National institute of SMART Government “NISG” – Online Documents – Back STATUS REPORT from 2001 from Sameer Sachdev before his EMPLOYMENT with NISG.

From: “Sameer Sachdeva” <sachdeva_sameer@…>
Date: Thu Mar 24, 2005  6:30 am
Subject: Re: Sh. Umashankar Concerns for NISG (india-egov effect)

Dear Umashankarji,

Please find a status note available on the website of DARPG

http://darpg.nic.in/Content/onlinedoc29.asp?slno=32

Online Documents

National institute of SMART Government

Back STATUS REPORT

Setting up of the National Institute of Smart Government was one of
the 108 recommendations made by the National Task Force on
Information Technology and Software development. Out of these 108
recommendations, Ministry of Personnel was required to process 8
recommendations and Recommendation No 97 related to the proposal for
setting up of the National Institute of Smart Government. A reference
was also received from Govt of Andhra Pradesh that they are also
working on giving shape to the concept of precisely such an institute.

Government of India provided support to the Government of Andhra
Pradesh for preparation of a project report on the feasibility of
setting up the institute. This feasibility report on NISG, prepared
by a consultant Dr. N Janardhan engaged by the Government of Andhra
Pradesh was received in January 2000. The Feasibility report
envisaged an investment in excess of Rs 145 crores. In absolute terms
the suggestion inter alia implied an investment of Rs 50 crores by
the Departments of Government of India, Rs 10 crores by the
Government of Andhra Pradesh and Rs 50 crores by the NASSCOM as
permanent promoters. However in the discussions that followed, it
came to light that NASSCOM would not be in a position to make
investments to the tune of Rs 50 crores.

A meeting was taken by the Secretary to the Prime Minister on 10th
February, 2000 to discuss issues relating to setting up of the
institute. It was decided to examine the possibility of setting up
the proposed institution as part of an existing Institute in
collaboration with the private sector. Accordingly, NASSCOM was
approached to prepare the project proposal. NASSSCOM had submitted a
Concept Paper on 14th March 2001.

The matter was placed before the High Powered Committee chaired by
the Cabinet Secretary in its meeting on 12th April 2001. The High
Powered Committee, decided that the Executive Committee should go
into the basic issues of the setting up of the National Institute of
e-Governance in the light of proposal received from NASSCOM,
recommendations made by the Expert Group on the Government Portal
headed by Sh Subas Pani, and the views of the Ministry of Information
Technology.

The Executive Committee in its meeting held on 18th April 2001
decided that the matter needed discussion with key stakeholders.
A meeting of the stakeholders was accordingly convened on 12th
June2001. It generally endorsed the Concept Paper received from
NASSCOM and also recommended that, taking various factors into
account, Hyderabad may be the preferred location of the NISG.
Subsequently, a Business Plan was also received from NASSCOM.

A meeting of the stakeholders was convened in the Prime Minister’s
Office on September 12, 2001 and again on January 18, 2002. Based
on the decision of the High powered Committee in its meeting held on
January 11, 2002 and subsequent discussions held in PMO on January
18, 2002 following action has so far been taken:

i. Orders appointing Shri R. Chandrasekar, Joint Secretary, DIT as
OSD for the project have been issued.
ii. An O.M. constituting the Search Committee for CEO of NISG has
also been issued.
iii. Action for registration of NISG as a Company under Section 25 of
the Companies Act, 1956 is being taken by DIT through NASSCOM.
iv. The preparation of EFC proposal has been initiated.

It is envisaged that the Institute will have Rs.10 Crores equity with
49:51 ratio of Government and non-government share. NASSCOM has
tentatively agreed to invest Rs 1 Crore. Provision of Rs.10 crores
have been made for NISG under the Xth Five Ytear Plan of the
Department of AR&PG. This amount is proposed to be disbursed to the
NISG by way of equity, grant and corpus fund. The Department of
Information technology proposes to provide a matching grant of Rs.10
crores in the same proportion. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has
agreed to provide Rs.1 crore towards equity and land to the tune of 4
acres.

In the meeting of the HPC held on March 26, 2002, a presentation
was made by Shri R.Chandrashekar about the detailed road map for NISG.

All actions necessary for the setting up of NISG are currently
underway. Name availability of “National Institute of SMART
Government” has been confirmed. Memorandum and Articles of
Association of the Company as private section 25 not-for-profit
company have been prepared and signed by the initial promoters,
namely, Department of IT, Department of Administrative Reforms & PG,
Government of India and NASSCOM. The formal application for
registration of company at Hyderabad has been filed with the Regional
Director, Companies at Chennai and the Registrar of Companies (ROC),
Hyderabad on 13 and 14 May 2002, respectively. The necessary action
for selection of Chief Executive Officer for the Institute is also
underway. Department of Information Technology has released Rs 1.0
Crore to NASSCOM towards their share of equity and for pre-operative
expenses. Action has also been initiated with the Government of Andra
Pradesh for release of their contribution towards the equity of NISG
and for formal handing over of the Officer space at IIIT Hyderabad to
NISG.

Secretary Personnel has been nominated as one of the promoter
Directors

regards,

Sameer