wherefore a wide utilized diagnostic was discontinued without consultation oregon notice. They allege that immoderate authorities officials, unhappy with the thought of people-friendly governance, whitethorn person played a relation successful the decision.
“No authoritative effect has been provided by the NIC oregon KSITM regarding the reasons for withdrawing the e-application module till date. The authorities is besides maintaining silence, though we are awaiting a effect from the Chief Minister’s office,” says P.N. Krishnakumaran, 1 of the activists who has filed aggregate RTI applications connected the issue. Citizens are present restricted successful their quality to pass grievances straight done the portal, helium adds.
Mr. Krishnakumaran besides points retired that the alteration was made silently, without immoderate authoritative notification oregon update to users. A portal wide publicised arsenic a citizens’ portal by the authorities should not beryllium unopen to radical who privation to taxable their grievances online, helium says.
Officials astatine the KSITM who responded to 1 of the RTI queries accidental they are unaware of the nonstop reasons for the module’s removal. As the nodal bureau of the project, the KSITM has sought details from the NIC, including accusation astir the method squad that handled the service, they explained successful the reply.
Meanwhile, NIC sources accidental the module was withdrawn due to the fact that idiosyncratic departments successful Kerala person their ain online grievance redress mechanisms. They besides adhd that a akin work has been integrated into the Chief Minister’s authoritative portal — cmo.kerala.gov.in — which is being wide utilized by applicants to taxable complaints oregon feedback.
