Guwahati, Nov 9: The Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board (Guwahati Jal Board) has been recently conferred two prestigious awards for its innovative e-governance initiative, “Web Based Water Supply Connection Registration and Payment System.”
The award – “Awarding Innovation by the Centre for Innovation in Public Systems” – from the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad recognises the Guwahati Jal Board’s significant contribution to enhancing public service delivery through the use of technology.
Notably, the web-based platform of the board has simplified the process of applying for new water connections, making payments, and tracking the status of applications. This has resulted in significant time savings and improved customer satisfaction.
The board’s e-governance initiative was selected from a competitive pool of entries following presentations and rigorous evaluation by a panel of experts.
In addition to the ASCI award, the Guwahati Jal Board has also been selected for the prestigious “SKOCH Award” for its e-governance initiative. This award recognises the board’s efforts in streamlining consumer management processes through the use of a GIS-integrated portal.
The official presentation of the SKOCH Award will take place at the upcoming SKOCH Summit in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Assam housing and urban affairs minister Ashok Singhal has congratulated the board for its commitment to innovation and excellence in public service delivery.
“The Guwahati Jal Board’s e-governance initiative is a shining example of how technology can be effectively utilised to improve the lives of citizens. This initiative has made it easier and more convenient for the residents of Guwahati to access water supply services,” Singhal said.
It may be mentioned that the e-governance initiative has been instrumental in enhancing transparency, efficiency and citizen engagement in the water supply sector.