Patna, Nov 17 (IANS) Co-founder of Infosys and chief of India’s Unique Identification Database project Nandan Nilekani, praised the e-governance work and the initiatives taken by the Bihar government.
“The government has given importance to e-governance. It is a positive sign,” Nilekani said here after holding a meeting with top government officials Tuesday.

“I am happy with what I was told of the initiatives taken for e-governance by the government in Bihar,” Nilekani added.

He also expressed satisfaction that work on the Unique Identification Database project was going in the right direction.

“I was told by officials that the Unique Identification Database project will be implemented on time in the state,” he said.

Nilekani is visiting Bihar to discuss with officials the preparation for issuing of identity cards to people under India’s Unique Identification Database project.

He also met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday afternoon at his official residence.

“He gave many tips to Nitish Kumar for improving the e-governance,” an official in the chief minister’s office said.

He praised Bihar for introducing e-shakti, a smart card, for labourers covered under NREGA.

Officials informed him that all 37 district headquarters and 470 block headquarters in Bihar can be accessed online through the Bihar State Wide Area Network.

Bihar had formally adopted e-governance as a state policy in 2006 on the advice of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.