Puducherry UT

In a significant move towards digital transformation, the Public Works Department, Government of Puducherry, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Puducherry, launched the Online Water Connection, Consumption, Billing & Payment Collection System on 03/01/2025. This innovative initiative aims to streamline water management services for citizens, ensuring greater convenience, transparency, and efficiency in the provision of water supply services.

The online portal, designed, developed and hosted by NIC Puducherry for the Public Works Department (PWD), was inaugurated by Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Kailashnathan, I.A.S (Retd), in the presence of several distinguished dignitaries, including Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri N. Rangasamy, Hon’ble Speaker Shri Embalam Selvam @ R. Selvam, Hon’ble Minister for PWD Shri K. Lakshminarayan, Shri Sharad Chavan, I.A.S, Chief Secretary to the Government of Puducherry, Shri Jayant Kumar Ray, I.A.S, Secretary (Works), Shri Neduncheliyan, I.A.S, Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, and Shri V. Gopi Swaminathan, State Informatics Officer, NIC Puducherry, along with various officials from NIC and PWD.

A Milestone in Digital Governance

The online system offers a comprehensive suite of services that covers new water connection applications, consumption tracking, automated billing, and payment collection. By digitizing these essential functions, the system is set to eliminate manual interventions, reduce errors, and improve service delivery to the residents of Puducherry. With the easy-to-use web portal, citizens can now track their water consumption, view bills, and make payments online—offering greater flexibility and ease of access.

During the launch, Shri V. Gopiswaminathan, State Informatics Officer, NIC Puducherry, explained the salient features of the launched system in detail. He also highlighted the success of several other similar ICT projects undertaken by NIC Puducherry, including the Online Electricity Billing & Collection System, Ration Card Services, Recruitment, Online Building Permission System, Land Records Registration, and Property & Taxation Systems etc,. These projects have greatly contributed to the state's ongoing efforts to digitize governance, reduce paperwork, and offer more services at the click of a button.

Continuous Effort Towards Digital Transformation

The Hon’ble Minister for Works, Shri K. Lakshminarayan, praised the continuous efforts of NIC Puducherry in supporting the Public Works Department with advanced technology solutions. He mentioned other pivotal systems developed by NIC, such as KINETICS (a work monitoring system) and the Online Water Connection, Consumption, Billing & Payment Collection System, both of which are poised to improve the efficiency of public services in Puducherry.

The Chief Engineer, PWD, presented a memento to NIC Puducherry for their dedication to enhancing the infrastructure of governance through technology and expressed gratitude for the successful launch of the system.

He concluded the event by delivering the vote of thanks, acknowledging the efforts of everyone involved in the development and successful implementation of this transformative system.

A New Era of Convenience for Puducherry Residents

With the launch of the Online Water Connection, Consumption, Billing & Payment Collection System, Puducherry has taken another important step towards creating a more transparent, efficient, and accessible public service ecosystem. This initiative will not only enhance the convenience for residents but also serve as a model for other regions aiming to digitize water supply management and related services.

The digitalization of essential public services is set to continue transforming governance in Puducherry, offering residents the benefits of technology while ensuring smoother, faster, and more reliable public service delivery.

The E-net for Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Online Registration and Tracking System (EFFORTS) was officially launched on December 14, 2024, by the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, Shri K. Kailashnathan. Developed by the NIC Puducherry, the portal aims to streamline the registration and welfare tracking for fishermen under the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare.

The launch event commenced with a warm welcome by Shri A. Nedunchezhiyan, I.A.S., Secretary to the Government of Puducherry (Fisheries). He emphasized the concerted efforts made in bringing this initiative to fruition, aimed at enhancing the accessibility of welfare schemes for the fishing community.

Shri K. Lakshminarayanan, Hon'ble Minister for Fisheries, highlighted the portal’s significance in ensuring transparency and efficiency in the disbursement of benefits under various welfare schemes. He lauded the shift from manual to digital enrolment processes, which eliminates the need for physical form submissions and expedites the overall process for fishermen.

The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Puducherry, Shri N. Rangasamy, briefly outlined the government's ongoing commitment to improving the lives of the fishing community and the proactive measures taken to explore new avenues for their welfare.

The event witnessed the gracious presence of key dignitaries, including Shri R. Selvam, Hon'ble Speaker, Shri A. Namassivayam, Hon'ble Minister for Home, along with other MLAs and Secretaries to the Government of Puducherry.

Shri A. Mohamad Ismail, Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, expressed gratitude to the officials for their contributions in organizing the event and praised their efforts in ensuring the successful launch of the portal.

Key Features of EFFORTS

The EFFORTS portal is a web- and workflow-based solution designed to simplify and modernize the following processes:
1. Registration of Fishermen: A centralized database to store and manage fishermen profiles.
2. Welfare Scheme Enrolment: Easy online application for various schemes based on eligibility criteria.
3. Verification and Approval: Streamlined mechanisms for verifying and approving applications.
4. Profile Management: Comprehensive updates on cooperative society membership, personal and professional details, family information, and welfare records.

With its advanced features such as dashboards, generalized search options, drill-down analytics, and complete profile generation, the portal ensures seamless verification and policy-based applicability for welfare schemes. Additionally, it facilitates the generation of detailed reports for both state and central government schemes.

Acknowledgments and Felicitations

During the event, the Honourable Lieutenant Governor commended Shri V. Gopi Swaminathan, State Informatics Officer, and Shri S. Arulraj, Senior Director (IT), NIC Puducherry, for their exemplary work in developing the EFFORTS portal. Their contributions were lauded as a significant step toward digital transformation in the fisheries sector.

The launch of EFFORTS marks a milestone in the digital empowerment of Puducherry’s fishing community, paving the way for efficient governance and timely delivery of welfare benefits.

On 14th November 2024, coinciding with the Children’s Day celebrations, the Directorate of School Education, Government of Puducherry, organized a program presided over by esteemed dignitaries, including the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Puducherry, Shri N. Rangasamy; the Hon’ble Education Minister, Shri A. Namassivayam; and the Hon’ble Speaker, Shri R. Selvam.

As part of the event, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri N. Rangasamy, officially inaugurated a new web portal designed and developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Puducherry. This portal facilitates online school registration, recognition, renewal, upgradation, and NOC issuance for CBSE affiliation, catering to both private and government-aided schools across the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The system streamlines administrative processes, enabling schools to submit applications online while the Directorate of School Education manages tasks such as scrutiny, verification, and approval digitally. Upon successful processing, recognition certificates or NOCs are issued through the platform, ensuring efficiency and transparency in school administration.

On November 25, 2024, Dr. Sharat Chavhan, I.A.S., Chief Secretary to the Government of Puducherry, released the Security Guidelines and Mitigation Plan for government websites and applications hosted in the cloud environment. This significant step aims to strengthen cybersecurity and ensure the resilience of digital infrastructure in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The event coincided with the visit of Shri Prashant Kumar Mittal, Deputy Director General and State Coordinator for NIC Puducherry, accompanied by Shri V. Gopiswaminathan, State Informatics Officer, and other NIC officers.

The guidelines provide a comprehensive framework for securing government websites and applications, focusing on mitigating vulnerabilities and ensuring compliance with best practices in cybersecurity. The adoption of these guidelines is expected to enhance the reliability, integrity, and security of cloud-hosted government services, which form the backbone of Puducherry's e-Governance initiatives.

Dr. Chavhan emphasized the critical need for robust security measures in the current digital age, particularly with the increasing reliance on cloud-based technologies. The guidelines will serve as a blueprint for departments to safeguard sensitive data, prevent cyber threats, and build user trust in government digital services.

The collaboration between the Government of Puducherry and NIC Puducherry underscores the commitment to fostering a secure and efficient digital ecosystem, ensuring the seamless delivery of public services while prioritizing cybersecurity.