lucknow

Updated: Oct 28, 2017 12:55 IST

In line with the central government’s Digital India programme, the Uttar Pradesh government announced to go paperless on Friday.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who inaugurated an e-office system, said his office, along with the chief secretary’s and 20 other departments of the secretariat will adopt paperless functioning with immediate effect.

“The move will ensure accountability, bring transparency and increase efficiency in government functioning,” said Adityanath, while dubbing the initiative as historic.

The chief minister transferred first file to deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, who also holds the charge of Information Technology (IT) ministry.

Taking a jibe at red tapism in government functioning, Adityanath said officials are in a habit of creating a new section or setting up a committee to delay decision making.

“The term of the committee is extended from three months to 21 years and the person needing a solution may not survive by then,” he said while setting a deadline for other departments to go paperless.

“We are implementing this in a phased manner as the staff needs training. But all the 94 departments of secretariat and headquarters in Lucknow will have to be connected with the new system by December 31 and with the district headquarters by March 31,” said Adityanath.

Recalling the day when he was given a tour of secretariat, the chief minister said there were piles of files with dust on their covers in every section.

“Those dealing with such files on a day to day basis in office are bound to get asthma. The cobweb of government files must go. And it will, with this new system,” he said while adding, “All the new files will be opened online from today. Old files will, however, be moved manually.”

Insisting that even illiterate were switching over to technology, he gave an example of a saint in Gorakhpur’s Gorakhdham temple who has been using mobile efficiently.

“I am also reminded of an incident when Gorakhpur had only three phones with one at Gorakhdham temple. A saint picked up call and got confused as to what to do after hearing hello from the other side. I see such persons using hi-tech mobiles with ease now,” said Adityanath.

Insisting that a tree was cut to get 12,500 office papers, he said the e-office system will save huge amount of paper.

“The new system will also inculcate team spirit among employees of 94 departments who all will go paperless soon,” he said while claiming that his government had already implemented the e-tendering and e-market system.