April 3, 2014
1000 days at a glance: Marching ahead in IT sector
The West Bengal Government is taking steps towards bridging the digital divide in the state and coming at par with the rest of the country. From incubation centres to IT policy, incentive schemes to e-governance, the steps taken by the All India Trinamool Congress led Government has brought Bengal to the top of the ladder in the information technology sector. And not just the Sector V, the IT penetration is happening at districts too.
Here are the achievements of the department of Information and Technology:
Attractive Policy: Present state government has announced a new information Technology policy and attractive incentive scheme in 2012. Special thrust has been given to the fields of hardware, gaming and animation. This state has been able to be in the front row in the field of Information Technology during last two and half years. In 2012, West Bengal was honoured with the “Data Quest e-readiness“ award.
Information Technology centres in districts: The reach of information-technology is being extended to the districts. State government has decided to construct. 13 IT Park at various places across the state. Among these, construction at 8 places is going on. The first phase of work has been completed at Durgapur and Siliguri and the second phase is underway. A modern plug and play-based IT Hub and Incubation Centre is being constructed at Taratala.
Expansion of Hardware and Electronics Industry: A Hardware Park on 10 acre of land at Sonarpur will shortly be prepared for distribution. One more Hardware Park at Kalyani and two green field Electronics Manufacture clusters at Naihati and Falta, are being constructed.
National Centres for Education: One of the best centres for education in information technology, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) is being constructed at Kalyani. It is expected that the regular study in this institute will be made possible from this year.
Microsoft Centre of Excellence: Microsoft Centre of Excellence will be functional within next two-three months at Webel, Salt Lake.
Huge Employment: 1,30,000 IT professionals are involved in more than 500 IT companies across the state which was merely 90,000 in 2010-11. At present indirect employment in this field 6,50,000. All the leading software companies such as WIPRO, Mintor Graphics, Ericsson, Capgemini, Tech Mahindra, Accenture, TCS, Cognizant, ITC Infotech etc are extending their reach of work and functioning.
31% increase in export in two years: Rs. 8,500 crore in Total amount of export from IT industry was 11,200 crore in 2012-13 which was merely 2010-11.
Unique Initiative of e-governance: e-governance is being implemented through technical assistance and guidance for applying e -governance in the various departments of the government. Such few schemes are Integrated Finance Management System (IFMS), State Statistical Strengthening Programme (SSSP), Employment Bank and labour Helpline, State Spatial Data Infrastructure (SSDI), National Land Records Modernisation Programme (NLRMP) etc.
Additionally, SMS-based grievance reporting system has been introduced in Howrah Police Commissionerate area for taxi refusal, eve teasing and other inconveniences. A scheme for booking taxi through mobile is being implemented.
e-district: e-district scheme is being implemented to convey various government services ( such as caste certificates, Certificate of Death, Residential & Income Certificate etc.) to the people through the kiosks in rural areas.
e-office: Paperless e-office system has been made operational in view of converting the offices of District Magistrates of both the 24 Parganas, Staff Selection Commission and Department of Information Technology to paperless offices.
Document Management System: To preserve all official data, the system of digitization has been introduced in the office of the District Magistrate of Darjeeling. The works of implementing the very system in more 12 of districts are going on.
West Bengal State Wide Area Network (WBSWAN): It is being rejuvenated to implement e-governance initiative and to ensure horizontal & vertical communication in between the various departments of the govt. and more than 500 blocks.
State Data Centre: State Data Centre has been made operational to protect the entire official digital database, which has been certified by quality determining ISO.
State Portal & State Service Delivery Gateway (SP-SSDG): State Portal & State Service Delivery Gateway are being made operational to provide various official services to the people online through a more easy, convenient and integrated way.
Diminishing Digital Divide: This year, computers, along with special learning kits are being provided to 102 schools with majority of backward class students. Computers of special kind along with modern “Braille Monitors” are also being provided to the blind students.
Click here to read the complete list of achievements.
