Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a bid to curb avoidable expenditure and strengthen digital governance, the Goa Government has initiated a comprehensive review of inactive official email accounts across departments and government-linked institutions.
The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C) has identified 554 government email accounts that have remained unused for periods ranging from 90 days to more than 525 days. Following the review, all government departments, autonomous bodies, corporations and other public entities have been directed to verify the status of such accounts and submit their findings within 15 days.
The exercise comes after the National Informatics Centre (NIC) shifted government email services to a subscription-based platform, under which each official email account costs approximately Rs 2,400 annually. Officials said the review is intended to ensure that public funds are not spent on maintaining accounts that are no longer required.
According to a circular issued by the department, heads of departments and authorised nodal officers have been asked to examine the listed accounts and confirm whether they remain operational and necessary for official work.
The circular further states that accounts found to be inactive, and for which no response is received within the prescribed period, may be recommended for deactivation or deletion.
Officials believe the exercise will not only help reduce recurring costs but also improve cybersecurity by identifying accounts linked to retired, transferred or former employees that may still exist in government records.
The department has urged all concerned authorities to treat the matter as a priority and complete the verification process within the stipulated timeframe.
