Microsoft and Punjab govt sign MoU for e-gov

Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd has signed a Memoran-dum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Punjab for jointly developing and deploying an array of techno-logy solutions for e-governance in the state. The MoU was sig-ned in the presence of Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt Amari-nder Singh by BR Bajaj, IT Principal Secretary and Rajiv Kaul, MD, Microsoft
Corpora-tion (India).

With the MoU signing, the Department of Information technology (DOIT) will attain the status of a strategic Micro-soft technology partner for the Punjab Government, consult-ing, developing and executing systems integration projects on Microsoft technologies. As part of the agreement, Microsoft shall invest in skills transfer on Microsoft products and tech-nologies to
DOIT.

The MoU entails the setting up of two centers of excellence for e-governance in Chandigarh and Jalandhar based on Micro-soft technologies, jointly by Microsoft and DOIT. The cen-ters will showcase an array of Microsoft products and soluti-ons and demonstrate the interoperability of Microsoft products with other platforms. They will also facilitate the state government to conduct techni-cal training sessions for the government personnel.

Microsoft will provide its consulting resources to DOIT for the development and imple-mentation of ‘Project Sukh-mani’, which is aimed towards delivering ‘Integrated citizens services’. As a part of this pro-ject, IT applications will be imp-lemented in the areas of land records management, health-care, police, transport, local bodies, citizen services across departments and education.

Microsoft will also assist in development and transfer of ‘skills for ICT project for educa-tion in government schools’, focused towards providing IT education and training to gov-ernment employees, teachers, students from class sixth to class 12th. Microsoft will also train a batch of DOIT/govt of Punjab education department employees personnel during the term of the
MoU.

Microsoft will also initiate setting up of a steering commi-ttee that will facilitate the state government to develop an IT road map for the next three years. As part of the MoU, Mic-rosoft is also committed to advise the Punjab Government on the various e-governance applications that are available today across Governments and recommend the ones that are most suited for the state.

With a view to promote use of Punjabi language in Gover-nment communication and applications, Microsoft also intends to execute a specific MoU around localization with the state of Punjab . This MoU will entail the setting up of Pun-jabi language lab at Patiala, Punjab. Microsoft will assist the Punjab government to develop localized interface in Punjabi for Windows and Office, as well as work with DOIT to establish portals based on Unicode in Punjabi.

Cyber News Service