Pali, situated in the southwestern, semi-desert region of Rajasthan, is a district in which the National Informatics Centre has been able to make its services indispensable — thanks to the co-operation accorded by the District Administration.

Dawn of Informatics in Pali

NIC activities in Pali started when the Mr Dipak Das joined as the District Informatics Officer (DIO) in January, 1992. It was his endeavour to slowly but surely initiate the Pali Administration into the modern-day-world of computers and information technology. To begin with, projects such as computerization of arms licence, old-age pension, Personnel Information System for the Ministerial Staff and development of a Village Database were taken up on priority basis. Input proforma were designed and circulated to the departments concerned for data collection. By the time the data was available, the softwares were made ready and the process of data entry could be started immediately.

The Footing grows Firm

It was at this stage that Mr Shreemat Pandey, IAS took over as the District Magistrate of Pali. He was a man of foresight and was all set to make use of NIC's systems in all walks of administrative affairs. With his strong support, the NIC Pali District Unit took up important projects for some major Departments of the District Administration.

NIC helped the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) to streamline the monthly monitoring of various schemes under it. With the help of the NIC Pali District Centre, the DRDA developed a databank which now contains information on all its works under different government schemes. This databank is updated regularly to keep it current. Works-oriented and bank-related schemes are being monitored through computers for optimal utilization of resources. NIC is providing technical support to the DRDA in carrying out its computer-related activities.

A software was developed to monitor the progress of different individual beneficiary schemes. This software, named the Individual Beneficiary Schemes Monitoring Software (IBSMS) prints out a list of schemes, the achievement of which is found to be below the required norm.

The Revenue Officers Review System (RORS) was developed to review the performance of Revenue Officers (SDOs and Tehsildars). Monthly achievements of Revenue Officers are now monitored according to the norms set for them.

The NIC Pali District Centre then took up the job of monitoring the Gram Vikas Shivir - 92, and a software was developed for the purpose. The software, designed to provide outputs in Hindi through General Information Systems Terminals (GIST) was the first of its kind in Rajasthan. Weekly data is compiled in the NIC systems, and reviewed by the District Magistrate. This weekly data is made available to the Divisional Commissioner and Revenue Secretary through NICNET.

A Famine Information System was developed to monitor the sanction of work on the basis of the villages affected. Another software package was developed to monitor the 20-point Programme of the Government.

NIC gets a Bonus

NIC's success in all these major projects convinced the District Magistrate. NIC had proved its worth. Meanwhile, the NIC Pali District Centre was facing problems due to lack of proper space to function in. This was brought to the notice of the District Administration. In a gesture of appreciation, the District Administration decided to allot a new site of about 550 sq ft for the Centre. Site preparation started in August 1992 and completed in November 1992. The new computer centre of NIC with a separate terminal room and a counter with a terminal for use by the public is now a proud possession of the District Administration.

Computerization catches on

Gradually, all the Government Departments of Pali realized the benefits of computerization and approached the NIC Pali District Centre for computerization of different processes in their routine work. The District Centre took up the following projects to help the Departments:

  • Preparation of Annual Credit Plan for the Lead Bank of Pali
  • Recruitment of teachers by the Zila Parishad
  • Computerization of the process of recruitment of constables
  • Preparation of micro-plan for Sterilization and Immunization Programmes
  • Preparation of Contingency plan for the district of Pali involving compilation of data from different Departments such as PWD, PHED, Irrigation and Soil Conservation.

Data for various national-level projects such as the 20-point Programme, Family Welfare Programme, Small Savings Scheme, Integrated Child Development Scheme etc. are being transferred through NICNET.

The NIC Pali District Centre has now come of its own. It has reached a stage where no new scheme at the district level is taken up without first considering how NIC services can be availed of. The confidence and trust gained are the most measurable indicators of success for an organization such as NIC.

When the District Administration awarded Mr Dipak Das, DIO, NIC, and Mr Brijesh Kumar Sharma DIA, NIC, for their distinguished service, on the occasions of the Republic Day and the Independence Day, it was but an expression of the total faith of the District of Pali in the Informatics Centre.