Jaipur, July 1 (IANS). Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma inaugurated the 29th National e-Governance Conference at the Rajasthan International Center (RIC) on Wednesday.
Addressing the inaugural session, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of leveraging technology for good governance since 2014 has revolutionized public service delivery across the country.
He said the Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) scheme has eliminated the role of middlemen in the delivery of welfare schemes, while Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has ensured that benefits of government schemes are deposited directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
He said that key initiatives like Digital India and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have significantly accelerated India’s digital transformation.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Sharma launched the Service Management with Artificial Intelligence and Real Time System (SMART) project, e-Mitra WhatsApp service and Rajasthan Innovation Challenge.
He also unveiled a coffee table book highlighting the digital governance initiatives of the state.
Under this new initiative, citizens can avail 27 government services by simply sending ‘Hi’ to WhatsApp number 946106270.
These services include payment of electricity and water bills, application for various certificates and access to many other government facilities. Once connected, they receive a list of 27 e-Mitra services, allowing them to pay utility bills, apply for certificates and avail other government services directly through WhatsApp.
According to the state government, the initiative aims to make public services more accessible and convenient, as well as reduce the need for frequent visits to government offices and e-Mitra centres.
Representatives from more than 80 central ministries and departments, 28 states and 8 union territories participated in the event.
Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh will attend the conference on Thursday.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated and visited an exhibition showcasing technology-based government services and innovative digital solutions.
Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel and state Information Technology and Communications Minister Rajvardhan Singh Rathore were also present.
Ahead of the inaugural session, Chief Minister Sharma inaugurated an exhibition showcasing digital governance initiatives and emerging technologies.
After the inaugural session, the Chief Minister participated in a round table discussion with industry representatives.
–IANS
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