The government will begin putting in place paperless systems in public service agencies over the next six months under a plan to steer all state agencies through digital transformation.
It has a goal to substantially reduce duplication of work among state agencies in the next three months, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.
The next target is for all state agencies to stop requiring documents from people seeking public services in the next six months. The aim is to reduce the burden on the public, he said.
Up to 90% of all existing 5,000 state services still require a copy of an ID card or household registration from citizens upon contact, the prime minister said.
In one year, a system will be put in place to manage resources in state organisations, with a network connecting all agencies nationwide and linking with the private sector, said Gen Prayut, who yesterday chaired a meeting of a steering committee on digital government at Government House.
He stressed the need for state agencies, the business sector and the public to integrate their work and propel national development by using digital devices to link and share information.
The use of digital devices will be a tool to scrutinise state agencies, and enhance transparent, efficient and speedy operations by agencies providing public services, the prime minister said.
He also said the steering committee will play a role in centralising and linking data that is not classified with the so-called big data management system.
In March last year, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced the government's digital plan (2017-2021) as part of the state's efforts to reform Thailand's economy and society into Thailand 4.0, with ambitious goals to create a digital hub in Southeast Asia in the next decade.
Gen Prayut said the government also wants paperless systems to be in place in public services agencies by 2021.
The digital transformation programme is aimed at boosting digital literacy and ICT skills among government officials and ensuring state agencies provide more effective services and improve user-friendliness to provide access across different digital platforms.
The prime minister said public service agencies must be given priority to reducing the burden of cost and time imposed on people by using digital systems instead.
Having a channel to communicate with people and constantly keep them abreast of information is also essential, Gen Prayut said.
Yesterday's meeting also approved the establishment of four subcommittees which will be responsible for handling four different tasks.
They included the availability of one-stop services provided via digital platforms, the management of resources in state agencies, developing digitised data collection for policy-makers, and substantial digital infrastructure development.
