In a move aimed at promoting digital governance, the Punjab government recently organized a one-day workshop to highlight the importance of national digital platforms in improving public administration. The workshop, which focused on CollabFiles, eTAAL, and the Gov.in Secure Intranet portals, was held at MGSIPA and brought together over 100 participants from various government departments, boards, and corporations.
Mr. Nilkanth S. Avhad, Principal Secretary of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department, emphasized the crucial role of digital platforms in transforming governance systems by enabling efficient, transparent, and secure operations. “National digital platforms serve as the backbone for data-driven decision-making, ensuring that policies and services are more responsive,” he stated. He added that the full potential of these platforms could only be realized through seamless collaboration between departments, warning that the siloed functioning of government bodies often limits the impact of such initiatives.
Mr. Avhad called for greater data integration, enhanced communication, and the sharing of best practices across departments to maximize the benefits of these digital tools. He also stressed the importance of training and awareness programs to equip officers with the knowledge needed to harness the power of data-driven governance, which would improve service delivery, accountability, and public trust.
The workshop was organized by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with the Department of Governance Reforms (DGR), Punjab. The NIC, which provides essential digital infrastructure to government bodies across the country, was praised for its role in promoting efficient and secure governance systems. Mr. Avhad lauded the NIC’s efforts in fostering collaboration between government entities and enhancing the digital infrastructure necessary for equitable and transparent governance.
Additional Secretary of School Education, Mr. Parminder Pal Singh Sandhu, also commended the NIC team for its leadership in digital initiatives, highlighting the critical support provided by NIC Punjab in advancing the state’s digital governance goals.
During the workshop, NIC Punjab’s DDG and State Coordinator, Mr. I.P.S. Sethi, offered a national perspective on ongoing ICT initiatives and reaffirmed NIC’s commitment to supporting the state’s digital transformation efforts. He assured full backing from NIC in achieving the desired objectives of improving governance through technology.
Mr. Vivek Verma, State Informatics Officer of Punjab NIC, welcomed participants and outlined the primary goal of the workshop: to raise awareness about the secure and efficient handling of data and communication through platforms like eCollabFiles, eTAAL, and the Gov.in Secure Intranet. He also highlighted the ongoing projects managed by NIC Punjab, aimed at making governance processes simpler, more transparent, and accountable.
One of the key presentations was delivered by Senior Director of NIC Telangana, Dr. P. Gayatri, who provided a live demonstration of CollabFiles. Dr. Gayatri explained that CollabFiles offers a suite of office services designed to boost the efficiency of government enterprises across India. She also underscored the platform’s integration with Single Sign-On (SSO) frameworks, such as Parichay and Jan Parichay, which ensures a secure, unified, and simplified digital experience for government employees.
In addition, Dr. O.P. Gupta, Director of IT at NIC Headquarters, presented the features of the eTaal and Gov.in Secure Intranet portals. He explained that eTaal provides real-time data on the impact of e-Governance services by analyzing electronic transactions, thereby helping officials monitor the effectiveness of their initiatives. This tool, he noted, is key to improving decision-making and enhancing the quality of public services.
Dr. Gupta also highlighted the Gov.in Secure Intranet, a centralized platform designed to streamline operations across government departments. By offering secure cloud storage and easy access to essential applications such as eMail, eOffice, and SPARROW through SSO, the intranet reduces administrative delays and enhances operational efficiency.
The workshop underscored the need for continued collaboration, training, and investment in digital infrastructure to unlock the full potential of e-Governance platforms. Participants left with a deeper understanding of how these tools can help government bodies provide better, more responsive services to the public, ultimately contributing to more transparent and accountable governance.
