By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 29, 2015: THE Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in association with the Department of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India and Government of Gujarat, is organising the 18th National Conference on e-Governance on January 30-31, 2015 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Senior Officers from the Government, Industry, academicians, technical experts and NGOs will participate in the event.

The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Ms Anandiben Patel, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh; will be present during the inaugural session on January 30, 2015. The occasion will also be attended by Secretary, DARPG, Government of India, Mr Alok Rawat; Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, Mr R. S. Sharma; Chief Secretary, Gujarat, Mr D. J. Pandian; President NASSCOM, Mr R. Chandrashekhar; Special Secretary, DARPG, Mr Arun Jha; and other Senior Officers from the Government of India and various State/Union Territory Governments.

National e-Governance Awards for the year 2014-15 will be presented in 12 different categories concerning various aspects of e-Governance during the inaugural session by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the Minister of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India and the Minister of State in the Prime Minister Office and Personnel. The Valedictory session will be graced by the Governor of Gujarat, Mr O.P. Kohli and the Minister of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat, Mr Govindbhai Patel. The National e-Governance Awards recognise some of the best Government to Government (G2G), Government to Citizen (G2C), Government to Business (G2B) initiatives taken by various government departments and also initiatives of public sector units and Non-Government Institutions. The Conference along with the Exhibition is a forum to showcase best practices, innovative technologies and ICT solutions. The 18th National Conference on e-Governance, with the theme “Digital Governance-New Frontier”, will explore the benefits of the use of ICT, how e-Governance leaders can act as the agents of change, integrated service delivery and use of mobile platform for expanding access rapidly. Focus sector of the year is “Skill Development and Employability”.

The inaugural session will be followed by a session on “Digital India” and plenary session on “Digital Governance-New Frontier”. Other interactive sessions will include discussions on a wide range of topics such as “e-Governance Leaders as Change Agents”; “Accountable Governance through Social Media and Citizen Engagement”; and “Integrated Service Delivery-Standards and Interoperability”; “Use of Mobile Platform for rapidly expanding access”; “Skill Development and Employability”; Partnership with Industry – New Business Model and Service Delivery”; and “Citizen Services in a Smart City – New Paradigm”.