KOCHI: Even while the state government is planning to ensure online services from all government institutions from November 1, the Kochi Corporation is still unable to implement its e-governance project. All online services, including the issuance of birth and death certificates, which the corporation had planned to start more than a decade ago, still remain a promise and the local body has not been able to handpick a new agency for implementing the project.
The Kochi Corporation council had in June 2020 decided to remove TCS, the implementing agency, and rope in a new agency.
“A high-level meeting held last week has decided to introduce the facility to provide birth and death certificates online without delay. Kochi Corporation is the only local body in the state that does not have the facility. It will soon be ensured with the help of IKM. At the same time, it will take time to develop modules for providing other online services like tax payment,” mayor M Anil Kumar said.
Though, as per the agreement, TCS was supposed to complete the project in 52 weeks, nothing materialised even after nine years. “The dispute between the corporation and TCS should be discussed. We can go ahead with the e-governance project only after settling the dispute. We have held a few rounds of talks with them,” Anil Kumar said. There is a dispute regarding the amount the IT firm owes and the modules it has already completed.
A total of 22 modules for providing various online services will have to be prepared. Out of them, TCS has handed over only five modules to the local body. “For preparing the other modules, we will have to computerise all data, including the tax registry. A few months ago, we had decided to entrust Ooralunkal Labour Contract Society for the digitization of data. But, the opposition wanted to invite tenders where multiple firms can compete. Now, we will have to invite tenders for the same. It will take time,” Anil Kumar said.
Another issue the local body faces is regarding the procurement of hardware for the digitization project. Though computers had been procured for implementing the project a few years ago, all of them have become either defunct or outdated. Addressing this will be a difficult task for the cash crunched corporation. Moreover, a sizable chunk of the estimated project cost has already been handed over to the TCS. Hence, questions will arise regarding spending money for the same project more than once. In that case, the local body authorities will be answerable to the auditors.
At the same time, the opposition councillors see chances of TCS being retained. “I learned that there is a move to bring back TCS. But, I have not been able to confirm it so far,” said M G Aristotle, a Congress councillor.
