Hi-tech makeover

An impressive transformation has been wrought in the headquarters of Narendra Modi’s government in Gandhinagar. Modi believes in speed and for that quality tools are essential. So, in one fell swoop, he did away with the single biggest hurdle in the Secretariat. Earlier, all equipment requisition had to be presented to a specific department, following which tenders would be issued and the process would take its due course. Now, Secretary and Joint Secretary-level officers have been authorised to purchase office equipment up to Rs 20 lakh straightaway without going through the cumbersome process. The impact has been instant. The Gujarat Secretariat is now awash with large Macs, new age printers and fax machines. However, the moot point is whether this technology upgradation has brought bout any qualitative change in decision-making and the style of functioning.