Odisha State Centre

Bhubaneswar, December 18, 2024 – The “Future Gov AI Conclave” was inaugurated today by Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Hon’ble Minister for Electronics & IT, Health & Family Welfare, and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Odisha. The event took place at the Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, and was attended by eminent dignitaries, including Shri Vishal Kumar Dev, IAS, Principal Secretary of Electronics & IT and Energy Departments; Shri Amitabh Thakur, IPS, Additional Director General of Police and Transport Commissioner, Odisha; and Ms. Sharmistha Dasgupta, DDG and Head of Group (CoE-AI), NIC, New Delhi.

The theme of the conclave, “AI for a Resilient and Inclusive Governance Ecosystem,” underscored the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing governance systems. To mark the occasion, the dignitaries released a brochure titled “Empowering Governance with Advanced AI Capabilities.”

A key highlight of the event was the panel discussion featuring experts from IIT Bhubaneswar, TCS (R&D), NISER, and Capgemini. The panel explored the topic “AI Governance vs AI-Driven Governance: Balancing Growth, Innovation, and Security,” providing valuable insights into how AI can be leveraged to foster innovation while ensuring security and growth.

The conclave set the stage for meaningful dialogue on integrating AI into governance frameworks to create a robust and inclusive digital ecosystem.

The web and mobile applications for Government Consumer Management System (GCMS) developed in collaboration of Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India; Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, Govt. of Odisha; National Informatics Centre and Tata Power have been launched by Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Farmer’s Empowerment & Energy Department, Government of Odisha and Shri Rabi Narayan Naik, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister of Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water and Rural Development Department, Government of Odisha on 13th August, 2024 at Lokseva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

With the launch of GCMS, Odisha has become the first state in India to integrate eGramSwaraj application of NIC with the Power Billing and Payment System of Tata Power. This pioneering integration enables 6,794 Gram Panchayats across Odisha to pay their electricity bills online, streamlining the process of electricity bill payment at GP level and enhancing the ability of distribution companies (DISCOMs) to track pending payments.

The launch event was attended by prominent officials including Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, IAS, Principal Secretary of Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department; Shri Saswat Mishra, IAS, Principal Secretary of Energy Department; Dr. Ashok Kumar Hota, Deputy Director General & SIO, NIC Odisha along with the CEO of TPCODL and senior officers from NIC, Tata Power and various government departments.

In his address, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Hon’ble Dy. Chief Minister highlighted the goal of GCMS to promote good governance, while Shri Rabi Narayan Naik, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister underscored role of this platform in improving service delivery through digital payment solutions for electricity consumptions in Gram Panchayats.

Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani presented an overview of the application’s features and benefits, stating that its implementation in all Gram Panchayats of Odisha will greatly enhance e-Governance at the local level. He informed that Odisha is the first state to integrate the eGramSwaraj application with billing system of Tata Power, a move that has been praised by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.

Shri Sanjay Banga, President, Tata Power, attended the event virtually, expressing his gratitude to the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, Energy Department, NIC and Tata Power Odisha DISCOMs for their efforts in implementing the system in Odisha.

Dr. Ashok Kumar Hota also thanked the NIC headquarters team for their support in making the GCMS a reality. The objectives and functionalities of the system was demonstrated by a 3.11-minute video during the event.

Recognizing Odisha's leadership in this initiative, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, has encouraged other states to adopt similar integrations between their eGramSwaraj portals and state DISCOMs.