Through the use of various digital tools, local government officials in Žabalj strive to improve their work on a daily basis. In order to complete these endeavours successfully, they need to undergo continuous improvement
This municipality of the South Bačka District – Žabalj, located at the very heart of Vojvodina, is progressing on the introduction of electronic services, and municipal president Čedomir Božić notes that it is very important for further progress that citizens be informed about the benefit available to them.
Year’s end 2018 saw the Government of Serbia realise another major “digital goal” with the full implementation of eZup information system nationwide, with the inclusion in this system of all local government units. How are your experiences? What kinds of benefits do your municipality’s citizens gain from the exchange of data ex officio?
– This information system is important to our efficient functioning because exchanging data between all public administration bodies is conducted electronically, which is a major step in the automating of administrative procedures. All citizens – through the faster and more efficient work of our bodies – can regulate their obligations simpler and without waiting.
The process of joining the eZup system required civil servants receive training and specialisation, which is also beneficial to them. I must point out that, in the implementation of the eZup system, the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government provides unreserved assistance through various training courses for employees.
We strive to direct citizens towards E-government through various methods, such as public informing via the municipality’s official website, but also directly, in order for them to get what they need faster and more efficiently.
The impressions of citizens are positive, but I’m of the opinion that much more work needs to be done in order for the implementation of this system to be utilised in the true sense of that word.
We’ve designed a municipal sub-website that relates exclusively to the work of the Municipal Council, the organising of electronic sessions and the creating of a unique electronic database containing all materials necessary for the functioning of the executive authorities
Which areas of the work of your local government do you plan to improve through the use of new technologies?
– The Municipality of Žabalj is very transparent in its functioning, and we strive to advance the activities prescribed by the Statute of the Municipality on a daily basis, primarily with respect for the laws and basic principles of the functioning of a local self-government. We’re working intensively on the modernisation of our administration, through various digital tools that ease the work of staff and the general public’s accessibility to information of public importance. Alongside other segments of E-government, we’ve also integrated unique software into our official web platform that enables citizens to establish direct communication with the President of the Municipality, as well as with all departments of the Municipal Administration. The idea is to solve the problems and various administrative issues of citizens as efficiently, quickly and concisely as possible.
Moreover, with the idea of improving the functioning of the Municipal Council, and based on the Statute of the Municipality, we’ve designed a municipal sub-website that relates exclusively to the work of the Municipal Council, the organising of electronic sessions and the creating of a unique electronic database containing all materials necessary for the functioning of the executive authorities – legal acts, activities, essential information etc.
How important is the education of employees to the modernisation of your work?
– It’s very important. Civil servants of the Municipality of Žabalj regularly attend various educational seminars covering the areas in which they are engaged, improving their know-how and learning new application practises in their professional work.