Secretariat e-office gets finance minister Thomas Isaac's like'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance minister T.M. Thomas Isaac is delighted with the changes in the Secretariat in the past five years as he posts on Facebook that all departments, except Home, have switched over to e-office. After the first day’s IT tuition for him and staff, Dr Isaac notes that the Finance Department is a stickler for e-office.

E-office comprises paperless office, knowledge management system and public interface that helps people keep track of their files. There is nothing on paper and even if the matter is posted on paper, it is scanned and converted into file. But, Dr Isaac admits in a lighter vein that he doesn’t get the kind of pleasure like examining the old, thick file.

“There is a major benefit, though. One can examine the file anywhere” and he has been given a 15-inhch tablet for use, said Dr Isaac. He cautioned against any letup on safety by failing to use digital signatures promptly and responsibly. The major benefit is the increase in efficiency. The system helps in identifying the location and custody of files.

Also, how much time has each person detained the file will be evident. There will be no difficulty in locating those who “sit on files”. Nobody will be able to suppress files as has been the practice at the Secretariat. “But we need to invent a new name in place of red tape”.