C-DIT to be under IT department soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) is being brought under the electronics and information technology department as it is now focused more on information and communication technology  (ICT)-related activities. The cabinet has approved a proposal of C-DIT in this regard. As a prelude to the move, IT secretary M. Sivasankar was earlier posted as C-DIT director. The C-DIT was formed in 1988 under the cultural affairs department for culture-related imaging purposes. Later, it  concentrated  on the production of promotional programmes for the government and hence it was brought under the information and public relations department.

The C-DIT later ventured into IT training, website development and IT solution development. Hence, it has been decided to bring the organisation under the EIT department. “At present, 90 percent of the activities of C-DIT are ICT-related. It is managing about 200 government websites and developing various e-governance applications. Hence, bringing it under the EIT department would enable better coordination of these initiatives and  also make available more funds for ICT-related activities,” said C-DIT registrar G. Jayaraj.

Meanwhile, a section of EIT department officials expressed concern whether the activities of C-DIT and Kerala state IT Mission would clash. The mission is now initiating all major e-governance and m-governance projects of the government. However, the IT secretary said that there was no confusion of the activities of IT Mission and C-DIT. “IT Mission is the nodal agency of the EIT department and C-DIT would be only an agency under it,” said  Mr Sivasankar. The C-DIT, headquartered at Chitranjali Hills near Thiruvallam here,  has nearly 100 permanent staff and about 400 contract staff.