Tripura - Asanghatita Shramik Sahayika Prakalpa, 2001

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY : BOLD INITIATIVES

Introduction

"The woodlands of Tripura have sent out an invitation of their floral feast through their courier, the south winds, and I have come here as a friend"

These were the very words that the great poet and intellectual, Rabindranath Tagore, spoke of Tripura, inspired by its natural beauty. This natural beauty ornamented with the glittering jewels of IT revolution has become more enchanting and glamorous. One has to just see and experience to believe it.

Full of natural resources, forest cover, vast potential in the agro-processing sector and tourism, the state had already achieved the distinction of registering the highest industrial growth in the 9^th Five Year Plan in the entire North East. With IT revolution on the cards, the state is bound to have a great leap forward in all sectors of human development. International contiguity to the South East Asia and Bangladesh have provided attractive dimension to this state for the investors from the country and abroad.

With the Government of India taking a number of initiatives to develop infrastructural facilities in Tripura, a marked improvement in the facilities related to surface transport, Airport facilities and telecommunication facilities is very much visible. As regards Power, Tripura is expected to be Power-surplus by 2003. The power tariff is also very low compared to other parts of the country. Moreover, natural gas available in plenty can also be used as an alternative fuel (as substitute for electric power), by the industrial units.

As regards social infrastructure, it may be noted that the state has a vast pool of educated/trained manpower. The literacy rate of Tripura is one of the highest in the country. There is a good network of educational institutions, including technical institutions.

Directorate of Information Technology

Tripura State Computerisation Agenecy

In this era of rapidly changing Technologies especially that of Information & Communication Technology whose sole objective is to make information readily available at the press of a few buttons, the State Government has initiated several steps towards achieving this goal. It is with this objective that a separate Directorate of Information Technology and Tripura State Computerisation Agency (TSCA), a society of Govt of Tripura have been created in April 1999 by the State Government with the following objectives:

Facilitating IT usage through proper E-Governance;

Development of IT literate human resource through IT education;

Encouraging investment in the State for employment generation.

To implement computerisation projects in different Departments of the State Government.

To organise training programmes for increasing IT literacy among the officers and staff of the State Government.

To act as a Nodal Agency for coordinating the implementation of CICs (Computer Information Centres) project in all Blocks of the State.

To take steps for promotion of IT education in schools and colleges of Tripura and also for improvement of IT manpower in Tripura.

IT Policy

An Information Technology (IT) Policy The State is one of the first states in the North East to have formulated the IT Policy way back in the year 2000. The objectives of the IT Policy are :

Development of Human Resource for IT
Electronic Governance
Incentives for the IT Industries

e-Governance

There is an e-Governance Plan in the state. Objectives of this Plan are the following:

To empower the common man using the Information Technology as a facilitator.
To promote Information Technology and its application at different layers up to the lowest level of the Government Administration.
To facilitate faster information exchange between the State departments and every citizen through the network
To cover most of the Govt Services under the purview of this project for rural and urban settlements using hi-tech tools to provide easy, online and comprehensive services to the common man.
Development of IT skilled manpower so as to enable private investment to set up IT industries thus creating employment opportunities. The network and computer facilities are to be extended to schools and colleges of the State.

Community Information Centres (CICs) have been set up in 29 Rural Development Blocks. CICs are intended to accelerate socio-economic development in the North Eastern Region of India and to achieve freedom from distance by linking all parts of the region with the rest of the world through good telecom and Internet services. All CICs are equipped with the following equipment.:-

Sl. No.	ITEM	QUANTITY
1.	Server	1 nos.
2.	Client	5 nos.
3.	3 KVA UPS with 1 Hr. battery backup	1nos.
4.	FTDMA V-SAT for connectivity	1 nos.
5.	TV/IRD	1 nos
6.	Local Area Networking (LAN) equipments, accessories
7.	TV set	1 nos
8.	Laser Printer	1 nos.
9.	Dot Matrix Printer	1 nos.
10.	Air-conditioner	1 nos.
11.	Servo Stabiliser	1 nos.
12.	Diesel Generator Set	1 nos.
13.	Software

CIC would facilitate the following at the Block Level:

Internet access at Block level.
Information exchange through e – mail for the effective implementation of the socio – economic development programmes in the region.
Access to the database/development information of national importance such as:
- Population
- Village Amenities
- North-East Resource Database
Judgment of Supreme Court & High Courts
Training through Distance learning technique.
Connectivity to all leading Education & Research institutions in the country.
Computer awareness training programme at Block level.

The State Govt has launched the following 4 citizen centric services from CICs as well as private computer kiosks:

A patient can book an appointment in advance with the specialist doctors as well as with diagnostic test centre in the State Hospital through CICs. This will save time, money & energy of a patient.
Farmer can also get all possible details about crops, technical advice, weather data, data relating to agricultural market and prices in local language.
Students & parents can get information about higher education and professional institutions inside and outside Tripura.
An unemployed person can get information relating to employment opportunities inside and outside Tripura.

Tripura State Wide Area Network (TSWAN) : The State Govt intends to set up Tripura State Wide Area Network to connect State Hqrs with District Hqrs, Sub-Divisional Hqrs and BDO Hqrs to provide efficient communication facilities and thus improve the quality of public service being provided to common man. The TSWAN is proposed to be used for accessing Interent, phone hot line, audio and video messages, audio and video broadcasting, video conference, distance education, various e-Governance applications, tele-medicine, information to citizens etc. The TSWAN is envisaged as the backbone network for data, video and voice communications throughout the State for Govt operations. Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (A Govt of India Enterprise) has been engaged to carry out feasibility study to implement TSWAN.

SMARTCARD: The State Govt has decided to introduce smartcard as a replacement of conventional Identity cards for 50,000 govt employees based at Agartala. For this purpose, Semiconductor Complex Ltd (A Govt of India Enterprise) has been engaged to implement the project.

District Wireless Network: The State Govt has decided to set up a State Wide Voice Communication Network for district administration, which will be state-of-art and having latest generation synthesized radios with appropriate security mechanisms. Using the network, the District Magistrate and Collectors shall be able to directly communicate with the state level, sub-divisional and block level officers, both in their offices as well as when they are mobile within their jurisdiction.

Works Management Suite of Applications (WMSA):- CDAC’s WMSA is being used in PWD and other departments for online monitoring of works services at various stages starting from proposal preparation to commissioning of project. It maintains the entire information of a Work to enable and facilitate the executing and supervisory officers in planning and monitoring the various stages of the various Works in a more efficient and effective manner.

The following departments have taken initiatives to computerize their offices

Department of Taxes
Department of Settlement & Land Records
Department of Transport
Department of Power
Treasuries
All the offices of the District Magistrate and Collectors
The Directorate of Police

Computer Kiosks:- A number of Computer Kiosks have been set up by the State Government under the Scheme for "Self – Employment of Youths using Computer Kiosks". The Scheme has been conceptualised with the following objectives: -

To provide self – employment opportunities to selected enterprising youth through setting up of "Computer Kiosks";
To provide various services of daily use to the common citizen using Information Technology (IT) as a tool; and
To increase IT consciousness and awareness in the society.

In each Kiosk, the State Government will provide one Computer along with accessories like printer, modem and UPS. The entrepreneur shall provide a suitable accommodation (10’ x 10’) where the kiosk can be set up. The entrepreneur is also expected to participate in the investment required in this scheme by way of contribution for site development.

IT Education

Information Technology Centre:-The State Govt has proposed to set up Information Technology Centre in association with Illinois University, USA. This centre would improve Information Technology training for teachers of the region as well school administration through the use of IT. In addition, the IT centre could facilitate intra-governmental communication.

Post Graduate Diploma in IT Audit: -Tripura University and South-Asian Management Technologies (P) Limited have joined hands to introduce a post graduate diploma course on information system audit. This will be for the first time that such a course is being introduced in the country. The course will be of immense benefit to the system professionals and such sectors that have information system as its mainstay - viz. banking, insurance companies, etc. The course will be accredited to Tripura University - a pioneering effort in IT education in India.

Computer Literacy Program: - IGNOU courses "Computer Literacy Programme" have been introduced in the Community Information Centres. The duration of course is 40 hrs (10 hrs theory and 30 hrs practical). Initially, this course is being started in 3 CICs at Bishalgarh, Khowai & Jirania. Later this will cover all the CICs.

Computer Education in Schools: Tripura Board of Secondary Education includes computer as subject from Class VI to XII. In the First phase, 8 schools have already been covered and 50 more schools will be covered within 6 months.

Computer Awareness Program: -Introduce Short term Computer Awareness Program for MLAs/Municipal Councilors/ representatives of Nagar/Village Panchayet/ students/ Govt officials.

CISCO Network Academy: Tripura State Computerisation Agency (TSCA) is going to start Multimedia Training Centre with assistance of Ministry of Communication & Information Technology, Govt of India. TSCA is also designated as CISCO Network Academy to conduct CISCO courses like CCNA etc. Both the courses are first time in North Eastern Region.

IT Industry

NEDFI is setting up an IT Park at Agartala. This will be the second such IT Park in the North-East. Small and medium entrepreneurs can start their own IT – related units in the Park.

In addition to the IT Park, a STP (Software Technology Park) hub centre would also be set up in Agartala by STPI, a society under Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The following 2 companies have signed MOU with the State Govt for setting up of IT Companies.

South-Asian Management Technologies (P) Ltd., a company provided by professionals has selected Tripura to be their development base. The company is designing knowledge based software for use of professionals and organisations alike. The company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Government of Tripura. The Government has extended full co-operation to make their venture a success.

Leading Edge Technology & Consultant (P) Ltd has agreed to set up Call Centres in the State.

SPECIAL INCENTIVES FOR IT INDUSTRIES

IT Industries (hardware and software), have been declared as a thrust industry in the "Tripura Industry Incentive Scheme, 2002". In addition, IT industry would be given the following incentive support:

All IT industries employing a minimum of 25 persons would be entitled to-
1. 50% concession on floor space rentals for a maximum period of 5 years (including Clause (b) below, wherever applicable).
2. Standard certification re-imbursement, within the overall ceiling of Rs. 2 lakhs per unit. This will be inclusive of the incentive under Clause 12.
All IT industries set up by local entrepreneurs of Tripura would be given a 50% concession on floor space rentals, for period of two years from the start of the unit.

Provided that 50% concession on the floor space rentals will be subject to a ceiling to be notified by the State Government, in Industries & Commerce Department.

Explanations.

The IT enabled services would be included in definition of IT industries for the purpose of Clause 12A

The benefit of concession in floor space rentals will continue to be available to a particular unit, till the expiry of the 5 year or 2 year period (as the case may be)from the date of setting up of that unit, even beyond the thirty first day of March, 2007.

Web Sites

The State Govt with the assistance of NIC Tripura Unit has launched the official website of Government of Tripura at the following address – www.tripura.nic.in. The Directorate has also facilitated launching websites of following organizations

purbasha.nic.in : - This web site is launched for "PURBASHA", the marketing arm of Directorate of Handloom, Handicrafts & Sericulture of Government of Tripura. Tripura is very rich in natural resources especially in cottage and handloom products. Bamboo and cane based products are of very high quality. The web site is providing valuable information on all the products including a photo, the product description, the rate, size and the purpose for which it is meant.

tripura.nic.in/rd : - The official website of the Department of Rural Development, Govt. of Tripura. The heart of India lives in villages and the country can’t develop unless the countryside develops. The objective of the Rural Development schemes is to remove rural poverty and unemployment and at the same time creating economic and social infrastructure. This objective is sought to be achieved by wage and self employment schemes as well as schemes for provision of road, housing, safe drinking water, sanitation, irrigation etc.

tripura.nic.in/taxes : -The official website of the office of the Commissioner of Taxes & Excise, Government of Tripura. The purpose of this website is to enhance the services provided to the customers. This site also provided a number of resources here to help to resolve queries, problems relating to Taxes & Excise, report grievances, if any and suggest improvements to services to the customers.

tripura.nic.in/museum : - The official website of the Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Tripura.

dhalai.nic.in : - Dhalai District is the youngest district in Tripura. It is formed in 1995. The District is rich in natural resources. More than 70% area of this district is hilly and forest covered. It has tremendous scenic beauty.

northtripura.nic.in : - The North Tripura District is one of four districts of Tripura. Visit this website for details on this district and also for detail procedure for availing various services from different offices.

westtripura.nic.in : - The West Tripura District is one of four districts of Tripura, bounded by Bangladesh in the north and west, by North Tripura District in the east, by South Tripura District in the south. Total area of the district is 3544 sq.kms. The district headquarter is located at Agartala, which is also the capital of the State.

sipard.nic.in : - State Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (SIPARD) is a composite training institute for public administration and rural development in Tripura. The Institute has come into existence in the year 1993 and since then it has involved in organising training programmes for State government officials, representatives of PRIs, members of NGOs etc. working in the State.

tripura.nic.in/tfdpc : - Tripura Forest Development & Plantation Corporation Limited (TFDPC) was incorporated as a company under Companies act, 1956 on 26-3-1976 . The main objectives of this corporation are a) cultivation of Dioscorea plantations & Commercial productions of Diosgenin, an important pharmaceutical intermediate, a precursor for synthesis of anti-fertility and anti inflammatory drugs b) raising of commercial plantation of rubber along with production of raw rubber produces c) value addition to raw rubber by way of producing Centrifuged latex, Crepe rubber etc, d) value addition to rubber wood by way of treatment in Timber Treatment Plant.

tripura.nic.in/tidc : - The Tripura Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (TIDC), a Government Of Tripura Undertaking, was incorporated in 1974 as a company under the Companies Act 1956. Subsequently, the provisions of State Financial Corporations Act, 1951 has also been extended to TIDC. Thus TIDC, is presently functioning as twin-function IDC. Tripura Industrial Development Agency (TIDA) acts as a single window for facilitations of necessary clearance and other assistance to entrepreneurs etc.

tripura.nic.in/ttdc : - Tripura Tea Development Corporation was set up in 1980 for development of Tea Industry in the State. Subsequently, the management of five(5) Tea gardens was entrusted with the Corporation since 1986. The State Government has also declared T.T.D.C. as a nodal agency for growth of small farmers for tea plantation in the State. There is a Central Tea Processing Factory at Durgabari under the management of T.T.D.C.

CONTACT US

For more information, please contact:-

Director of Information Technology

ITI Road, Indranagar

Agartala 799006

Tel 0381-2355751/0501/0502

FAX 0381-2355751

Email: dittrp1@sancharnet.com , dit@trp.nic.in

Other Important Contact points:

Sri Manik Sarkar

Chief Minister

Tel 0381-2324000/4003