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Monday, July 7, 2014

UISC in Bangladesh: e-Service Access Point for the

Abstract:
Today’s world is shaped by availability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Because global economy is powered by technology, fueled by information and driven by knowledge. This rapid change demands a dynamic renovation in Bangladesh also. Government of Bangladesh declared a vision of Digital Bangladesh by 2021 to ensure services at peoples’ doorsteps. A total number of 4,501 UISCs (Union Information and Service Centres) have been established at all Union Parishads (the lowest tier of the local government) of Bangladesh. These e-Service access points are inaugurated simultaneously on 11th November, 2010 by Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh and UNDP’s administrator & former Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms Helen Clark in order to translate the dream of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ into reality. UISCs are the ‘e-Service delivery outlets’ which initiated a new era in information and service delivery for rural and marginalized people. With the aim to ensure services at citizens’ doorsteps, UISCs are offering various government services, like public examination results, online university admission, birth-death registration, agricultural & law consultancy, telemedicine, life insurance; private services, like mobile banking, English learning, computer training, email, internet browsing and so on. At present 40 lac citizens per month are receiving services countrywide. 9002 young entrepreneurs are working with 4,501 UISCs and half of them are women. Entrepreneurs are self-employed and they manage their life with their own income. Increased entrepreneurial and self-employment activities help UISCs generate a monthly average income of BDT 3 corer. These hubs of information and services at doorsteps of local people save their time, energy and money.


Introduction:
Today’s world is shaped by availability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Because global economy is powered by technology, fueled by information and driven by knowledge. This rapid change demands a dynamic renovation in Bangladesh also. Government of Bangladesh is committed to foster the development activities through the appropriate use of ICTs, and declared a vision of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ by 2021 to ensure services at peoples’ doorsteps. Union Information & Services Centre (UISC) is ICT enabled one-stop service outlet located at Union Parishads at union (the lowest tier of the local government) level. Similar to the ‘telecentre’ concept by different private organizations, the UISC model, however, is unique in the sense that it builds on the concept of Public Private Partnership (PPP) instead of donation dependant models, and brings govt. services within reach of every citizen in terms of proximity and cost. A total number of 4,501 UISCs have been established at all Union Parishads, all of them inaugurated simultaneously on 11th November, 2010 by Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh and UNDP’s administrator & former Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms Helen Clark in order to translate the dream of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ into reality.
Background:
UISC emerged from its earlier version known as CeC (Community e- Centre) is a Public Service Delivery Chanel at union level. In 2007, two Community e-Centre (CeC) was established as pilot under Democratic Government Thematic Trust Fund (DGTTF) of UNDP. In early 2008, CeC has been included as a driver project of UNDP supported Access to Information (a2i) Programme of Prime Minister’s Office. In 2008, Local Government Division (LGD) started 30 CeCs in Union Parishad. In line with that, LGD established UISCs in all Union Parishads of Bangladesh step by step. UNDP supported Access to Information (a2i) Programme of Prime Minister’s Office plays a catalytic role in this regard. Each UISC is operated by two local entrepreneurs – one female and one male local youth - who have invested in the centre, and is supervised by the associated Union Parishad which provides space and utilities. Union Parishad, or the Local Govt. Division also borne some initial costs including basic equipments such as a computer, a printer, internet modem and a webcam; the entrepreneurs are free to install additional facilities keeping pace with business growth. Entrepreneurs are self-employed, they are not the paid employees of Bangladesh Government, and they manage their life with their own income. These employment opportunities created by the UISCs have stimulated thousands more employments in the country.

Services of UISC:
Popular Government Services:
• Public examination results
• Online university admission
• Government forms
• Birth and death registration
• Citizenship certificate
• VGD/VGF list
• Government circulars and notices
• Agriculture and health consultancy
• Govt. life insurance
• Services of DC office (35+)
-Development (VGD, VGF, TR, minority welfare, Kabikha, sports & cultural activities, development of educational institutions)
Revenue (Porcha, khas land distribution, Ashrayon, Non-agricultural land purchase, land acquisition money, requisition, certificate suit, hat & bazaar, vested property, exchange property, stamp vendor license, land survey)
-License (C.I Sheet, Cement, Poison, Food grain)
-Complain & remedy (pension, land, family affairs, law & orders)
-Relief & rehabilitation (Donation, grant, GR)
-Certification (marriage, NGO)
-Miscellaneous (Different committee approval, different appointments, dramatical performance, expatriate welfare, examination matters)


Popular private services:
• Email
• Internet browsing
• Computer training
• English learning of British Council
• m-Banking (Dutch Bangla Bank, Mercantile Bank, Trust Bank, One Bank, bKash limited)
• Photography
• Job information
• Passport processing
• Visa application and tracking
• Service camp
• Video conference
• Print
• Scan
• Lamination
• Compose
• Photocopy
• Mobile service
• Soil test
• Arsenic test
• Height & weight measurement
• Deed writings

Conclusion:
UISC is a local knowledge centre. These hubs of information and services at doorsteps of local people save their time, energy and money. Now it has the challenge for the citizens to carry out the benefits of UISCs and make these sustainable. As a result, UISC will be a centre of service excellence which will meet hassle free citizen demand by reducing digital divide between core and periphery.






















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