COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTRES AT BLOCK LEVEL IN

DISTRICT KATHUA (JAMMU & KASHMIR)

Introduction

The scheme of Community Information Centres (CICs) has been implemented in the North East States in response to the Prime Minister’s call for freedom from distance. This project has been implemented successfully and has generated tremendous response from the people of the northeastern region. In the meanwhile, there has been similar demand from other states for extending this scheme to these states.

The Community Information Centre is a combination of a PC based citizen kiosk with content enabling citizen centric services, e-governance, e-learning and e-commerce. It enables access to databases containing wide range of information regarding agricultural marketing, disaster management, employment opportunities, public health etc. The CICs are supported by effective connectivity.

In Phase-I of CIC Project, following Blocks of District Kathua are covered :-

· Barnoti

· Basohli

· Billawar

· Hiranagar

CIC Hiranagar CIC Billawar CIC Basohli CIC Barnoti

In Phase-II of CIC Project, following Blocks of District Kathua are covered :-

· Bani

· Ghagwal

· Kathua

· Lohai-Malhar

The outcomes of Community Information Centres are:

Ø ICT infrastructure at block level

Ø Web access and internet services such as e-mail

Ø Real time Market access and e-commerce

Ø Access to socio-economic databases

Ø E-learning (computer aided learning processes) and e-education

Ø Internet connectivity to schools, colleges and NGOs

Ø E-medicine, E- consulting, Telemedicine, Tele-health internet connectivity to local hospitals

Ø E-governance applications, government to citizen (citizen centric) services

Ø Weather information

Ø Electronic deliveries of newspapers at remote locations

Ø IT awareness among local people

Ø Computer training programmes

Ø E-entertainment, E-music and E-cinema

Ø Tender notification and online response to E-procurement requests

Ø E-employment notification and online responses

Ø Grievance redressal

Need:

The basic needs of citizens such as information, education, entertainment and health services can be addressed through the establishment of Community Information Centres. The CIC Network will serve the purpose of effective connectivity backbone that will provide a platform for e-governance, e-learning and other IT enabled services.

The CIC Project envisages application of Information Technology to deliver services to citizens such as e-governance, e-learning, Telemedicine etc. The CICs will work as an interface between public and government and provide the citizens easier access to socio-economic databases. The Community Information Centres are provided with state of the art equipment such as computers, printers, Webcam etc and an effective connectivity (Details of equipment are given in section 7).

In order to effectively utilise the infrastructure available at these CICs suitable content is needed. This content should be relevant to local needs of the people of the state. Also a suitable back end capacity in the state government machinery is required in order to implement effective Citizen-centric services through CICs. To facilitate effective G2C services creation of databases containing wide range of information is essential. Also different types of forms are to be digitized to facilitate on-line applications and issuance of certificates etc.

Benefits:

The following benefits will accrue as a result of CIC Schemes: -

(i) Information: An informed citizen is productive citizen. The CICs can be useful for the citizens in getting a wide range of information which was difficult to obtain, especially in remote areas such as Block Headquarters. Information such as agriculture marketing and mandi information, health and sanitary practices, national initiatives like AIDS awareness and family welfare, disaster management, employment opportunities, weather forecasting and so on.

(ii) Citizen Centric Services and Interface with Government: the CICs can bring about useful interface between the citizens and the government through various e-governance packages. Information on various schemes and procedures including downloaded forms can be used effectively by citizens besides bringing about transparency in the functioning of the government.

Various other citizen centric services such as tele-consultation, on-line issue of certificates etc. can be offered through CICs at a later stage.

(iii) Education: The CICs will be provide internet connectivity which together with webcasting can be used for providing quality education at the block headquarters.

All CICs in the state will act as automatic franchisees of DOEACC. DOEACC will not charge any Franchisee Fee for registration of the CICs as their franchisees as all the CICs will be automatically registered as the franchisees of DOEACC. The CIC operators would conduct CCC courses during specified hours of the day and shall arrange for the examination as per DOEACC guidelines. The state government may form either local committee at the block level or societies at the district level under the overall supervision of the DCs to oversee the functioning of the CICs as DOEACC franchisees. Detailed modalities will be stipulated by DIT and DOEACC for this purpose

(iv) Tele-health services: Facilities such as on line appointment with hospitals located in state capitals, district headquarters etc, Information on medical related topics can be provided through CICs.

(v) Entertainment: The CICs can be used for providing entertainment to the people by offering E-music and E-cinema services.

(vi) Net-assisted Business: The local cottage industry can get a boost by retailing their produce on internet. Farmers can be benefited by providing Agriculture market information and mandi information through CICs.

(vii) Communication: The CICs can be also useful for communication. Besides the e-mail facility, internet telephony can also be used for communication in the far flung areas. This will also generate revenue for CICs.

Roles of Different Agencies:

The CIC scheme is to be implemented by the Department of Information Technology with active involvement and participation of the government of J&K.

Manpower deployment and Training: Each centre will be manned by two trained persons (CIC Operators). These trained personnel will render requisite assistance to the user and will also function as data-entry operator for keeping the respective state governments and DIT updated with day-to-day functioning of the centres.

Content Collection/ Creation/ Updation etc.:

The activities relating to the Content Collection/ Creation; Data entry, updation and maintenance and overall utilization of CICs will be the responsibility of the state government. Appropriate Training programmes will be conducted for the users deputed by state government for operationalization of such services. Content relevant to day-to-day needs of local community need to be developed by respective state governments. Also a suitable back-end capacity need to be created in the state government machinery in order to implement G2C services through CICs.

Training:

Training programmes in various areas will be organised to familiarize state government staff with applications software and to equip them with adequate know-how of IT tools for optimum realization of their efforts towards successful implementation of the Community Information Centres. These programmes will include Basics of Computers, Office Automation tools, Internet, E-mail and the operations of applications software. The details of training programmes will be worked out after discussions with the concerned authorities.

Operationalization and Management:

Department of Information Technology will bear the capital cost of the project. The project, including setting up of infrastructure, applications software and training, will be completed in 1 year. The financial support to meet the recurring expenses for maintenance of infrastructure at these CICs, manpower costs and transponder charges for VSAT connectivity for five years will be provided by the DIT. The expenditure on day to day operations including electricity charges, diesel for generator etc. are to be borne by the state government. Over a period of time it is expected that the services offered by the CICs such as G2C services, Internet/ email and Computer training will help in making the CICs self-sustainable. The CICs will be handed over under a simple MoU to the state government after a period of three years.