Govt bodies have no websites

Govt bodies have no websites - not updated properly
TNN
PANAJI: A recently conducted review of 67 various government departments, corporations, local bodies and premier institutions, has revealed that as many as 43 of them do not have any website at present. Besides, of those that have websites, most of them are not updated.

The review was recently conducted by the chief secretary to verify the opening of websites in government departments. A circular issued by the IT secretary Uddipta Ray to all government departments on October 10, 2009 reveals, "The chief secretary expressed not only his concern but also displeasure at the tardy way the matter has been dealt with by the various government departments".

The circular notes, "The situation has been viewed with greater concern because under the Right to Information Act, it has been made mandatory for all the government departments and other organizations coming within the purview of the said Act to not only set up their websites in a time bound manner but also to keep it continuously updated".

The chief secretary, therefore, held such lackadaisical attitudes by the departments as totally unacceptable, the circular notes. Ray has said that the CS has further directed that unless the departments take action to open their websites within 15 days from receipt of this circular, severe action will be taken against the Head of Department concerned.

Department of Information Technology (DOIT) is the nodal department in respect of websites. "The departments which have already opened the websites are required to furnish the details within the next 5 days to the DOIT", the circular states.

Also the departments which are yet to set up a website have been asked to forward information about their department and other details immediately to host the material in the static form in the government of Goa portal, so as to be accessible to the public.

19 October 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition