In a recent exclusive interview, Sujoy Chakraborty, Assistant Editor, ‘InfoStore’ magazine and a Senior Journalist, spoke to Dr. Debesh Das, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Information Technology, Government of West Bengal, where Hon’ble Minister unfolded his strategy and future planning to take IT awareness, literacy and usage to a new height in the state.

Dr. Debesh Das, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Information Technology, Government of West Bengal

1. What is the current status of IT literacy in the State of West Bengal?

For quite some time, West Bengal government has been attaching prime importance in boosting up IT literacy in the state. As a result, School Education Department has been getting on initiatives to introduce computer education in schools in efficient manner so as to inculcate among the students a deep understanding of the basic tenets of the subject, which may lead to many of them becoming IT-savvy in the future. For that purpose, the department has started inducting computer teachers to schools through School Service Commission—a unique approach in the country. Moreover, many a reputed private institutes are imparting computer education of different levels on regular basis and the response among common people, especially, the youths—is resounding.

2. What are the current e-Governance projects going on and what are the future projects there in the road map of West Bengal IT Department?

On e-Governance, state govt. has launched multi-prong initiatives.  We have successfully introduced state-wide area network which serves as a backbone to voice, data and video transfer from state headquarter to block, subdivision and district headquarters and vice versa. On this backbone, IT dept. has ventured software driven low cost video conferencing facility connecting state headquarter to districts, subdivisions and even far-flung blocks.  State Data Centre which is the repository of crucial state database is under progress and once commissioned will be a one source shop for entire data storage and retrieval. Also, under Mission Mode Project (MMP), 15 nos. of departments of the govt. have been drafted for betterment of their service quality through the use of ICT ensuring transparency, efficiency & citizen-centricity. The project e-district has been launched in Bankura and Jalpaiguri districts on pilot basis envisioning seamless integration of methods and procedures with effective intervention of ICT tools, with a view to provide almost all major services at the district level at the doorstep of the citizens. As a sequel to this endeavor 6,497 common service centres throughout the state are coming up to enable the citizens to access the services of the government in the vicinity of their locality.

IT department envisages to introduce state service delivery gateway, tendering and large scale capacity building in near future to carry forward the initiatives already undertaken to a meaningful purposive conclusion.

3. What initiative so far IT Department, Government of West Bengal has taken to promote IT usage in the State?

State government is fully aware that technological advancement has got no meaning unless the benefits reach to the masses to uplift their quality of life. With this end in view, almost all major departments of the govt. have been put into the fold of national e-Governance, where entire process re-engineering in a holistic approach using wide-spread use of ICT has been given shape. IT department has also established two societies; one concentrates on training, development and wide-spread publicity of open source technology, while the other is engaged in development, standardization and training on Bangla Computing. Apart from this, several departments including the MMP department of the govt. have already embarked large-scale computer application in processing the services of those departments.  Connecting WBSWAN throughout the state and introducing low-cost software-driven video conferencing are other milestone activities of IT department in augmenting the sphere of IT usage in the state.

4. As an immediate focus, IT Department has initiated to increase focus on IT enabled services to create brand value of the State. Could you kindly elaborate us this activity?

IT department has always laid emphasis on nurturing the ITeS sector, keeping broad parity with IT services.  NeoIT has placed Kolkata as the 3rd BPO attraction in the world, next to Warshaw and Hyderabad. West Bengal's intrinsic advantage as gateway to Eastern India and English accentual quality with fairly reasonable soft skill has increased the state's credential as being home turf to BPO companies. Also, the state has been able to make foray into the KPO activities and is potential field for LPO companies. To leverage this advantage, state govt. has focused on ITeS sector, giving thrust on BPOs, considering the employment potentiality of this sector and initiated certain sops in the shape of IT and ITeS incentive schemes to woo the prospective investors willing to step into this state. 

5. IT Department of Government of West Bengal is working hard to make West Bengal one of the top three IT States in India by 2010. What strategy has been chalked out by IT Department, Government of West Bengal to achieve this goal?

To rank among TOP THREE IT states in India is a very difficult proposition at present, specially, at the time of economic meltdown.  West Bengal is a late starter in IT domain, till it has attained a commendable success during this decade. The state will strive hard to achieve the cherished ranking. 

6. What is your opinion about G2C portal and how much benefit can it extend to the citizens of your State?

Government to Citizen (G2C) portal is the backbone of good governance, providing efficient, speedy transparent delivery of services at common citizen’s convenience and affordability. Our G2C portal, popularly known as Banglar Mukh has recently been revamped. We are providing some services like model questions and answers of Madhyamik and H.S examinations, publication of results of Madhyamik, H.S and Madrasa examination, furnishing information on college admission with particulars on discipline-wise subjects and so forth.  We are on the process of introducing online admissions at least in respect of certain colleges. This is over and above the information bouquet, a standard govt. web portal like Banglar Mukh essentially provides. We are harping on providing more services through this web portal to make it more vibrating and responsive to the citizen's demand.  

7. How do you want to achieve the goal to create a future intelligent digital West Bengal?

Our aim is to equip the people of West Bengal to enable them to reap the digital advancements that are rapidly taking place for the betterment of their quality of life. Introduction of computer literacy at the school level, providing last mile connectivity to the lowest rung of village panchayat, spurring up internet penetration are all attempts towards this direction.  The state is poised to minimize the digital divide between the urban educated society and the common rural populace by providing IT infrastructures and opportunity within the reach of common people and thereby usurp in an inclusive intelligent digital West Bengal.

—By: Dr. Debesh Das, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Information Technology, Government of West Bengal.