"However, the department will start operations only from mid-July," said Subash Dhakal, senior official at MoEST. [break]
Earlier, then minister for science and technology Kalpana Dhamala dissolved the High-Level Commission for Information Technology (HLCIT) in December, 2011 citing lack of coordination between the commission and the MOEST. Minister Dhamala had proposed to set up a new IT department after drawing criticisms from the parliamentary committees and the private sector.
The new department will work as IT implementing agency of the government. The major objectives of the department will be to reduce the digital divide, secure digital data of the government and to generate employment opportunities.
Subash Dhakal of MoEST said the department will have 16 members headed by a director general. The department will have three technical and one administrative director. Likewise, 10 engineers, one administrative officer and one account officer will work under the department.
The four divisions under the department include E-governance, Infrastructure Development Security and Regulation, Training Research and Development and Administration Planning and Development.
The E-governance division will coordinate with government offices in implementing e-governance master plan, regulating the standard and development IT based system in the government offices. Similarly, Infrastructure Development Security and Regulation division will look after network, hardware and will also work as a facilitator in r implementing private sector projects.
Related story
Labor dept to be restructured into labor and employment dept
