Surat (also Susrat) the commercial capital of Gujarat has impressive economic growth because of the Diamond business - 92% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in Surat, thus it has been called the "Diamond capital of the world.” Surat is situated on the banks of river Tapi. Due to a big textile industry, the city is also known as the “Textile City”. Asia's largest heavy industrial place, Hazira is also situated in Surat district. The district has a total of 15 Talukas (Tehsils) and it is spread over 7651 Sq. Km of area and as per current census the population of Surat is 50 Lakhs.
NIC District Centre @ Surat NIC, District Centre Surat was established in 1989 with the motto of providing technical support and computer awareness to the different government departments at district level. The district centre Surat has been involved in providing ICT support to the District Administration by way of developing software for different user departments. It has also implemented numerous State and National Level projects. The NIC district centre is an integral part of the District Administration.
Key Activities / Projects ❖ Land Record Computerisation
Land Record Computerisation programme was initiated in 1997. Land details of all 1234 villages in all 15 taluka, have been verified and thus was appropriately chosen as a model for e-DHARA project replication. Now all 15 takulas of Surat district is having full-fledged e-DHARA Centers providing all land related services to the public. The Bhulekh Software used at e-DHARA centres support recording of all type of land transactions and various village forms can be generated. The crop information of each season and information like irrigation and tenant details, if any, are recorded. Apart from the landowners, departments like revenue, irrigation and agriculture are using the land record data.
❖ Nagarik Suvidha Kendra (NSK) Nagrik Suvidha Kendra is a window for the citizens to get various certificates like Income Certificate, Caste Certificate, OBC Certificate, Domicile Certificate and Senior Citizen Certificate. All types of Affidavits, Arms Licenses Renewal, Petition Writer Renewal, Hotel License Renewal and Stamp Vendor Renewal, Learning Driving License are also issued through this Kendra. Software developed by NIC automates the procedures at the Seva Kendra, right from the receipt of application and approval, to printing of various certificates. The Kendra immensely benefits the citizen of Surat and the response has been tremendous since its initiation on 1st May 2005 by Hon'ble. CM, Sh. Narendra Modi.
❖ Ration Card Computerisation This is another major e-governance initiative of NIC, Surat. All the ration card data of the district is now computerized and the software is used for ration card transactions like addition/deletion of name, transfer of card, etc. Around 12.4 Lakhs ration cards have been computerized and information used for day to day working.
❖ ROR @ Village It is an extension of Land Record Computerisation Project to Village level. This web application facilitates issuance of the Record of Rights (ROR) from the Gram Panchayat office. Using dial-up connection, Gram panchayat is authorised to request the RoR and print the ready RoR on pre-printed forms certified by the e-DHARA Kendra. This project is successfully implemented in 383 villages of Surat district and greatly benefiting the rural population by the service being offered.
❖ ReD (Registration of Documents) ReD software is being used at Sub Registrar office for the registration of property documents. The software is successfully implemented at four Sub registrar offices falling under Surat district and an average of 300 documents are being registered per day. The software is using biometric finger-prints and photographs of both the parties for proper authentication.
❖ PCIS (Property Card Information System) This is an approach for the computerisation of urban land record i.e. Cities / Towns, which includes the properties ownership and other related information. Software also facilitates different kind of mutation of properties. The backlog data entry for all the urban area of Surat district has been completed.
❖ Election Monitoring System This web application is developed for supporting election process at District / State level by State Election Commission. All the Municipal Corporation/Nagar Palika Elections of Gujarat State have been successfully monitored through this system. The software facilitates all kind of polling day status and reports, online election results and all other statistical reports required by State Election Commission. The efforts of NIC were duly appreciated by the State Election commission. NIC Surat Center is also helping district administration with smooth conduct of different assembly and parliamentary elections.
❖ Training NIC Surat center is frequently conducting different training programs for the state government employees for the successful implementation of different e-governance projects. The center is also providing program specific training to the employees in collaboration with SPIPA (Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration).
Excerpt of the letter from Sh.D.V Mewada, District Collector In-Charge, Surat “NIC- Surat Is providing remarkable services in developing an information technology enabled work culture in Surat District providing Software developing, training, and building an e-governance based citizen service delivery systems in the offices of the district.”
For more information, contact : NIC Surat District Unit gujsur@nic.in Ramesh Chavda District Informatics officer Akshay Padiyar District Informatics Associate