HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 258: Model Answer

Question: Discuss IT policy of Himachal Pradesh and its role in governance. (8 marks/120 words)

Answer.

The vision of Himachal Pradesh government regarding the development of IT Sector is the inclusive growth of State’s IT for overall socio-economic development with a focus on sustainable growth based on innovation and knowledge, generate employment and promote entrepreneurship.

The vision can be realized through achieving the following objectives:

1. To make Himachal Pradesh as a most favoured investment destination for IT

companies.

2. To build infrastructural support system which can cater to all IT industry requirements.
3. To create a pool of highly skilled manpower to meet the IT sector requirement.
4. To build an institutional mechanism to encourage skilled human resource output.
5. To promote start-ups and entrepreneurship in the field of IT.
6. To establish an e-governance framework with backward automation to promote ease of doing business and create a conducive business environment by ensuring digital service delivery in a time-bound manner.

It’s role in Governance:

In the recent years, the State has been awarded various National e-Governance Awards, Web Ratna Awards and many other accolades. Major e-Governance initiatives in Himachal Pradesh are:

HIMSWAN State Wide Area Network is a reliable and secure backbone to address the information communication requirements and associated services of the State Government and its Departments.

Lok Mitra Kendras LMKs are the front-end delivery points for Government, Private and Social Sector services to rural citizens at their doorsteps, in an integrated manner using Information and Communication Tools and have been set up at GP level.

Wi-Fi Choupal The project aims to create a rural Internet service delivery platform for the villagers, managed and operated by a local person, thereby transforming the village into a “Hi-Fi Village”

MyGov Portal To bring government closer to the common man, MyGov portal has been set up for creating an interface for the healthy exchange of ideas and views involving the common citizen and experts to contribute to the social and economic transformation of Himachal Pradesh.