In a special ceremony held today at Bigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Hon’ble President of India has conferred the prestigious “Digital India Gold Award” to Excise Department for digital initiatives for ease of doing business through e-Abkari. Sri Sushil Kumar Lohani, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, P.R. Department & Ex-Principal Secretary to Government, Excise Department, Odisha, Sri Ashish Kumar Singh, IPS, Excise Commissioner, Odisha, Sri Rama Chandra Palata, OAS (SS), Addl. Commissioner of Excise, Sri Saidutta Biplab Keshari Pradhan, OAS (SAG), Addl. Secretary to Govt., Excise Department and Sri Nihar Ranjan Biswal, Senior Technical Director, NIC, Bhubaneswar received the prestigiousaward for the Excise Department.
It is pertinent to mention that in tune with 5T initiatives of Govt. of Odisha, Excise Department has switched over to the digital work place “eAbkari” with the technical support of NIC since 2019-20 developing and implementing more than 30 online modules like e-Lottery, Instant issue & renewal of Excise Licenses, Brand Label Registrations with 100% online payment, DPR, CCIS, SIR and mobile app development for tracking of raid spots and excise shops etc. as on date bringing transparent, hassles free, real time, seamless and timely service delivery eliminating physical touch points, reducing discretion and providing faceless service at door steps. This has led to proper monitoring and strengthening of enforcement activities, curbing of illicit & spurious liquor, timely service delivery at different levels, proper supply chain management with regulation of production and manufacture and above all, change of public perception and transformation in the Department.
This year record 45541 number of cases have been detected till December against that of 29038 in the last year till December with an increase of 56%. Further, 1310 cases have been detected under NDPS Act this year till December against 575 cases in the last year during the same period with an increase of 127%. Similarly, this year till December 6197.54 Crores have been collected including VAT against that of 5023.92 Crores last year with an increase of 23%. The Department has done a lot of efforts to implement 5T initiatives of State Government to transform the Department in all aspects including use of technology.