OdishaPlus Bureau
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday asserted that his government is always committed to engaging the people of the State with digital space and providing efficient public services through digital solutions.
“The 5-T initiative of my government is a real platform to have participatory governance,” he said addressing the 53rd annual convention of Computer Society of India here.
Patnaik said the Five-T Mantra is based on the philosophy that Technology, Transparency, Teamwork and Time lead to Transformation. Digital Democracy encompasses social, economic, and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination, the Chief Minister said adding, “Digital Inclusion is an inherent necessity of Digital Democracy just like Social Inclusion is the need of Democracy.”
Patnaik said recent reports suggest that data consumption in India is one of the highest among countries in the world.“The diminishing gap between ‘Data Rich and Data Poor’ is helping us to develop an information-based society that is more egalitarian in essence and thus, more democratic. Though digital democracy is at a nascent stage now, it has huge significance for the future,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister the State Government has made various reforms in labor-management, health sector, skill development, disaster management, and many other areas where citizens are directly participating in the Governance process.“I believe we are in the right direction in ensuring digital democracy in Odisha,” he added.
Lauding the organizers for the convention, he said the society is deliberating on a very pertinent theme “Digital Democracy- IT For Change”, which has relevance to the current as well as future times.
“It facilitates citizens to take part in participatory governance and bring greater transparency to the system,” the Chief Minister said.
This Convention will definitely have a positive impact on the IT scenario of India in general and Odisha in particular, he said. He congratulated all the awardees of the event and particularly, the Team Odisha.
Naveen Patnaik has been conferred with the prestigious CSI E-Ratna Award in recognition of his selfless service to the citizen and the State through e-Governance and & ICT Initiatives. Patnaik was honored by the Computer Society of India (CSI) during its 53rd annual convention, here today.
“I congratulate CSI for holding the IT Convention in Odisha. We, in Odisha, are transforming the state through 5T; and we have taken up many developmental issues through Information Technology in Odisha, said the Chief Minister while receiving the award.
The IT Department of the Odisha Government was also awarded on the occasion. State IT Minister Tushar Kanti Behera and IT Secretary Manoj Mishra received the award.
