SIKKIM - STATE ANNUAL PLAN 2001-2002INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTDEMAND NO. 18The Government of Sikkim has been giving an immense emphasis to the Information Technology sector and placed it high on its agenda. It has been felt that Information Technology can act as a medium of bringing about improvement in the socio-economic conditions in the State. It can help to create a knowledge based society where all citizens can access knowledge and information readily and seamlessly. Better governance through the use of information tools, income and employment generation through private sector participation, empowerment of rural communities and training of government of Sikkim employees in the use of the computers for improving their productivity are the major thrust areas of the information technology Department. The information Technology Department is a nascent organisation and requires to be nurtured to put it on a firm footing. 40 NEC funded Community Information Centres are in the process of being installed all over Sikkim. Equipped with 6 computers each and a direct satellite link, these Centres would be accessible to the members of Public. Besides beinging about awareness in computers at the grass rood level, the community Information Centres will be a big step forward in empowering the rural masses. These centres will aim at reducing the yawning digital divide between the wired elite and the non-wired masses. The Information Technology Departments creating contents for the CICs so that citizens can get latest information and also download forms from remote areas. To make the functioning of the government transparent, even cabinet decisions, government policies and programmes, rules and regulations have been hosted on the Home Department website. This is perhaps the first such endevour in the country. The Information Technology Department is well poised to act as a facilitator in creating jobs for locals in the private sector. Medical transcription is an area which is being explored. We are in the process of inviting agencies who will provide medical transcription training to locals. Locals entrepreneurs would be asked to run these centres subsequently. The setting up of a Software Technology Park is actively being pursued by the Government. It will essentially provide the basic infrastructure like wide band-width access, stable power supply and space on hire to investors who would like to operate from Sikkim. It is in line with the Government’s policy to invite private sector investments in the information technology sector. The various Government Departments have been asked to prepare their computerisation plans and create databases that can be put on the public domain. Salaries: Rs 6.00 lakhs The Information Technology Department is presently functioning with officials drawn from other Departments holding dual charge. This requires to be regularised by posting officials on a permanents basis. Some posts are being created and provision of salaries will have to be kept for the incumbents. Travel Expenses Rs 5 lakhs To sort out teething problems of the Department frequent visits will have to be made by the officials to Ministry of Information Technology. New Delhi. Meetings, conferences and seminars are regularly convened by the MIT and these also have to be attended. Within Sikkim extensive touring to supervise the construction of the Community Information Centres will have to be undertaken, Rs 5 lakhs will be required to meet expenditure towards Travel Expenses. Office Expenses Rs 10.00 lakhs The Information Technology Department does not have an office presently. However one floor of the newly constructed Annexe I building has been earmarked for the IT Department. For the purchase of furniture for the offices and the training room, Rs 3 lakhs will be required. Payment of honorarium of guest lecturers will involve an expenditure of Rs 0.5 lakhs. In the scheme of things, the State government has to provide a telephone connection each to every CIC Rs 1 lakhs as telephone connection charges will have to be paid Rs 1 lac is the anticipated expenditure towards purchase of stationary items and consumables such as cartridges for printers for training class. The responsibility of providing security to the 40 CICs will be that of the Govt. of Sikkim. It is proposed to deploy 1 (one) H.G. for each centre. The expenditure on account of the wages will be 3.5 lakhs. Grants in Aid to CRTI Rs 4.00 lakhs An autonomous body titled Centre for Research and Training in Informatics has been established under the Department of I.T. This body is the delivery arm of the I.T. Department and will be involved in imparting specialized training and developing software packages. Funds would be require to sustain this organization for its day to day work. Minor Works Rs 10 lakhs The Government of India has sanctioned the establishment of a software Technology Park in Sikkim. The Government of Sikkim on its part has to contribute an acre of land and 2000 sq. ft. of built up area at a Central location. Rs 10 lakhs for building an additional floor above the NIC at the Tashiling complex will be required as our contribution to the STP project. Motor Vehicles Rs 1.50 lakhs To meet expenditure on account of fuel and lubricants and maintenance of the vehicles of the I.T. Department Rs 1.5 lakhs will be required. The vehicle has to tour the state extensively for the installation of the Community Centres and heavy expenditure on fuel will have to be incurred. Machinery and Equipment Rs 13.50 lakhs The Information Technology Department requires to purchases computers software large format printers etc. Funds are required for procurement of the equipment. ABSTRACT
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