Microsoft, Orissa ink pact for e-governance

Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Orissa government for joint development and deployment of technology solutions for e-governance in the state.

As part of this pact, the Orissa Computer Application Centre (OCAC) has been appointed as a Strategic Microsoft Technology Partner (SMTP) for the state, responsible for consulting, developing and deploying solutions based on Microsoft technologies.

OCAC will develop a core team to work and train on Microsoft technologies. Microsoft will invest in training and skill transfer on Microsoft products and technologies to OCAC.

The MoU entails the setting up of a Microsoft Center of Excellence in collaboration with OCAC. This centre will showcase an array of Microsoft products and solutions and demonstrate the interoperability of Microsoft products with other platforms.

The centre will also facilitate the state government to conduct technical training sessions for the Government personnel. The MoU also entails the roll-out of the Microsoft Valuable Project initiative for engineering students in Orissa.

This initiative will help create a pool of manpower well versed in software development for e-governance projects of the state government.

Besides, Microsoft will advise the Orissa government on the various e-governance applications that are available across governments and recommend the ones that are most suited for the state.

As part of the MoU, Microsoft is also committed to facilitate the implementation of specific applications for the state government including a Digital Dashboard prototype application, chief minister's information systems and Panchyati Raj and rural development application.

The term of the MoU is for a period of one year. The pact was today inked by Asit Tripathi, commissioner cum secretary, Information Technology and Tourism, Orissa government, and Sudev Muthya, director-Enterprise Partner Group, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd.

Later Muthya told newsmen that the MoU underlined the commitment of his company to work with the Government of Orissa for accelerating the application of IT in the governance process, effecting greater transparency and delivery of citizen centric services.

Orissa IT secretary, Tripathi said, IT has tremendous potential in making government processes more transparent, accountable and participative.