Chennai Corporation is exploring the possibility of giving citizens access to information on modules other than that of the public grievance redressal system.
Of the 13 modules covered by eGovernments Foundation, the grievance redressal system is the only one that permits access to information at every level of progress by generating an auto tracking number for a complaint made by a resident. The system pertaining to birth and death certificate, where citizens have access, is done separately by the civic body.
Civic body officials, in recent meetings, have stressed the need for more transparency in other modules such as works management system and legal cases monitoring. All modules that have an impact on citizens are likely to be made online.
If the civic body decides to permit citizens access to the works management system, residents will be able to know more about civic works in their locality. A resident will be able to look at road repairs and expenditure online.
Similarly, legal cases of civic importance could be monitored by residents if they are able to access information pertaining to legal cases monitoring., another module of e-governance. Important judgements on civic issues and information on over 8,500 cases of the Corporation will be covered under the module.
The civic body has also intensified its efforts to commission the e-governance system for modules such as financial accounting and budgeting, collection system, property tax. and personnel management system and pay roll., inventory and stores management, asset management, integrated payment gateway, miscellaneous revenue and receipts, land and estate management and profession tax.
As part of the e-governance initiative, the civic body with the support of eGovernments Foundation has been launching new programmes to improve civic services. eGovernments Foundation is a not-for-profit trust run by Nandan Nilekani and Srikanth Nadhamuni with a goal of creating an e-Governance system established to improve the functioning of city municipalities.
The civic body launched an initiative on July 18 permitting walk-in payment of property tax in the banks. More than 13 banks signed up and the system was inaugurated in a few banks such as Indian Overseas Bank, Karur Vysya Bank and City Union Bank.
Keywords: Chennai Corporation, e-governance
