The tribal dominated Gajapati District in the state of Orissa came into being with effect from 2nd October' 92. The District has been named after Maharaja Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati, the ex-ruler of Paralakhemundi, who is remembered for his contribution in the formation of a separate Orissa Province and inclusion of of Paralakhemundi estate in Orissa.
The District lies between 18.45 deg N to 19.40 deg N latitude and 83.0 deg E longitude. The major part of the District belongs to hilly terrain and undulated topography. Paralkhemundi, the District Headquarter, lies at a distance of 300 kms. from Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. Gajapati has a population of 4,54,521 over an area of 4443.99 sq.km.
Preamble The NIC District Unit, Gajapati started providing the Informatics support to the District Administration from February'97. The the key objective of the Unit was to generate basic computer awareness and promote Informatics culture in the District where the literacy rate is merely 25%. Apart from this, the other main aims of the Centre were to develop necessary MIS in various sectors and to strengthen the capacity of analysis and quality presentation of statistics utilized for decision making and implementation of National and State level projects.
The Staff at work in the NIC-Gajapati District Unit
Some Milestones With the overwhelming support of the District Administration, NIC Gajapati Unit has developed and implemented as many as 15 software packages within the short span of one year of its establishment. Some of the important ones amongst these are mentioned below :- A Village Level Database has been prepared in accordance with Census-1991, which is highly beneficial for the Departments involved in developmental activities. A Public Grievance Monitoring System has been developed for the District Collectorate which maintains a database and prepares different types of reports regarding redressal of grievance and the pending status. Another successful endeavor of NIC Gajapati Unit is the implementation of the P.L Account Monitoring System for the Development section of the Collectorate. The software prepares a central database for Profit-Loss (P.L) Account expenditure and balance returns of different blocks, both schemewise and monthwise. A 20-Point Programme Monitoring System has also been successfully developed and implemented which prepares reports about the achievement levels of the 20-Point Programme related schemes. MIS on Arms License has been developed and implemented for the Judicial section of the Collectorate. This system generates reports on the arms holders (Police Station wise), types of arms, issuing authority, purpose of issue, area of validation and date of renewal etc. Another milestone in the activities of the Unit is the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Programme Monitoring System. This software is being effectively used by three Departments namely those of Education, Civil Supplies and Social Welfare. Some other feathers in the cap of NIC-Gajapati Unit include the development of Rainfall Data Monitoring System, Monthly Pay-Roll processing for the Collectorate, Animal Information System for Animal Husbandry Department, MIS for Integrated Child Development Scheme and Small Saving Data Monitoring System etc.
Land Records Computerization One of the major achievements of NIC-Gajapati District Unit is the computerization of Land Records in the various Tehsils of the District. Tehsils have been selected for the installation of computers . The software "Bhulekh" will be implemented in the Tehsils which will generate "Khatiyans" regarding land holding details in Oriya Language. This has already been done for the R.Udayagiri Tehsil, which is the first Tehsil in Orissa to go for computerization of Land Records.
Work is also underway for setting up a computer cell at the District Judge Court where the Judgement of the Supreme Court and High Courts will be made available to the authorities through NICNET.
Through sheer hard work and constant strive, NIC Gajapati District Unit has been able to spread the informatics culture among the Government authorities in such a short span of time. Computerization has led to the availability of fast and accurate information which goes a long way in enabling better administration of Government Departments in the District.