CBMC - Good Intentions Faulty Implementation ?

CBMC - Good Intentions Faulty Implementation ?

The Planning Commission in March 2005 in consultation with Department of Information Technology brought out the Guidelines for Capacity Building and Institutional Framework for e-Governance under NeGP. These are the few extracts from the document shared for the purpose reference of all:

1. "Keeping in view the enormous task of driving NeGP in line with the overall spirit of service orientation most states are inadequately equipped in terms of personnel and the skill-sets needed to handle the host of issues involved. Many states do not even have an IT/e-Government department or have a skeletal department that is not designed to deal with the complexity of issues involved. For NeGP to achieve its goals, this is the first gap that needs to be addressed.To facilitate the State administration and to carry out the groundwork for the above, prepare project proposals, implement the projects and oversee O&M thereafter, adequate support through a dedicated, professional team need to be in place with appropriate skill-sets and aptitude at two levels:
a. Programme level (i.e. at State Level)
b. Project level (i.e. at Department Level)"

2. "It is important to note that this Capacity Building is for building an internal capacity of the Government. The internal capacity addresses tasks like – preparation of scope of work, preparing RFPs,making internal note-sheets for getting approvals/sanctions, selection of external agencies, managing and getting the best out of external agencies, internalising the outputs/reports of the external agencies, quality assurance, doing cost-benefit analysis amongst various technological and other policy options etc. It should be noted that this team will also directly handle file work, examination of issues etc. on file and no separate examination by a conventional secretariat set up thereafter is envisaged. This team will work directly under the designated Secretary (typically IT Secretary) of the State Government and subject to his overall guidance and administrative control."

3. "Capacity Building by the State Governments should be undertaken through an appropriate
combination of the following two options :
a . From sources present within the Government or PSUs or any state agency or central agency, with required background and experience. In such cases, where required, posts may be created in the concerned department or State Nodal Organisation identified as a vehicle for setting up the capacity and personnel would be taken on deputation. For domain expertise in PeMT, re-employment of retired personnel could also be considered, whenever appropriate.
b. From outside the Government set-up - by engaging Consulting agencies having requisite skill sets mentioned in this document and eligibility criteria, as mentioned in Annexure II. The consulting agencies are required to provide the skilled manpower having the skills, experience and expertise specified. While doing so, the state would follow appropriate selection process. Alternatively the state could avail of the advice and assistance of NISG to undertake this task on their behalf. However such support would be under the overall direction of the State Government. Additionally, if considered necessary and with the concurrence of Planning Commission & DIT, contracts could also be entered into with individuals."

4. "Both in SeMT & PeMT, where a consulting agency is selected for providing the services, due care should be taken to avoid situations of conflict of interests – perceived or real."


Now it is learnt that after four years (March 2005 to March 2009) Department of Information Technology, GOI is all set to form SeMTs and PeMTs in all States. It is learnt that DIT, GOI has shortlisted consulting organizations like ILFS, Wipro, PWC & 3i and reffered the names of these consultanting Agencies to the States for their appointment.

However there are following issues in the above outsourcing of SeMTs:

1. The formation of SeMTs as observed by the Planning Commission was for building the internal capacities of the Government. Planning Commission has categorically observed that the SeMT/ PeMT teams in States will directly handle file work, examination of issues etc. on file and no separate examination by a conventional secretariat set up thereafter is envisaged. In such a case will the ousourced agencies as recommended by DIT be equally liable under Officials secret act, RTI Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, Audit and other statutory requirements as are applicable to a Government Officer.

2. Planning Commission has also observed that the SeMTs have to be right mix of people on deputation, re-employment after retirement, fresh employment through creation of Posts in Department, employment through nodal IT agency of the State, Manpower through NISG and outsourced agencies. However it is not clear that why Department of Information Technology has just recommended an outsourced model ?

3. Further the Planning Commission has also observed that there should be no conflict of interest percieved or real ( pl. notice the word percieved) where a consultancy organization is selected. However it is a matter of record that IL&FS is the NLSA for CSC project, then in case it forms a SeMT in any state the team will monitor implementation of its own project (CSC in this case) through SeMT. Further all other three consultants i.e. Wipro, 3i and PWC are implementing projects in almost majority of the states. Does that mean that these consultanting organizations will quit from those projects in case they form a SeMT in that State ? or do we land up again in a position of conflict of interest where the SeMTs formed by these consultanting organization will monitor their own work in the various projects.

It is therefore suggested that in order to avoid the conflict of interest the recruitment for SeMTs/ PeMTs may happen through NISG or State IT agencies only. In the long run the Government of India may seriously debate the creation of Indian IT Services in consultantion with States .

Thanks and regards,

Sameer Sachdeva