Govt seeks WB funding for e-governance projects

By siliconindia staff writer   |   Wednesday, 24 March 2004, 20:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: Government is in talks with the World Bank for technical and financial assistance for overall e-governance projects in the country. It is also considering addition of two more Mission Mode projects to the existing 22 such projects under the National E-governance Action Plan. "We are in dialogue with the World Bank for overall e-governance projects in the country both at the state and the Centre level for technical and financial assistance which will be in the areas of guiding in project management as well as lending on soft rates", Joint Secretary in IT Department R Chandrasekhar said on Wednesday at an e-governance seminar. He said technical assistance from the World Bank would be in the form of seeking consultancy in project management of large scale projects of e-governance and preparing project structure. As part of financial assistance, the lending could be in the form of grants and loans on softer interest rates. Chandrasekhar said government is also mulling additon of two more 'Mission Mode' projects -- e-procurement and courts -- to the already charted 22 such projects under the National E-governance Action Plan. A core group led by Cabinet Secretary would decide on the matter. Out of the 22 projects, eight are in Centre, nine in state and five are the integrated level.