Information Technology (IT)

Integrated Fertilizer MIS (IFMIS)

10.1 The Deportment at Fertilizers (DOF) in collaboration with National Informatics Centre (NIC) has introduced computer-based methods for decision support with the major objective to evolve an evaluation system which ensures a uniform system of Planning and Control Mechanism with signalling system to highlight deviations from desired performance indicators by plants/ organisations for all the public sector fertilizer enterprises. Thus, an Integrated Fertiliizer Management Information System (IFMIS) worth Rs. 1.99 crore has been executed through NIC. The IT Based applications viz. Performance Monitoring & Evaluation System, Fertilizer Planning Information System, Fertilizer Distribution System, Import Management System, Handling & Payment System for Fertilizer Imports, Finance and Budget Information System covering PSU Budget Exercise, Non-Plan Subsidy Budget & Release, PSU Expenditure Monitoring, Release Monitoring, PIB Monitoring and Statement of Budget Estimate are operational in DOF. The office productivity tools are being used at almost all levels in the Department.

Computer and communication infrastructure

10.2 Computer and communication infrastructure has been set up in the Department and in its attached office namely Fertilizer Industry Coordination Committee (FICC) by providing intranet (total 220 nodes) for its offices located at different buildings viz. Shastri Bhawan, Janpath Bhawan, Super Bazar Building, and Seva Bhawan. E-mail and Internet facility has been provided through FTDMA-VSAT/ RF-Link with NICNET connectivity. The JS & above level officers have been provided the E-mail/ Internet facility under NICNET Telecommuting Programme at their residence. At present, all the officers in the Department of the level of Section Officer and above have been provided PC clients (114 nos.) to make use of IT services in English as well as in Hindi. Information exchange for decision support has been promoted through Fertilizer Informatics Network (FERTNET) extended to Department of Fertilizers and different sites of various Fertilizer Companies viz, IFFCO, NFL, MFL, GNFC, FCI and HFCL. A web site has been created in the Department with the linkage to NIC web site to enable access by Internet users.

Training

10.3 Training programmes have been organised from time to time to enable the staff to get acquainted with the latest IT tools/ techniques for proper use of IT for decision making. Training programmes on Window Based Office Procedure Automation (OPA) for 120 participants and working with Akshar software for Hindi typist/ stenographers (50 persons) were conducted during the year.

Website

10.4 A home page has been created in English as well as in Hindi for the Department of Fertilizers with Uniform Resource Locator (URL} as http://fert.nic.in and the same is also placed in the web site of NIC as http://www.nic.in under the Directory of Government Websites, to enable access for Internet users. The Website covers the list of subjects allocated to the DOF, Organizational Setup, Fertilizer Companies under the Administrative Control of The DOF, Fertilizer Company Profiles, E-mail Addresses/Website Links to these companies, etc. The salient features of the existing policy are also included in the Website. The Site also covers Procedure for Import of Urea, Guidelines for Export of Single Super Phosphate, Annual Report of the Department, Statistical Data pertaining to Prices, Fertilizer Production, Movement Consumption and Imports. The site gives the useful links related to the Fertilizer Sector including the Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha Secretariat for Parliament Questions.

10.5 As per the advice of Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the Web-site of DOF has been strengthened to cover certain documents of last 5 years e.g. Annual Report, Detailed Annual Budget, Annual Performance Budget, Published documents including copies of papers laid in Parliament (session-wise). PSUs have been directed by the Deptt. of Fertilizers to place necessary information relevant for the citizens/customers on their respective web-sites.

E-Governance

10.6 To bring in e-Governance, The Department of Fertilizers has prepared a plan to implement the guidelines of Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances [DARPG) for e-Governance. The existing computer & communication set-up is proposed to be strengthened by adding 40 PC nodes during the year 2001-02 and 30 PC nodes during the year 2002-03 to make IT services available at all working levels in DOF.

10.7 E-mail facility is being used extensively for electronic communication. Deptt. of Fertilizers has advised all the fertilizer companies to send their monthly progress reports and other communications electronically.

10.8 The Windows based Softwares i.e. Payroll Accounting, OfficeSoft (Personal Information system) and Web-enabled Grievance Redressal S/W (as per recommendation of DARPG) have been identified to be made operational.

10.9 To strengthen the Office Procedure Automation (OPA) the receipt/ file movement monitoring system has been implemented in Shastri Bhawan. The same is to be extended to the fertilizer offices located at other buildings viz. F/A Wing Super Bazar, PAO Janpath Bhawan, FICC Sewa Bhawan and Udyog Bhawan. The DOF staff have been trained to work on OPA.