Nandan Nilekani to head Empowered Group
IN the meeting the FM said, “ Earlier today, you have had the benefit of listening to a presentation by Shri Nandan Nilekani, Chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India wherein he has proposed a detailed roadmap and strategy for putting in place the requisite IT Infrastructure to handle work related to GST. Since this infrastructure needs to be in place well before the actual introduction of GST in April next year, decisions have to be made with great alacrity and speed. In order that no time is lost, we have proposed the constitution of an empowered Group chaired by Dr. Nilekani with joint representation from the Centre and the States which would be authorized to take decisions about the size, features and functionalities of such a system; to choose the appropriate technology for its implementation as well as to choose the vendor who would be tasked to deliver it in a time-bound manner. I will request an early approval of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers to our proposal for constitution of this empowered group which, to my mind, should start functioning immediately. I would like to reiterate that the Centre is committed to provide all the support and assistance required to achieve homogeneity in the level of computerization across States.”