e-Vidhan project, developed by Kochi-based SBL, bags Himachal Pradesh Govt’s highest civil award

• The Kochi-based IT company SBL, the mastermind behind the project, had earlier digitized Kerala Legislative Assembly’s entire proceedings since 1888 and has several similar projects for governments and businesses in hand

• The e-Vidhan system has contributed in better time management in the house and has helped to save nearly Rs.15 crore, in addition to its contributions towards environment by making the proceedings paperless

• The e-Vidhan mobile app, which was launched in March this year, has also become a hit among members.  The app enables the members to access the information on the day’s business 45 minutes before the question hour on their Android devices.

Kochi, April 30, 2015: e-Vidhan, the groundbreaking e-Governance solution project of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, developed by the Kochi-based IT company SBL, was awarded Civil Service Award 2015 by the Himachal Pradesh Govt,  the highest civil award in HP. The award was presented to Sunder Singh Verma, Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly by the Chief Minister Vir Bhadra Singh in a function held at Chamba.

The e-Vidhan project was developed as a joint venture between the Himachal Pradesh State Legislative Assembly, National Informatics Centre (NIC), National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI) and the Government of Himachal Pradesh which was sanctioned by the Department of Electronics & Information Technology of India. NICSI selected the Kochi-based SBL as the associate partner for the development and implementation of the entire system, based on the track record in implementing similar projects in government and public sectors including, successful development and implementation of digital archival management solutions & digitization of the entire proceedings (from 1888 till date) for Kerala Legislative Assembly. With a reputation for intelligent, efficient and highly-organized development and project management skills, SBL’s technology division has successfully developed and implemented the entire e-Vidhan system within the guidelines of NICSI.

SBL is an IT and Business Process Management (BPM) company that offers smart digital solutions to government and private organizations, which has its presence across the globe including USA, UK, Australia and Middle East. The company, which was founded in 2005 in Kollam presently employs 800 people with its main work base in Infopark, Kochi.  Mr. P. Gopakumar, CEO, SBL, said the award is a recognition for the innovative project and its meticulous operational success. “We are proud to be a part of this achievement which works wonders for the effective and efficient working of the democratic system of governance and thus benefits the people at large,” he said.

The e-Vidhan system, which was launched in August, 2014, was successfully implemented in all the sessions of 2014-15, including the monsoon and the budget sessions. It has helped in better time management in the house, making the proceedings and processes a lot more efficient while reducing cost and making the house paperless. The system has helped to save nearly Rs.15 crores in addition to its contributions towards the environment by making the proceedings paperless. The e-Vidhan mobile app, which was launched in March this year, has also become a hit among members.  The app enables the members to access the information on the day’s business 45 minutes before the question hour on their Android devices. MLAs are also provided with the information of the entire proceedings of the House in the digital form on their mobile sets and tablets immediately after the end of the day’s work.

The e-Vidhan system fully automates the day to day functioning of the entire legislative assembly. The introduction of bills and the laying of various reports and answers to questions in the House are handled through touch-screen based computer systems deployed for each legislative member. With the e-Vidhan system, the members are able to exercise their voting over motions electronically. Similarly, the information provided for media persons is also digitized and a media room with computers using the e-Vidhan system is made available for the use of media persons in the assembly. The system uses Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) for user authentication; hence only digitally signed documents converted into PDF/A standards can be  uploaded to the online system. This ensures error free, paperless communications within the legislative house.

e-Vidhan’s Secretariat interface manages the Questions Processing System by accepting the questions from Members, issuing notices to Departments, accepting replies from departments, approving the answers and fixing the dates by the Secretariat and finally creating List of Business for a day during the Assembly session. It also increases peoples' participation in the legislative process by automating the process of Assembly Bills MIS and allowing to seek people’s suggestions on bills online through a secure web interface. The system also ensures that the proceedings in the House will be instantly available for the public at the end of every session day by digitizing and publishing of Verbatim Record of House/Committee Proceedings.

The e-Vidhan system utilizes the latest technologies of SMS and Email gateways to alert the users regarding work at hand.

The mobile e-Vidhan system for MLAs includes an enhanced Constituency Management System including submitting priority list of works, monitoring various works going on in the Constituency, redressing of public grievances/demands, management of employee’s requests (Transfers etc.), party information system, and preparing ours / appointments /meetings. , online submission of questions & property returns by MLAs, online annual / supplementary budget books etc. Under this system, the citizens and employees can submit their grievances, demands and requests to MLAs online. Online submission of suggestions on bills and for entry passes during sessions will also be managed through this system.