Shri Narendra Modi has pioneered the use of modern technology

in the working of the Gujarat Government

His office (CMO) has won 3 prestigious awards including eIndia Awards

and CSI Nihilent Awards for ICT implementation

SWAGAT (State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology)

awarded CXO Award 2011.

Shri Modi awarded e-Ratna Award by the Computer Society of India!

Shri Narendra Modi has always been a firm believer in the use of technology. But what makes his vision unique is the ease with which he has incorporated modern technology in the working of his Government. He has often stated that e-governance for him is ‘easy, effective and economic’ governance thus summing up his vision for using technology in administration.

Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has pioneered the use of technology, which is shown by the various laurels it has won in the recent past and beyond. ‘eGov strategies and ICT enabled initiatives’ at the CMO were awarded ‘Best Government to Citizen Initiative of the Year Award’ at the prestigious eIndia summit in December 2011. The eIndia awards are among the most prestigious awards dedicated to landmark public and private initiatives in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) making the greatest impact on its citizens. The Government to Citizen (G2C) category aims at recognizing government departments that effectively used ICT to provide and improve government services, transactions and interactions with citizens.

Just before this in the first week of December the ‘ICT initiatives of the CMO’ won the ‘Award of Excellence- Departmental Level’ at the CSI Nihilent e–Governance Awards 2011. The CSI Nihilent Awards are given to recognize efforts in the e-Governance area and the evaluation criterion is based on twin indicators of results and enablers. A mandatory ‘Statement of Intent’ stating the reason for nomination to the CSI awards accompanies each nomination. The icing on the cake was that the CSI had conferred the award and title of ‘e-Ratna’ to Shri Narendra Modi for his contribution to e-Governance in Nov 2011!

Shri Narendra Modi’s brainchild, the grievance redressal initiative SWAGAT (State Wide Attention on Grievances by Application of Technology) has been a success story in its own right. Recently, it did Gujarat proud by winning the CXO Award 2011- The Technology Chapter for its role in improving public services. The jury for this award consisted of eminent individuals forms various walks of life. Launched in 2003, SWAGAT has even won the UN Award for Public Service and National e-governance award in the past. The CMO has also been accredited with ISO 9001:2008 certification since 2008 in the field of governance and administration.

Through these awards one can see the dynamic vision of Shri Narendra Modi turn into reality! One in which technology has played a key role in bringing smiles on the face of many people across the length and breadth of Gujarat. Shri Modi’s use of technology is as high in social media as it is in governance. His influence in the cyber world is tremendous. When he Tweets or updates his blog, the entire world listens. He shows the way as far as using technology is concerned be it to reach out to well-wishers or to incorporate it in governance.