Andhra Pradesh spends big on e-Pragati, but few takers among babus

VIJAYAWADA: Here is the mother of all training programmes for officials of any state government in India. But the interest level of participants clearly disappoints the motive with which the programme has been chalked out.
The state government is spending 5 lakh on each of the IAS, IPS and other all-India-cadre officers chosen to be trained for the e-Pragati platform.Keen on taking governance completely to the e-platform, the state has roped in Indian School of Business (ISB) to train the officers in "Digital Transformation on Public Governance". At the end of the six-month course, the officials will be designated as chief information officers (CIOs), who can monitor e-options and measures in the department they are working.
Although invites were sent to about 170 officials to participate in the training programme, only 80 officers, including six IPS and one IFS, are currently taking lessons. The three-day inaugural training, which concluded on Friday, will continue for six months through Web seminars and other sessions. This involves total 30 days of intensive training.
In the next round of training session, AP e-Pragati Authority is planning to train another 150 officers. The officials will be monitored for their learning process and then only will they be designated as CIOs. "