"E-grama": A Roadmap to Bridge the Digital Divide in Orissa

Transcription

1 f "E-grama": A Roadmap to Bridge the Digital Divide in Orissa Rama Krushna Dash ' Manas Ranjan Patra2 and Susanta Kumar Pand3 ABSTRACT This paper describes our experience and problemsfaced after implementation of "E-grama" in Ganjam and KBK districts of Orissa. It elaborates how "E-grama" is helping to bridge the Digital Divide of Ganjam district, with the help of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and youth clubs affiliated to it. It explains how "E-grama" is helping the rural mass in dissemination of Government information. It also describes the problemfaced in the implementation of "E-grama" in the KBK districts of Orissa. In this paper the problemsfaced is compared with a developed and some backward districts of Orissa. Undoubtedly e-governance is a necessity now and it is a challenge for the Government to implement it evenly through out the country. The awareness of the benefits of ICT should reach every nuke and corner of India before its implementation, to make e-governance a success. Keywords: DigitalDivide, E-governance, E-literacy,Intranet,E-grama 1. Introduction "E-grama" an E-governance effort by NationalInformaticsCentre, Berhampur and District Administration Ganjam,Orissa,started way back on Dec'2002, with the objectives of providing G2C services to common man through different G.P and village level IT KIOSKS using Information and Communication Technology(ICT). Inthis model (Mishra et.al 2004), the self-financed KIOSKS were opened by the villagers, youth clubs,ngo's etc. from their ownresources and they were accessing the intranet portal from the server placed simultaneously at NIC Berhampur anddrda Ganjamthrough different Remote Access Severs(RAS). Different static and dynamic information like Telephone No. and address of all the state ministers, Secretaries,all district level officers,tahasildars,bdos etc., different Govt, forms in Oriya and English, detail House hold survey informationof all the villages of the district,.details about various developmental programmes and schemes that are undertaken in their village with Financial and Physical parameters, eligibility requirement and some frequently asked questions about, ODP OAP, NOAPand SGSY etc. schemes. It displays the names of the villagers who are receivingthe benefits of the different schemes for transparency,it displays all the necessary guidelines of different govt, schemes and action plan of the district. The detail village amenities are providedthrough Village Index Card System (VICS) database, Details of retail centres, Sub wholesaler of Kerosene oil and its Storage Agents is provided.. The village wise resources as well as assets created through different Government schemes are kept on the site for ready reference. All the 1 NationalInformatics Centre,Berhampur, Orissa, India * CorrespondingAuthor: (Phone : , rk.das@nic.in) 2 Dept. of Computer Science,Berhampur University,Berhampur,Orissa, India 1 NationalInformatics Centre,Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India 250

2 -f -h Rama Krushna Dash el. al. / "E-grama": A Roadmap ta Bridge the Digital Divide in Orissa guidelines and book-lets preparedby Govt, for different programs inoriya likeagriculture, Health, Education, Sanitary Programme, Drinking Water etc are provided. Information regarding use of Indian System of Medicine,using common herbs and roots available inthe village are provided. List of youth clubs affiliated to Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan(NYKS landthe schemes for different youth clubs are provided. facility for sending grievance from the KIOSK to different Govt, offices and readdressed through the KIOSK owners. Initially 125 self financed KIOSKS were opened, which are evenly distributed to cater 4 to 5 gram panchayts, to utilize the intranet portal with the above facilities. A rate chart was given to all KIOSKS for uniform collection of Money for providingdifferent services for self employment and self sustainability of the KIOSK. 2. Problems faced Though the tele-density has increased many folds in last five years, using internet/intranet from the villages is not the same as inthe urban areas. Either the connection works very slow or it is disconnected very frequently. Eveninsome villages it is not working though telephone facility is available. Due to this problem the telephone cost becomes a very costly component inthe expenditure list of the KIOSK.Initially very few people visited the KIOSK for utilizing the information due to lack of awareness of the use of ICT. Only some village touts collected the information for utilizing that with some bad intention or personal interest. was usedfor sending grievances to different forum and it is found that 95% of the grievances were bogus and baseless. Only the KIOSKS could generate some funds from selling Govt, forms and doing some computer job typing, which is negligible incomparison to the expenditure for telephone bill,honorariumto the kioskoperator, electricity bill etc. Within a period of six months 70 out of 125 village KIOSKS have stopped functioning due financial problem. Some "e-grama" KIOSKS are converted to IT KIOSKS by other agencies as they provided free computers and peripherals and promised to provide more hardware in future. In the regular monthly meetings the KIOSK owners complained regarding the telephone problem for accessing the intranet portal and requested some solution. Itwas decided to modify the software and to give "e-grama" portal off-line ina CD-ROMto utilize it without telephone connection. The total portal was put on a CD-ROM and training was provided on how to configure Internet Information Services (IIS) and use the CD-ROM locally at KIOSKS by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Berhampur. The updated version of the CD-ROMis providedineach monthto all the KIOSKS,the cost of which is bomby the District Administration.For economic viability of the KIOSKS,course materials for fundamentals of Computer,MS-Word, MS-Excel andms-powerpoint was includedinthe CD-ROM. The RegionalCoordinator ofnehruyuva KendraSangathan (NYKS), Berhampur region was requested to co-ordinate the programme at village level. Different Course fees ( Rs 100/- for each course per month) and syllabus was provided to all the KIOKS. Instructors were selected preferably from the near by areas with the help of NYKS volunteers with a minimumhonorariumof Rs 1000/-. The Instructors, who has some computer diploma certificate, were given detailed training by NIC, Berhampur, on the subjects given inthe CD-ROM and different methodology to teach and about conducting regular practical classes. As the KIOSKS are locatedinthe GPs andvillages, and the cost is very nominal, the high school and college going student of the village and the near by villages took interest to join the course. Though the KIOSKs do not generate any visible profit every month (as seen from the Appendix ), but the KIOSKs extend a kindof voluntary service to the citizens ingeneral. 3. Bridging the Digital Divide In [1], the authors have raised the issue of digital divide and have discussed some methodologies to bridge the gap. The figures presented in the table (figure-1) clearly indicates the increasing trend of student enrolments and the number of successful candidates during the year 2003 to June 2006 from different IT KIOSKS of Ganjam district.it is reported by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Berhampur, that some of the pass outs from the KIOSKS are absorbed as instructors in some other KIOSK,some have opened computer 251

3 Technology in E-government coaching centres in their respective villages, even some pass outs joined as data entry operators in some business forms. The figure-iibelow shows an increasingtrend in the number of citizens visited the "e-grama" ITKIOSK SI. No. Table 1:Statement showingyear wise pass out of students from IT-KIOSKS. Source: -NehruYuva KendraSangathan,Berhampur. Name and address of IT-Kiosks No. of students passed out (till June, 2006) 1. Palli Vikash, At/Po: Podangi GUIDE, Beguniapada OSTARD, At/Po: Purushottampur VISAC, At: Santoshpur, Po:-Pitalo, Via:-Hinjilicut Sri Harsha Mishra Pathagar, At: Chamunda, PO: laganathprasad CEVA IT Centre, At/Po: Jayantipur, Patrapur BISWAS, Kendupadar, Aska Bhanu, At:- Bhejiput, Khallikote Bhanu, Balisira, Aska Maa Tara Tarini Mahila Samiti, At/Po: Purushottampur Bibhuti Bhusan Das, At/Po: Patrapur Pradeep Kumar Padhy, At/Po: Jayantipur Kabisurya Mahila Samiti. At/Po: Kabisurya Nagar N. Prasad Jena, At/Po: Ambapua, Via: Kabisurya Nagar NIRMATA, Tata Colony, At/Po: Sundurapur, Chatrapur Pandit Shree Nilakantha Pathagar, At/Po: Barida, Kabisurya Nagar SCOPE, At/Po: Bhismagiri Banishree Chetana Kendra, Karapalli Shastri Vikash Pratisthan, At/Po: Housing Board Colony, Ambapua Sangrami Yuba Parisad, At/Po: Lunijhulla Dibakar Gouda, At/Po: Kendupadar Jana Vikash Parisad, Berhampur Mandodari Swechha Sevi Yuvak Sangha, Dengaustha Saraswati Mahapatra. At/Po: Ganjam Netaji Yuvak Sangha, At/Po: Aska Bhanu, At/Po: Nuagam, Aska Gupteswar Youth Club, Lembhai Total Year wise pass out as the student enrolment has increased in each year. 4. Role of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan,is an autonomous body,under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Spoils, Government of India.Their basic job is to promote youths indifferent activities including IT,There are 846 youth clubs inthe villages of Ganjam district of Orissa which are affiliatedto NYKS.For promoting"e-grama" 252 +

4 Rama Krushna Dash el. al. / "E-grama": A Roadmap ta Bridge the Digital Divide in Orissa they conducted several training programmes on "e-grama" for the youth clubs. Under the RuralInformation Technology Youth Development Centre programme they provide Certificates to the successful pass outs of J ai [I[Id (Upto June} Year I No. of students passed out ÿ No. of citizens visited the IT-Kiosk Fig. 1: Trend of Citizens visited the IT-Kiosks in comparison to e-iiteracy. "e-grama" ITKIOSKS after conducting commonexamination. They regularly conduct training programme at village level youth clubs for promoting the use of ICTand how to motivate the villagers regarding the benefit of ICT. They have some graduate paid volunteers under "National Service Volunteer Scheme", who are placed at village level, co-ordinate the IT KIOSKS. 5. Role of Youth Clubs The youth clubs inthe villages have members with inthe age group of 18 to 35 years. Some members are educated and some uneducated. The educated members are trained regarding the benefits of Informationand CommunicationTechnology(ICT) anddifferent facilities providedthrough "e-grama" by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.Berhampur. As the basic literacy rate inthe villages of Ganjam district Orissa is around 50% and e-literacy rate is around 1%.The members of the youth club act as the bridge betweenthe "Digital divide" to "Digital Unite".They conduct different street plays inthe villages to create IT awareness among the villagers. They solve the language barrier problem by translating the required contents to local language, to an uneducated villager, as most of the informationprovidedis inenglish. Most of literate village women feel shy to go out to the KIOSK.which is against the village tradition, the members motivate them for breaking the social barrier. They motivate the school and college going students of the village and the villages nearer to them to join the low cost computer course provided at the "e-grama" IT KIOSK.Even they motivate the village and G.P level Government functionaries to join the course. As the computer is purchased from the village fund or Youth club fund, the members of the club take more interest to utilize the computer ina proper way. 6. The KBK Districts Scenario The KBK districts include the old Kalahandi,Bolangir and Koraput districts of Orissa, which presently includes five more districts like Nuapada, Sonepur, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri after division and creation of new districts. Government of Indiais taking lot of steps for development of these districts from the days of Late Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India. Long Term Action Plans are prepared for infrastructure development andpoverty eliminationprogrammes. The literacy rate is around 15% inthe rural areas of these districts. The e-literacy rate in the rural areas is almost negligible. Efforts were made to 253 "h

5 Technology in E-government implement "e-grama" inthose districts inaugust 2004 with the help of respective district Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS). The non-availability of computer professionals in the rural areas to act as instructors/ KIOSK operators forced us to hire professional from urban areas with higher cost.most of the villages are inthe hilly region and they don't have all weather road,poor electricity facility. No doubt the tele-density of these areas have increased, the common man are deprived of the use due to lack of money. Though some effort is being continuously made by different organisation to provide most of the information in local Language "Oriya", the problem faced is different ethnic tribal groups speak different dialect other than "Oriya". It is not possible to prepare software in their dialect as they don't have any script.though new technology has arrived to overcome the problem of constant electricity supply and to run the systems in adverse conditions, but the rate is very high for the people of KBK districts to own it. The only means is Government supply. With all the above difficulties 14 number of "e-grama" IT KIOSKS could be made operational in the KBK districts with community participation. All these centers are run by Youth Clubs affiliated to NYKS. Around 210 people are made e-literates with in two years. 7. Concluding Remarks To sum up the experiences of the "e-grama" project implemented in Orissa,and the comparison made with Ganjam and KBK districts of Orissa to bridge the digital divide to make the un-reached to reach the ICT facilities providedby Government or other agencies. Trail should be made to implement standard e- Governance projects without waiting for 100% e-literacy, increasing PC-density & tele-density, as till date it is not possible in our part to achieve 100% basic literacy. Government should take all measures before implementing any big e-governance projects, to organize ICT awareness programmes at rural areas, try to increase the rural e-literacy through the projects like "e-grama" or taking the help of good NGOs' working in rural. Help should be taken from different Government agencies like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Field Publicity Department and good NGOs for creating ICT awareness at rural areas of India. Presently most of the e-governance trials are made in the urban areas of the country. Similar trials should also be made at rural areas of India. The projects like Community Information Centres (CIC) of National Informatics Centre which is presently implementedinthe North Eastern states andjanimu & Kashmir,should be spread across the country at least to the rural areas of other parts of Indiafor increasing the e-literacy rate and creating the awareness of the benefits of ICT. The different organizations implementing e-governance initiatives inthe rural areas shouldhave a healthy competition among themselves. They should not encourage the running village KIOSKS to work under them,promisingthem to give free PCs and peripherals, rather they should motivate other near by villagers where there is no KIOSK. References 1 Lai Ram, Haleem Abid, Khan A. Rahman (2004). "Digital Divide and Digital Unity in E-governance: IndianPerspective.",InPromiseofe-Governance operational challenges, M.P.Gupta(eds.), TMH, pp Mishra Sanjeeb Kumar, Rajput N.B.S, Mohapatra P.K, Dash R.K "E-Grama:The Rural Information Gateway ofganjam District (Orissa)", InPromise ofe-governance operational challenges, M.P.Gupta (eds.). TMH,2004, pp DigitalDivideWeb site " Accessed July 11, BaggaR.K "Issues in Bridging the DigitalDivide in India", Accessed July 11, Community InformationCentre Web site " Accessed July 11,

6 Rama Krushna Dash el. al. / "E-grama":A Roadmap ta Bridge the Digital Divide in Orissa Appendix INCOME AND EXPENDITURE STATEMENT of VISAC IT KIOSK,ViU- Santoshpur, Pitolo, Ganjam, Orissa. From October, 2005 to December, Month Income Expenditure October, 2005 November, 2005 December, 2005 Particulars Amount Particulars Amount ÿ Opening Balance 3,875 ÿ Honorariumto instructor ÿ Monthly fees from 1,800 ÿ Electricity & consumables 525 computer Education. ÿ Closing Balance 5,350 ÿ Sale of forms and 1,200 information sheets. Total 6,875 Total 6,875 Net Profit During the month:- (5,350-3,875) = Rs.1,475/- ÿ Opening Balance ÿ Monthly fees from computer Education. *1* Sale of forms, information sheets and DTP Works ,800 2,100 ÿ Honorarium to instructor ÿ Electricity & consumables ÿ Closing Balance Total Total Net Profit During the month:- (7,600-5,350) = Rs.2,250/- ÿ Opening Balance 7,600 ÿ Honorariumto instructor ÿ Monthly fees from 1,800 ÿ Electricity & consumables 900 computer Education. ÿ Closing Balance 9,700 ÿ Sale of forms, information 2,200 sheets and DTP Works. Total 11,600 Total 11,600 Net Profit During the month:- (9,700-7,600) = Rs.2,100 About the Authors Rama Krushna Dash is a Technical Director(Scientist-E) working with National Informatics Centre(NIC), Government of India for the last 18 years. He holds a Masters degree in Physics and Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science. He is involved in different E-Governance projects of NIC. He has ledthe group inthe implementationof the e-grama project. Hisresearch interests include e-governance and software engineering. ManasRanjanPatrais areader incomputer Science having about 20 years of teaching andresearch experience. He holds a Masters degree in Physics and a Ph.D. in Computer Science. He is a recipient of UnitedNations Fellowship and has worked inthe InternationalInstitute of Software Technology, Macau. He has about 35 research publications to his credit. His research areas include software engineering, service oriented modeling and multi-agent systems. Susanta KumarPanda is presently working as Director of NIC, Orissa State Unit. Lookingafter the entire management of the state centre and its district/sub-centres. With more than 20 years of experience inthe field of InformationTechnology, which primarily includes development of IT Infrastructure for the State Govt, Rolling out of Citizen Centric Services, ITES, G2G, G2C, Project Management, Data Centric Applications, CreationofLargeDatabases, Wide ranging software development activities adhering to ISO 9002 framework, He holds a Master of Technology in Industrial Management from IIT, Kharagpur with a B Tech inmechanicalengg. from NIT, Calicut. 255 "h