New software to keep track of your file, letter at govt offices

The state Information Technology department is working overtime to provide relief to those whose files and grievance letters have been gathering dust at government offices because of red tape, reports Dharmendra Jore.

The state Information Technology department is working overtime to provide relief to those whose files and grievance letters have been gathering dust at government offices because of red tape.

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The department is fine-tuning the 12-year-old software that currently tracks movement of files in Mantralaya and other government departments across the state.

In the new system, any person, who has a mobile phone or Internet ID, will be given location of his letter or file through SMS or e-mail alerts.

The new system is essential because the old pending file tracking software — the document journey management system — does not help in fixing responsibility on the officers concerned.

“The various departments in Mantralaya receive around 15,000 applications or files every day. Most of them are carried manually, while others are moved through government’s online system,” said a senior officer, requesting anonymity because of lack of authorisation to speak with the media.

“The system working presently can locate a file but the persons concerned do not know which officer is sitting on it and why. There are duplications and the search takes long. We want to bring in more transparency as far as the movement of grievance letters is concerned.”

The official said Principal Secretary, Information Technology, Ajay Bhushan Pandey has made a presentation on the new system to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

Chavan has approved of the idea and the system will soon be introduced across the state.

While the CM was unreachable for comment, Pandey said he cannot speak on the initiative at this stage.

Social worker Sumant Mankar, who came from Vidarbha to Mantralaya on Monday, said new system would be very helpful.

“Finding your file or letter is a complicated job in any government office. Either you get evasive answers [from officers] or told blindly that your letters are with someone else, who is usually untraceable,” he said.