What is Union Digital Center?

1. Background: Free flow of information is one of the prerequisites for people's empowerment. By ensuring the flow of information, especially among the backward people, it is possible to bring about a positive change in the meaning of their lives. Involvement of local government bodies is essential to ensure people's empowerment by providing information services to the wider population at the grassroots level. To this end, the local government department has taken initiative to set up 'Union Information Service Center (UISC)' at the union level in phases. UISC is a state-of-the-art information center (telecentre) - aimed at ensuring information services at the doorsteps of grassroots people. Significant benefits of UISC include - Internet connection for communication at home and abroad in a very short time and at low cost; Connecting with the information superhighway to browse hundreds of thousands of web sites around the world to exchange knowledge and science; Information and services on agriculture, health, education, law and human rights, employment, markets, various government forms, etc. in offline database in vivo, audio, animation and text format; There will also be low cost computer training services and various computer related commercial services such as composing, printing, photocopying, photocopying, scanning etc. at low cost. 2. Relevance 'Digital' is one of the main electoral commitments of the present government to build Bangladesh. In order to implement this commitment, it is imperative to ensure free flow of information at the grassroots level, which can be done through the establishment of UISC. Moreover, UISC activities are able to play a significant role in achieving the goals of the government's Right to Information Act 2006. Meanwhile, the government is committed to delivering information technology services to the people as one of the signatories of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Plan of Action-2003. Emphasis has also been placed on ensuring free flow of information in achieving the goals of the government's poverty alleviation program. Therefore, by 2020, every Union Parishad in the country will be able to play a pivotal role in developing knowledge as a focal point for knowledge development and all kinds of development activities in the area. 3. Institutional Involvement: Although UISC is a Union based information service center, it has the involvement of various local and national level organizations for its smooth implementation. Institutional Involvement is mentioned below- 3.1 Role of Union Parishad: Union Parishad is the main entrepreneur of UISC. The Union Council will ensure overall oversight, management and accountability of UISC activities. However, the specific responsibilities of the Union Parishad include - Allocating suitable rooms for setting up the center; - Purchasing and supplying necessary materials outside the entrepreneur's portion; - Purchasing and supplying necessary furniture for setting up the center; - Electricity connection, water connection and other necessary institutional facilities. Provide; - Ensure necessary security; - Provide full support for the implementation of the activities of the UISC Steering Committee; - Provide financial and infrastructural support for the development of the UISC from local and national level; - Monitor and evaluate the work of the UISC; - Preparation of fortnightly report. 3.2 Role of Upazila Administration (Focal Point): - To finalize the Union Parishad election for UISC; To act as a co-ordinator for the involvement of UISC; - To procure computers, printers, laptops and multimedia projectors in all the unions; ; - Hold a progress review meeting at least once a month. - Visit these centers on a fortnightly basis. - To send the monthly report in the prescribed form to the district focal point. 3.3 Role of District Administration (Focal Point): - To monitor the activities of Union and Upazila Focal Points in the implementation of UISC program. Assist in providing / obtaining technical and financial assistance; - Acting as District Coordinator to facilitate UISC engagement with other local governmental and non-governmental organizations; ; - Monitoring and evaluating the work of UISC; - Conducting progress review meetings at least once a month. - During field visits, the ASL center should be visited on priority basis. - To send the monthly report in the prescribed form to the Central Focal Point and the Office of the Prime Minister. 3.4 Role of Local Government Department / NILG: - To take policy and legal decisions for setting up of UISC at Union level; - To issue circulars for setting up of UISC at field level; - To implement national level motivation program; For donor agencies and related others