[Assam] Rs 116-cr IT project to boost rural linkage (The Assam Tribune, Thursday, September 04, 2008 )

[Buljit Buragohain]

Rs 116-cr IT project to boost rural linkage
Correspondent
 GUWAHATI, Sept 3 – Chief Tarun Gogoi today formally launched the Arunodoy, an ambitious IT project that seeks to set up 4,375 rural Internet-enabled common service centres (CSCs) in all the districts of the State, making it the largest delivery channel for the Government to provide its services to citizens in rural areas. This will be the largest Internet-enabled public service delivery system in the State. Apart from G2C services, the centres will provide both off-line and online B2C services ranging from simple bio-data making to booking of railway tickets. 

The Rs 116-crore project, the biggest public-private- partnership (PPP) in the State so far, will generate employment opportunities for around 9,000 rural youths. Two private enterprises, Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited and Zoom Developer Pvt Ltd have tied up with the State Government to implement the project. Assam Electronics Development Corporation Limited (AMTRON) will be the State nodal IT agency for implementing the project.

Speaking on the occasion at the Pragjyoti-ITA complex, Gogoi said that the State Government was committed to ushering in a new era of IT and the Arunodoy Sewa Kendra was a step in that direction.

“Our top priority has been on developing IT and expansion of education. For this, we have been executing several projects in the State, including in the rural areas,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi said that the information centres would serve a long-standing need of the rural people by providing lots of information relating to Government and non-government sectors. He said that the Government’s dream of reaching out to the common man at his doorstep would become a reality with this venture.

State IT minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his speech, expressed satisfaction that the State was entering a new age of revolution with the launch of the Arunodoy CSC scheme.

He urged the youths, who have come forward to own the CSCs to be patient and work hard to make their enterprises viable.

Sarma said as soon as all enabling IT infrastructure like ASWAN, State Data Centre and E-districts are completed, the masses can access on line G2C services at their doorsteps, which is the ultimate objective of the CSC.

PC Sarma, chief secretary, Dr Jayanta Madhav, economic advisor to Chief Minister, VS Bhaskar, commissioner, IT, Dr Gautam Baruah, director, IIT and MK Yadava, MD, AMTRON were present at the function.

 (The Assam Tribune,Thursday,September 04,2008 )
 
 
 
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