22. I.T. SECTIONS (HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE)

Transcription

1 22. I.T. SECTIONS (HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE) 22.1 Main functions: The I.T. Sections look after the work relating to: (vi) (vii) (viii) Providing secretarial assistance and support to the following Committees: a) Committee on Provision of Computer Equipment to Members of Rajya Sabha; b) Computerization Coordination Committee (CCC); c) Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC); d) Committee of Officers for Procurement of Computer Equipment for Rajya Sabha Secretariat (COOPCE); e) Obsolescence Declaration Committee (ODC); f) Committee for Re-designing the Rajya Sabha Website; g) Committee to review the Plan for Information Security. h) Steering Committee (adhoc) for the Project on Digitization of Verbatim Debates of Rajya Sabha Processing of bills/invoices received from Members towards procurement of computer equipment under the Scheme of Financial Entitlement of Members of Rajya Sabha for Computer Equipment. Preparation of IT Plans for computerization of the Secretariat and to ensure coordinated implementation thereof. Coordination with NIC and various Sections of the Secretariat for identification of customized software needs and databases for use in Rajya Sabha Secretariat and by Members of Rajya Sabha. Purchase of computer hardware, softwares, LAN items and other accessories as per requirement of the Secretariat. Coordination with NIC for giving Internet/ connections to Members and looking into their complaints. Devising procedures using information technology to increase and facilitate availability of Parliamentary information and ensuring increasing use of electronic mode of information dissemination amongst Members and the Secretariat; Maintaining the English and Hindi Rajya Sabha Internet Websites and the Intranet site, ensuring their timely updation and selecting suitable material to be put on Internet/Intranet for use of Members, Secretariat and Public Activities during 2009: During the year 2009, I.T. Sections undertook numerous tasks relating to implementation of IT plan, computerization of Rajya Sabha Secretariat, provision of IT services for Members of Rajya Sabha and making available information regarding Rajya Sabha and its proceedings amongst Members and the general public. They are as follows: (A) IT Plan for Rajya Sabha: In pursuance of the IT Plan ( ) in the Secretariat, the following IT initiatives were taken during the year: Re-designing the Rajya Sabha Website: The new redesigned Websites (English and Hindi) were launched by Hon ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha on 30 th July, 2009 after the layering and content of the re-designed Websites of Rajya Sabha were finalized and developed. Level I Certification of the Rajya Sabha Websites: A sub-committee formed for preparing the Website Quality Manual held several meetings during the year and prepared a Comprehensive Website Quality Manual of Rajya Sabha Websites as was required by STQC( the agency to whom the Websites are to be submitted for certification). The Manual was placed on the Intranet site of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to seek comments of the Sections /Officers of the Secretariat in October, 2009 The document has been submitted to STQC to speed up the process of Certification. Other requirements for certifications like requisite payments etc are also being processed. 126

2 (B) (vi) Setting up of Central Data Centre/Network Monitoring Centre for Rajya Sabha: It was decided to set up a Central Data Centre/Network Monitoring Centre in Room No. 110, Parliament House. It was to host 20 rack based servers, situated at 5 different locations. Interior works at a cost of Rs.46 lakh approximately was taken up for the purpose and have since been completed. All the servers have been installed in the Central Data Centre. The Centre is now functional. NIC has further prepared a proposal for Storage Area Network (SAN), which is under consideration at NIC headquarters. Dashboard Application Software for preparation of Seating Chart and identification of Members for asking supplementaries during question Hour: The Dashboard Application System has been developed and a monitor has been embedded in the Table of the Chairman in the House. Another monitor has been placed in Hon'ble Chairman's ante Chamber. Minor modifications as desired by the concerned sections have been carried out and the system has been operationalized. Project on Digitization of Verbatim debates of Rajya Sabha: The project was divided into two phases, i.e. Phase I comprising Debates from 201 st to 210 th Sessions of Rajya Sabha and Phase II comprising Debates from 1 st to 200 th Sessions of Rajya Sabha. The first Phase of the Project was launched on 18 th December, 2009 by Hon ble Chairman. At present Digitized Debate data for the sessions from 190 th to 194 th and from 201 st to 212 th session has been made available on the website Phase II of the Project is presently underway and Debate data for around twenty years has already been received from the vendor and is being processed. Also, for processing of Debates data from 214 th Session onwards, in-house arrangements for digitization have been made. Other Computerization Activities Made suitable amendments to the Provision of Computer Equipment (Members of Rajya Sabha and Officers) Rules, 2008 and notified the procedure to regulate the purchase of computer equipment to facilitate processing of cases of release/reimbursement of amount towards bills/invoices received from Members of Rajya Sabha for computer equipment under the Scheme of Financial Entitlement. Made available 3G facility of MTNL/BSNL to Members of Rajya Sabha and officers in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. Procured 73 desktop computers, 06 laptop computers, 51 DeskJet printers, 23 LaserJet printers, 11 Multifunction printers, 28 UPS and 12 Pen drives for various Sections/Officers of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. Besides the above mentioned equipment, LAN items like switches, cables, I/Os, Patch cords and other items like UPS batteries, RAM, etc. were also procured for use in Rajya Sabha Secretariat. During the year, 142 complaints from Members of Rajya Sabha and 2498 complaints from various Sections of Rajya Sabha Secretariat regarding software, hardware, e- mail, Internet, Virus etc. were received and attended to, with the assistance of AMC/Warranty vendors and NIC/NICSI engineers. Tendering process was initiated for the single vendor comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for various computer equipment with Members of Rajya Sabha and in the Secretariat whose warranty/amc had expired. Took necessary actions to actively pursue the various Projects like Digitization of Verbatim Debates of Rajya Sabha, MANTRA Phase II, Dashboard application, STQC Certification for Rajya Sabha Websites and implementation of IT Plan for Rajya Sabha ( ). (vii) Attended to all work (issuing of notices, preparation of memoranda and minutes, taking action on the directions/decisions) relating to the following Committees serviced by the Sections: a. Committee on Provision of Computer Equipment to Members of Rajya Sabha. This Committee decides on the parameters with regard to application of 127

3 Information Technology in the functioning of the Rajya Sabha; decides on norms for provision of computer hardware and software to be made available to Members from time to time along with suitable measures, including training, to encourage Members to be proficient in the use of IT tools; and takes steps to ensure increasing use of electronic mode of information dissemination in the Rajya Sabha. During the year, the Committee held three meetings. b. Computerization Coordination Committee: This Committee, under the chairmanship of Secretary-General, carries out detailed planning and scheduling of computerization of various aspects of working of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. During the year, the Committee held one meeting. c. Committee of Officers for Procurement of Computer equipment for Rajya Sabha Secretariat: This Committee considers the requests from officers/sections for supply of computer equipment and LAN nodes. During the year, the Committee held two meetings. d. Obsolescence Declaration Committee: This Committee formulates Obsolescence Declaration Policy (ODP) and declares computer equipment held by the Secretariat obsolete within the framework of the ODP. The Committee also recommends the manner of disposal of equipment declared obsolete. Besides, the Committee considers/decides the norms for providing computer equipment to retired/retiring Officers of the Secretariat, at depreciated cost. During the year, the Committee held two meetings. e. Standing Technical Advisory Committee: This Committee gives technical advice to the Committee on Provision of Computers to Members of Rajya Sabha and the Secretariat regarding the specifications/models/makes of various computer items which are to be procured, and also on various technical issues encountered in the process of computerization. During the year, though this Committee held no formal meetings but the technical advice/guidance on various matters considered by the Committee on Provision of Computer Equipment to Members of Rajya Sabha and the Secretariat was given by DG, NIC (who is the Chairman of STAC). f. Committee for Re-designing the Rajya Sabha Website: This Committee was constituted to finalize the layering and content of the re-designed website of Rajya Sabha. During the year, the Committee actively followed the development of the new Rajya Sabha websites culminating in the launch of the new websites (English and Hindi) of Rajya Sabha by Hon ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha on 30 th July, The Committee also monitored the work of the sub-committee constituted for preparation of the Website quality Manual which inter alia delineates the responsibilities of various Sections and Officers of the Secretariat regarding updating, monitoring and archiving of various data /items placed on the Websites of Rajya Sabha. This Committee held several meetings during the period of August, 2008 to August, 2009 and prepared a Comprehensive Website Quality Manual of Rajya Sabha Websites. g. Steering Committee: An adhoc Committee constituted to monitor and supervise the implementation of Digitization of Debates Project. During the year, the Committee monitored the progress of the project leading to launch of Phase I of the Digitization Project by Hon ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha on 18 th December, Also, a strategy for Phase II of the Project has been chalked out and action is being taken to start this Phase from January, Besides the formal meetings of these Committees, various meetings took place under the guidance and supervision of the Additional Secretary and Financial adviser and the Director in charge of computerization in connection with the implementation of the decisions taken by the aforementioned Committees and monitoring of various IT projects undertaken by the Secretariat. 128

4 22.3 Committee on Provision of Computer Equipment to Members of Rajya Sabha: Three meetings of the Committee on Provision of Computer Equipment to Members of Rajya Sabha were held during Some of the important decisions taken at these meetings are as under: The Committee considered the proposals of MTNL/BSNL for providing 3G facility to the Members of Rajya Sabha and approved a Plan for 3G facility at the rate of Rs. 1500/- per month to be adjusted against the 150,000 free calls available to the Members. The Committee noting that in case Members opt for the 3G facility, a substantial number of calls would get deducted from the quota of free annual calls available to them, decided to send a recommendation for enhancing the total number of free calls available to Members from 1,50,000 to 2,00,000 to the Joint Committee on Salary and Allowances to Members of Parliament for its consideration. The Committee, after seeing a demonstration of the software titled e-questions developed by NIC (Parliament Informatics Division) that uses ICT tool to enable the Members of Rajya Sabha to submit their notices of questions online, decided to accord in-principle approval for online submission of notices of questions by Members through the e-questions software, subject to necessary amendments in the Rules of Procedure. The Committee directed the Secretariat to explore the option for submission of other notices like Calling Attention, Short Duration Discussion etc. electronically by Members and also directed the NIC that a mechanism for submission of Joint notices for Questions/notices that require signatures of multiple Members be suitably developed and integrated into the developed software. The Committee considered the issue of taking initiatives towards less paper office for reduction in the use of paper and making available the required information digitally to the Members and gave the following directions: (a) the Secretariat should prepare a list of documents presently being supplied to the Members. It should then be carefully examined to see as to the supply of which of these documents in paper form could be dispensed with, since they are available digitally. If any Member wants to receive such documents in paper form he may be required to make a specific request. (b) the Members could be provided documents required by them, like Committee Reports, Official debates, Annual Reports etc in a CD format if they opt for not receiving the documents in paper form. Necessary arrangements for supplying the information on CD may be worked out. (c) possibility of sending of List of Business, Parliamentary Bulletins and Synopsis through to all Members as soon as they get uploaded on the Website should also be examined. (d) a scheme of incentives to Members who switch over to the option of receiving Parliamentary documents in electronic form only be also prepared Computerization of Sections: In coordination with various Sections of Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the following efforts for computerization were made during the year: (a) Questions Branch: A software module for uploading of questions lists (electronic copies received from the GOI Press), in PDF format, directly on the website has been implemented and is functioning smoothly. Also, equestions software, for online submission of notices of Questions has been developed. (b) Personnel and Establishment Sections: Web version of the PAMS software had also been developed and was working satisfactorily. Enhancements in PAMS software like a new application Employees Portal was also developed through which employees could see their basic details, pay slips etc. (c) Stores Section: Inventory software for the Section was designed and developed and its implementation is in progress. Master data entry for store inventory software has also been completed Budget allocation and expenditure: The Budgetary Grant for the financial year to I.T. Section under the Head 2011-Parliament State/Union Territory/Legislative-02, Members

5 00 13 office expenses (Member s Head) was Rs.1,50,00,000/- and under the Head 2011-Parliament State/Union/Territory/Legislature Rajya Sabha Secretariat Office expenses (Secretariat s Head) was Rs.1,00,00,000/- The major items for which funds were used during the year (January to December, 2009) are as follow: HEAD: Member Office Expenses: Item Reimbursement towards bills/invoices received from Members of Rajya Sabha for computer equipment under the Scheme of Financial Entitlement Expenditure(Approx.) Rs. 71,66,545/- Total Rs. 71,66,545/- HEAD: Rajya Sabha Secretariat Office Expenses Item Procurement of 73 desktop computers Procurement of 06 laptop computers Procurement of 51 DeskJet printers Procurement of 23 LaserJet printers Procurement of 11 Multifunction Printers Procurement of 28 UPS Procurement of 12 Pen drives Comprehensive AMC towards computer equipment Hiring of manpower from NICSI Expenditure (Approx.) Rs. 32,55,800/- Rs. 4,02,174/- Rs. 7,31,136/- Rs. 4,48,500/- Rs. 3,60,548/- Rs. 2,89,604 /- Rs. 9,300 /- Rs /- Rs. 14,13,683/- Total Rs. 80,24,486 / Inspection of the Sections and training of staff Inspection of I.T. Sections was done by Shri N.S. Walia, Director, on 4 th February, Problems faced by the Section with regard to inadequate manpower resources were pointed out Training to the Staff: During the year, no Officers/Officials of IT Sections underwent any training Goals and Analysis: Since the re-organization of erstwhile Computer cell into two IT Sections namely, IT Section (Hardware) and IT Section (Software), both the Sections have been working in close coordination to meet their outlined goals in the fields of hardware procurement and upgradation, software development, Networking and Website maintenance, etc. Both the Sections synchronize their efforts to achieve the desired result in implementation of IT Plan, various projects, and in advancing the march of computerization throughout the Secretariat. The Sections have initiated preparation of the new IT Plan ( ) which would be completed by the first quarter of the year Also during the next year, Second Phase of the Digitization and MANTRA Projects would be endeavored to be completed. 130