NeGD and ITDA Conduct Two-Day Workshop on OpenForge Platform in Dehradun

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), in partnership with the Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA) of Uttarakhand, recently hosted a two-day workshop on the OpenForge platform in Dehradun. Held on May 19 and 20, 2025, at Hotel Aketa, the event attracted over 65 participants daily, including developers and project managers from more than 50 government departments. The workshop aimed to enhance digital governance and promote open-source collaboration through practical training on the OpenForge platform, which is designed to support transparent and secure software development.

Workshop Objectives and Participation

The primary goal of the workshop was to foster a collaborative environment among government departments by providing hands-on training in the OpenForge platform. This initiative is part of the broader Digital India initiative, which aims to improve e-Governance applications through open-source software. Participants included representatives from various departments such as ITDA, UPCL, and the State Tax department, among others. The workshop served as a vital platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in software development, emphasizing the importance of modern tools in enhancing government services.

Key Highlights and Inauguration

The workshop was inaugurated by Ms. Nitika Khandelwal, Additional Secretary of IT for the Government of Uttarakhand. She highlighted the significance of secure and optimized software practices in public systems. Other notable speakers included Mr. Tirath Pal Singh, Additional Director of ITDA, who praised the initiative and encouraged its adoption across the state. Mr. Ram Unyal, DGM of ITDA, urged participants to integrate OpenForge into their departmental processes. The enthusiasm of the attendees was acknowledged by Mr. J.L. Gupta, Director of NeGD, who advocated for collaborative, open-source approaches in governance. Live demonstrations were conducted by NeGD experts, showcasing the platform’s capabilities.

Workshop Modules and Training Sessions

The workshop covered several modules designed to familiarize participants with the OpenForge platform. These included an introduction to OpenForge’s strategic relevance in the Digital India initiative, demonstrations of core features like Git-based version control and project management, and case studies of successful e-Governance projects utilizing OpenForge. Participants also engaged in hands-on training sessions focused on creating and managing repositories, workflows, and documentation. This comprehensive approach ensured that attendees left with practical skills that could be applied directly to their work in government departments.

Conclusion and Future Implications

The workshop concluded with a Q&A session, where participants could clarify doubts and provide feedback. Certificates were distributed to all attendees, marking the completion of the training. This initiative reflects ITDA’s commitment to enhancing software development capabilities within the state and aligns with NeGD’s vision of building a collaborative and transparent digital public infrastructure. By empowering government departments to utilize platforms like OpenForge, the workshop represents a significant advancement toward achieving the objectives of Digital India, fostering a more interconnected and efficient e-Governance ecosystem.

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