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OCAC Audit: After nearly two decades, discussions have resurfaced about the audit initiated by the Principal Accountant General (PAG) at the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC). Under the administration of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, this department undertook numerous IT transformation initiatives and outsourced the management of various departments’ social media accounts to external agencies. This government audit aims to uncover significant corruption within these agencies, which were awarded contracts without involving the department's own employees in research or execution of tasks.
Located in Acharya Vihar, Bhubaneswar, OCAC is managed by the Electronics and Information Technology Department of the Odisha government. OCAC has been responsible for various tasks, including school transformation, providing computers to multiple departments, and overseeing technology development and maintenance. Manoj Mishra, who served as an advisor in the Chief Minister's Office, also held the position of Secretary at OCAC. During his tenure, many tasks were outsourced to agencies both within and outside the state. These agencies managed operations such as providing smart boards to schools and installing computers in schools without electricity, effectively turning OCAC into a contractor organization.
According to available information, the PAG office will audit the activities of the past four years, focusing on financial transactions, project progress, and transparency. The audit report will be submitted to the relevant department for further action.
OCAC Audit: It's Establishment and Role
The Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) was registered under the Society Registration Act of 1860 on March 21, 1985. It initially operated under the administrative control of the Science and Technology Department of the Odisha government. Today, it functions as the Technical Directorate of the Electronics and Information Technology Department and is recognized as one of the leading IT consultancy organizations in the state.
Over the years, OCAC's responsibilities have expanded significantly. Its role has grown from initial tasks like training and procurement to executing e-Governance projects, implementing capacity-building programs, managing special-purpose vehicles, and promoting IT industry facilitation.
Questionable Projects
OCAC has managed several projects over the past few years, some of which are now under scrutiny. Reports suggest that some projects, such as providing smart boards to schools and installing computers, were handled by contracted agencies, even in schools lacking basic infrastructure like electricity. This raises serious questions about the transparency and integrity of these projects’ execution.
The Need for OCAC Audit and Potential Outcomes
The audit initiated by the Principal Accountant General (PAG) is crucial because it aims to reveal the lack of transparency and potential financial irregularities in OCAC's activities. The primary objective of the audit is to examine financial transactions, project progress, and the processes followed over the last four years. It is expected that the audit will uncover several discrepancies in OCAC's operations.
The findings from this audit will be significant for the future functioning of OCAC. If the audit reveals extensive corruption and irregularities, it will raise serious questions about OCAC's credibility and might prompt the government to implement major reforms in the management of these projects.
Role and Responsibilities of External Agencies
Over the past years, OCAC has outsourced several projects to external agencies. These agencies were responsible for various tasks, such as providing smart boards to schools and installing computers in different departments. However, many of these projects are now being questioned, such as the installation of computers in schools without electricity. This clearly indicates serious flaws in the execution of these projects.
The role and responsibilities of these external agencies will also be scrutinized during the audit. If these agencies are found guilty of irregularities, it could have severe consequences for them, affecting their credibility and future contracts.
Moving Forward
The path ahead for OCAC is filled with challenges. Once the audit findings are revealed, the government will need to take serious steps to reform the organization’s operations. This will not only improve OCAC’s credibility but also lay a strong foundation for the future of IT projects in Odisha.
As a result of OCAC audit, the government will need to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the organization’s operations and management. This will help prevent future irregularities and ensure that IT projects in Odisha are completed on time and within budget.
Conclusion
OCAC audit is a crucial step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in Odisha’s IT projects. It will not only expose irregularities and corruption but also suggest measures for improvement. This will enhance the credibility of IT projects in Odisha and set a positive direction for the future.
OCAC needs to fulfill its responsibilities with integrity and transparency to avoid any future irregularities and drive the state’s IT development in the right direction. The government’s swift and decisive action following the OCAC audit will be vital in restoring trust and ensuring that such issues do not arise again. This audit and its outcomes will serve as a critical turning point for OCAC and the state’s IT initiatives, leading to a more accountable and transparent governance structure.