A two-day State-Level Training Programme on the e-Office Portal was conducted on January 21 and 22 for officials of Gram Panchayats from South Andaman and North and Middle Andaman districts, as part of efforts to strengthen digital governance at the grassroots level. The programme was organised by the Directorate of RD, PRIs and ULBs under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan scheme and held at the SPRC Training Hall at Marine Hill in Sri Vijaya Puram.
The training programme aimed at enhancing the capacity of Panchayat functionaries by equipping them with practical knowledge of digital office systems. The initiative forms part of the broader objective of RGSA to improve institutional effectiveness, transparency, and accountability in Panchayat-level administration through capacity building and adoption of digital tools.
The inaugural session emphasised the importance of structured training programmes in enabling Panchayat officials to adapt to evolving administrative requirements. Capacity-building initiatives under RGSA were highlighted as essential for empowering local bodies to function more efficiently and respond effectively to public service demands.
The training sessions were conducted through interactive and hands-on modules designed to familiarise participants with various features of the e-Office Portal. Officials were trained in digital file creation, electronic noting and drafting, file movement, and disposal of files within a secure and structured digital environment. The emphasis was on practical application to ensure that participants could implement the system in their routine administrative work.
Resource persons from the Directorate facilitated the sessions, combining technical orientation with demonstrations to help participants understand the workflow of the portal. The training focused on reducing dependence on physical files and promoting a paperless office ecosystem at the Panchayat level.
The programme also highlighted the role of digital platforms in improving transparency and efficiency in governance. Participants were sensitised to the benefits of electronic record-keeping, including ease of retrieval, improved monitoring, and timely decision-making. The adoption of e-Office systems was presented as a step towards strengthening public trust through accountable administrative practices.
Officials attending the programme represented various Gram Panchayats across the two districts, reflecting the administration’s effort to ensure uniform adoption of digital systems across rural local bodies. The training was structured to address varying levels of digital familiarity among participants.
The initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by the administration to modernise governance processes and improve service delivery at the grassroots. By focusing on capacity building and practical training, the programme aims to ensure that Panchayat institutions are better equipped to meet administrative challenges in a digital environment.
The two-day programme concluded with participants gaining hands-on exposure to the e-Office Portal, positioning them to implement the system in their respective Panchayats. The training marked another step in the gradual transition towards paperless governance in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
