Shimla has always been a cynosure of many eyes essentially for its natural beauty and historical impact. Apart from being visited by number of Indian and foreign tourists, this beautiful summer capital of erstwhile British Raj in India and the present capital of Himachal Pradesh is now becoming a perfect destination for ICT too.
Rajesh Bahadur State Informatics Officer NIC Himachal Pradesh sio-hp@nic.in
Ajay Chahal HP Correspondent ajay.chahal@nic.in
The District NIC Unit, established in 1988, has been instrumental in setting up Citizen Service centers at all 7 Sub-Divisions and 12 Tehsils of the District. The centre, which was initially set up at 150 sqft. area, with Xenix/Unix as Operating System and applications like GIST Terminals developed in Foxplus is now covering an area of 1300 sqft. with infrastructures like a Video Conference Room, UPS Room, Server Room, User Area, Rooms for DIA and DIO. In addition to this, independent computer centers have been established for special projects like Land Records Computerisation, Integrated Community Service Centre (SUGAM Centres).
Former Secretary IT, GOI visiting NIC District Centre
Infrastructure The expansion, in terms of Hardware and LAN, has been enormous in the District and Field Offices. The switch over has been made from Unix to Windows based servers and Clients. There are 15 Servers and more than 150 Clients under this LAN and Two Touch Screen based Machine. District Centre of NIC has Video Conference facility being run on DAMA VSAT with backup on 2 MB lease line. The Net facility is being provided in the collectorate through Directway VSAT and 2 Mbps leased line.
The District Administration has provided adequate technical manpower at every office for managing such a huge Hardware and Network along with the application software.
SUGAM (Integrated Community Services) Center The Citizen Service Center, named SUGAM, in the Collectorate is one of its kind in the country. It has been made operational by the HP Department of IT and the Collectorate in the month of May, 2007. The SUGAM center has 15 counters for delivery of Service to the citizens and a reception for guidance. A Token dispenser machine has been installed to maintain a proper queue system and availability of service on the first come-first served basis. The center has two big display boards to display the token number to be served along with its counter number. A Touch Screen has been installed to provide various informative services to the citizens. There are more than 50 services which are being provided under a roof. The main services, provided through NIC developed SW (except Electricity & Telephone bills and online booking of HRTC buses, developed by HPSEB and HP DIT), include issuance of 14 types of certificates, issuance/renewals/registration of driving license, issuance of land records nakal, issuance/renewal of Arms License, issuance of senior citizen/disability cards payment of electricity bills/telephone bills, booking of HPTDC Hotels and HRTC busses, employment registration etc.
SUGAM Centre
Apart from the above, SUGAM Centre also provides information on Daily market rates (AGMARKNET), Search of vacancies, Bus Time Table, Daily cause list of various courts, Search of Blood Donors, Pensioners helpline, e-Tracking of the already submitted application/letters in the State Secretariat, Examination Results etc.
Major E-Governance Projects in the District Online Treasury Information System in all Treasuries in the District State Government employees pension disbursement system-100% pensioners coverage e-Salary-Integrated Pay & Account Offices covering 100% employees of the district Welfare Pension Disbursement System covering 31000 pensioners mostly poor living in remote villages. Shastr-Arms Licensing SW Land Records computerisation in all Tehsils/ Sub-Tehsils Employment Exchange Information System in REE and Sub - exchanges Schemes Monitoring System District Shimla website at http://hpshimla.nic.in REFNIC-References Monitoring System Randomisation Software implemented for Assembly Elections 2007
Central Projects CIPA-7 Police Stations computerised since April 2006 Computerisation of District Consumer Forum, Shimla since April 2007 Passport Office Shimla was established with the help of DIC Shimla and made functional during the year 2007. AGMARKNET The Agriculture Marketing Network Project has been implemented in the Whole Sale Market at Dhalli in Shimla. The daily rates of commodities coming for sale at mandi are being displayed on the Agmarknet portal. The project has benefited the farmers the most, now they can know in advance the prevailing price of any commodity in any of the mandis all over India and can decide, where to dispose off their produce to get the maximum financial benefit. The web site of HP Agriculture Marketing Board has been developed by District Unit and hosted at http://hpsamb.nic.in. The Agmarknet Project for whole of State is being coordinated from DIC Shimla.
Message by Sh. Tarun Kapoor IAS, Former Deputy Commissioner, Shimla E-Governance is the only answer for the complex Government processes in India. It is only through E-Governance that we can bring transparency and fair play. We can also ensure speed in delivery of services and curtail red tape. In Shimla District, we are trying to ensure that people are able to get the services without any hassle and at low cost. District centre of NIC is playing a vital role in spread of E-Governance by way of its highly skilled manpower and helping District Administration in all possible ways.