Centre gives financial approval to NeVA project for J&K LA

Jammu, Jan 8: In alignment with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's vision for early implementation of project National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in UT’s Legislative Assembly, J&K has been accorded financial approval for the same by the Centre.

“Costing Rs 16 Cr (approximately), the project NeVA for J&K Legislative Assembly was approved through a virtual meeting on Wednesday. With this sanction, now J&K will be officially on the NeVA platform,” official sources said.

Umang Narula, Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India conveyed approval in the meeting convened through virtual mode, sources said.

Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Higher Education Department, Shantmanu, who is holding the additional charge of Administrative Secretary Information Technology Department, J&K; Law Secretary, J&K, Achal Sethi; Secretary J&K LA, Manoj Kumar Pandit; senior Technical Director (IT) NIC, Jaskaran Singh and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

“Greeting J&K officers for joining the NeVA platform following project approval, Secretary Umang Narula apprised them that the project would be implemented for both Srinagar and Jammu Legislative Assembly complexes. Following implementation, the J&K Legislature will “go paperless” as it will also conduct its Business digitally. For the first three years, the project will be fully funded by the Centre,” sources said.

According to them, Narula also briefed about operational aspects viz., dashboard count for Notices, Questions, Bills, Committee Reports and Members etc. created on NeVA app.

As per officials, following implementation, detailed bio profiles of Members will also be there besides many other new features.

“Another important feature of the project relates to “Go Live” i.e., live proceedings of the House. However, it is optional. It will need the approval of the Presiding Officer (Speaker). Notably, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was very keen vis-à-vis its (project NeVA’s) early implementation. He (CM), after taking over the reins, visited the under-construction (new) Legislature complex. Since it has not been completed yet, therefore the project will be implemented in the old Legislature complex only. Later it will be shifted to the new complex,” sources informed.

“Now it will be up to the J&K government to implement the project as early as possible by shifting from manual to digital mode. For the purpose, MLAs, LA Secretariat staff will be provided training also,” they added.

WHAT IS NeVA?

Officially speaking, NeVA is a “work-flow system deployed on NIC Cloud, MeghRaj which helps the Chair of the House to conduct the proceedings of the House smoothly, Members to carry out their duties in the House efficiently and to conduct Legislative Business of the House in a paperless manner, based on the concept of “Go Green.”

“NeVA, a mission mode project based on the theme ‘One Nation- One Application’ for Digital Legislatures was launched in March, 2020 to transform all State Legislatures into ‘Digital House’, thereby enabling them to transact their entire parliamentary work on digital platform in paperless mode,” officials said.

“So far, 25 State Legislatures have signed MoU to implement the project. Funds have been released to 22 Legislatures out of which 14 Houses have already implemented the project and have gone Live on NeVA platform. NeVA Cloud Infrastructure has also been augmented for ensuring glitch free sessions of Assemblies and Councils,” they stated, giving a background of the project implementation across the country so far and its significance.

CM WANTED NeVA IMPLEMENTATION AHEAD OF BUDGET SESSION

Notably on December 11, 2024, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in his review meeting of the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, had directed the officials to liaise with the Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India to ensure operationalisation of NeVa before the upcoming budget session of J&K Legislative Assembly (LA).

Following which J&K LA Secretariat had written to the Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India explaining the keenness of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Speaker A R Rather vis-à-vis implementation of project NeVA in J&K (LA) at the earliest.

Describing “paramount importance” of the project for “transparent, efficient and technologically advanced legislative process in both Srinagar and Jammu LA complexes”, the Assembly Secretariat had also requested for deputing an expert resource person for training and introductory session.”

J&K BACKGROUNDER

As per sources, an attempt to initiate this project in J&K was made in 2017. First conference in this connection had occurred in 2019 in the J&K Legislative complex when Dr Nirmal Singh was the Speaker. Even the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted his congratulatory message.

However, it could not move forward due to developments post August 5, 2019 and then COVID pandemic.

In 2022, the MoU was finally signed by J&K, following approval by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. In 2023, DPR was submitted.

Now, for capacity building, NeVA Seva Kendra will be set up both in Srinagar and Jammu.