[Assam] [asom] Re: CIC operators
umesh sharma
jaipurschool at yahoo.com
Tue Aug 1 09:43:19 PDT 2006
Mukul-da ,
Thats interesting. But there must be an evaluation beforehand -showing that the work of CIC is still unfinished.
Umesh
****
That: RBI can pump some funds to let CIC's perform a few more years conditional with redefined performance targets to rejuvenate GOI's big hopes of universal e-governance and massive strides towards becoming an advanced nation by2020
mc mahant <mikemahant at hotmail.com> wrote:
I as PCG leader wrote to Reserve Bank of India's Guwahati Chief a few months ago (when they advertized for opinions/ideas about how to make more massive Indian Rupee pumping to enable great progress and bring Happiness--it won't ever)--
That: RBI can pump some funds to let CIC's perform a few more years conditional with redefined performance targets to rejuvenate GOI's big hopes of universal e-governance and massive strides towards becoming an advanced nation by2020
Beyond that submission we heard nothing.
Also look out in the next issue of the new NE Computer News from Guwahati. Therein my article details a paradigm for continuation ofCIC's in a different self-governing profit-generating mode(customers gain too).
CIC employees should fight for that kind of meaningful new life. Assamnetters too can come forth with better ideas,
mm
<<D. Save the following Organization and help it become a net earner in 6 months:
CIC facing uncertainity
The CIC project was a special gift to North East from the former Prime Minister of India Sri Atal Bihari Vaipaiji during the year 2002 with a budget of around Rs 400 crores. This project envisaged to set up Communication Information Centre ( CIC) in all blocks of NE equipping with Computers and satellite internet broadband connectivity with multi dimensional activities towards a resurgent NE. But the sad part is that this dream project is now facing uncertainty due to improper handling from several corners.
As per the project plan , CIC will be funded by Dept. Of Technology, Ministry of Communication & Information Technology, Govt of India for 5 year (upto 2007) and then it would be handed over to the respective State Govts for further continuation. But surprisingly even after expiry of 3 & ½ years, no step has been seen for further continuation of the project. This CIC project was launched in August 2002 with multi dimensional activities ; To establish ICT backbone in rural area , to provide web access and Internet services for rural people, easy access to market information, e-COMMERCE of local resources, to provide e-governance services in rural area, E-education, E-medicine, IT education, capacity building, ICT support to SHG, NGOs, farmers, edutainment, access to govt and socio-economic databases, entertainment, edutainment , E-employment etc. Each CIC is provided with 1 Server, 5 clients, laser printer , DMP, CD writer, web cam, UPS, VSAT internet
broadband connectivity, 29 CTV with satellite receiver with two technical CIC operators.
The contribution of CIC during the last 3 & ½ years in the rural area of North East is immense. It has successfully working as ICT backbone in the entire NE networking with all rural blocks hooking with national NICNET connectivity. Rural youths who earlier never get any chance to access any computer now able to browse website, send email, download materials from internet, making internet friends, online chats, participating in global forum. Rural small farmers are now getting market information, downloading applications, projects; Women SHG are now getting resource materials from Internet, rural unemployed youths are gaining confidence. CIC is taking lead role in knowledge revolution in rural area
As major acknowledgement of CIC, this year 39 nos of persons out of total 155 from the entire country comprising of CIC operators , NGOs activist working in tandem with CIC have been conferred fellowship of Jamsedji Tata National Virtual Academy for Rural Prosperity 2006 by His Excellency President of India for rural prosperity through knowledge enrichment and rural knowledge revolution.
But inspite of immense contribution of CIC with multi dimensional activities , several corners seem to be unhappy and want CICs premature death.
a. After investing huge amount in CIC project for development of ICT in rural area, CIC has become a barometer for sanctioning of further similar rural ICT project; an unsuccessful CIC will create national out-cry which will make IT sector for rural masses loser ; similarly a successful CIC will make them gainer which does not make a section happy.
b. Government of India has already drafted master plan under National e-governance Action Plan involving enormous budget where CIC is a strong contender as one of the e-governance stalk holders in NE. Moreover it has been demanded that CIC rural students should be involved in establishing E-governance kiosk in villages in cluster approach with CIC as Block nodal centre. Also demand has been raising to involve these rural youths in the on going multi millions rupees ICT projects viz. Village Knowledge Centre ( 6 Lakh unit in 6 Lakh villages of India), Common Service Centre (1 lakh unit ) which are to be completed within Dec 2007. This has made a section anxious who have been eyeing anxiously on the above fund.
c. As per recently implemented Right for Information Act, all government information, activities, expenditure statement should be made public and CIC has become a natural choice to maintain transparency of block offices. This has created a concern for a section that have so far successfully draining public money from block offices .
d. Till few days back, many NGOs/ organizations/ Agency etc. have been successfully receiving government money in the name of spreading of Computer Education in rural area but Govt of India is now expressing reservation in sanctioning duplicate projects due to existence of CIC infrastructure who is working well. Also some private computer educational Institutions who have been so far making money charging exorbitant fees from rural gullible youths are facing closure. Now CIC has become a bet noir .
e. CIC has succeeded to produce a sizeable data entry operators in local languages and producing quality result i.e. the critical data entry works of Land records computerization in Unix/ Oracle/ Gist based Indian script have been successfully implemented by CIC students in a few districts of Assam within record time. They have become a contender for data entry works. Surprisingly still data entry projects rarely allotted to CIC.
The raw deals
1. The CIC Operators were locally recruited for five years on temporary basis at a fixed salary of Rs 5500/- on yearly contractual basis which is further extended by another year after expiry of the yearly contact. They are not admissible of any employee benefits viz. EL, maternity leave, TA/DA etc. Salaries are deducted for their absence .
2. Under the guidelines, Central Govt has been continuously providing Annual Maintenance Contact for the equipments, salary for operators, satellite Bandwidth etc. And State Govt has to provide contingency expenditure viz. K.oil, electricity, stationary, up-keeping of the site, security of the equipment etc. which eventually did not materialize. All contingency expenditure have been met by the respective CIC from their own revenue earning.
3. For management purpose, One District Level CIC Coordination Committee headed by Deputy Commissioner of the respective district and Block Level CIC Coordination Committee headed by Block Development fficer or Custodian of the respective CIC have been constituted. Now efforts have been made to make CIC economically sustainable which monthly expenditure is around Rs 30,000/- in contrast to the average monthly income of around Rs 3000/- per CIC. To make CIC economically self sustainable in rural area, Govt support is most needed. It was suggested that state governments should utilize CIC infrastructure for their block level government offices on royalty basis which is yet to be materialized. In contrast, BDOs whose responsibility was entrusted to mobilize local government offices are seen grossly mis-utilising CIC resources and manpower engaging in office typing works without paying any royalty to CIC.
4. Though implementation of E- governance in rural area was one of prime objectives of CIC. But no efforts have been seen to involve CIC in implementing e- governance in rural areas; instead private parties like DRISTEE, New Delhi have been engaged in few districts.
5. Though a large nos of rural educated unemployed youths have passed out from CIC with computer education ( around 200-300 nos per CIC) during the last 3 & ½ years, but no step has been taken by govt for their employment or self employment. This has raised despair amongst rural youths which affecting CIC.
6. In district govt domain, CIC operators are the only technically qualified persons and CIC is the only ICT infrastructure in blocks. Govt and public so far have extensively utilIsing CIC. But no effort has been made to boast up the morale of CIC Operators ( a major percentage are young girls) who have been working in rural area who have been demoralized since the day of their joining that their services will be only limited for 5 years. This is causing deep anxiety amongst operators and rural community. Now State govt should request Central Govt for further financial and technical assistance to continue such a technical and expensive ( Rs 19 crores as yearly recurring cost) project like CIC for the larger interest of the nation. D. Dutta
E: Create a Final list of planned but not fully implemented, sick,tottering,dead projects lying in Assam Govt ,NECouncil,Govt.of India, Banks, FIs file. Like Flood Control, Bogibeel Bridge, Sugar Mills, Paper Mills, Govt. Undertakings>>>
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From: Dibya <dibyanlp at yahoo.com>
To: assamonline at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [asom] Re: CIC operators
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:48:15 -0700 (PDT)
>The best way will be to extend by another 5 years by GOI.
>
>Since CSC project is on initial stage and too difficult to predict it's sustainability, and many other projects run by either state govt or NGO etc are not shining at all, so for the best interest of CIC for NE, it should be continued by another 5 years by GOI. The technical input is the most crucials and GOI is the only option who can keep technology going on. But the functioning style of CIC should eb changed. SO far it looks like a institutions run by CIC operator rather than a community centre.
>
>Steps should be taken to involve local community, women SHG to utilise the resources of CIC. Then only it would loook like a Community project.
>
>dibya
>
>Re:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/assamonline/message/2546
>moderator edited, assamonline
>
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Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
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1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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