Status report on m-Govt pilot project

Status Report of mobile based ICT project in West Bengal as on 15TH NOVEMBER, 2008WBSRDA– e-Gov cellP&RD Dept, Govt of West Bengal : 

Status Report of mobile based ICT project in West Bengal as on 15TH NOVEMBER, 2008WBSRDA– e-Gov cellP&RD Dept, Govt of West Bengal

THE NEED : 

THE NEED Governments today need to communicate with their employees, citizens and other stakeholders on a regular basis. Organizations run on mature processes and these processes need generation of information on a regular basis. Information on fund release, notification, disaster alert , training and meeting related information, persuasion and monitoring for effective management of poverty alleviation programmes are necessary. This information is already available in the servers, ERP systems and other backend MIS. SMS based initiative works on mobile enabling these key governance processes on a real time basis.

The Need ( Contd) : 

The Need ( Contd) A new media of communication is an urgent necessity that can be used effectively in order to reduce the overall cost of communication and enhance productivity at work and operational efficiency. SMS Based communication provides a communication platform which is flexible, scalable and cost-effective so that it can mobile-enable a few business processes already running at the back-end in the shortest possible time. The communication platform creates possibilities of sending in automated, manual and scheduled form, SMS from an internet-enabled computer system to a mobile phone in the field. In addition, authorized people with mobile phones are able to send information to back-end systems via SMS.

Benefits of using SMS as a medium of Communication : 

Benefits of using SMS as a medium of Communication Cost-effective: As a communication medium, SMS is the most cost-effective way of communicating to any mobile audience. The fact that SMS can be sent out to large groups of recipients in a manual or automated manner further means that fewer resources are required for the communication. With the present arrangement made with the service providers, single SMS will cost Rs.0.20 High Reach: Use of mobile has been deepened up to the Gram Panchayat level. Some of the community based organizations such as SHGs, members of GRAM UNNAYAN SAMITIS (FORUM OF ELECTORS) also use mobile telephones.

Benefits of using SMS as a medium of Communication : 

Benefits of using SMS as a medium of Communication Automation: An organizational need to integrate SMS with its existing (legacy) database environments, automating SMS is easy. SMS technology, for instance, allows for generic protocol integration such as e-mail, HTTP, SMPP, XML and windows application systems to its Servers. We have successfully integrated the SMS protocol with the website so that any order/circular or allotment of fund uploaded in the departmental website is triggered to the target group automatically. The matter is yet to be made for public view pending formal approval from NIC (WHO MAINTAINS OUR WEBSITE)

SMS Service Architecture : 

SMS Service Architecture

The diagram showing the solution based on SMS PROTOCOL BEING USED BY THE PILOT PROJECT. The solution helps to push and pull messages in automated mode : 

The diagram showing the solution based on SMS PROTOCOL BEING USED BY THE PILOT PROJECT. The solution helps to push and pull messages in automated mode

NEED ASSESSMENT STUDY : 

NEED ASSESSMENT STUDY HE STUDY HAS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING NEEDS AND POSSIBILITIES Making available to PRI’s and citizens information on financial resource allocation predictability of amounts available to PRI and fund balances with subordinate levels of government and PRIs Using SMS Pull function the PRIs and citizen can obtain financial information pertaining to PRIs on local basis (Gram Panchayat) Using SMS Push by department can inform sub ordinate levels the financial status of the PRIs lower levels and also alert fund Transfers.

NEED ASSESSMENT STUDY HAS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING NEEDS AND POSSIBILITIES : 

NEED ASSESSMENT STUDY HAS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING NEEDS AND POSSIBILITIES Making available to PRI’s subordinate levels and state government the compliance and performance status of the PRI’s and subordinates levels of government.   Using SMS Push, the state government and sub ordinate levels can inform the status of the compliance and performance of different poverty alleviation and social security programmes and also monitoring of components of DRISTI- the predecessor and flagship pilot project for making ICT WORK FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE. The above can also be SMS Pulled from the server by the stake holders based on their levels provide information on government initiatives on PRI and SHG and their capacity building.

Slide 10: 

Using SMS PUSH the state, sub ordinate and PRIs/SHG can inform the details about the capacity building programmes. Using SMS Push information on Government orders can also messaged to various levels make available to citizens information on government service delivery including that of utilities, infrastructure, education, health and social welfare and law and protection. Using either SMS Push or SMS Pull information on government services can be sent by the various governments and same can also be pulled by stakeholders.

THESE SERVICES INCLUDE- : 

THESE SERVICES INCLUDE- Lifting status of the food grains under PDS Irrigation related information New Schemes of Government Health camps Education resources and schemes Security and law

Slide 12: 

Setup mechanism for Monitoring of various programmes of the government and PRIs by involving the Gram Unnayan Samiti and Citizens Establish supportive information Channels to support disaster management including mitigation, alert, responsive and rehabilitation. Using SMS Push to send disasters alerts to various levels from the grassroots and also inter and intra government Using SMS Pull to get information on the status Post disaster Establish supportive information based participatory mechanisms and systems for citizen feedback and promote social audit

Slide 13: 

Using SMS Push and SMS Pull to register and track feedback at various levels support in transfer of information on planning, management and the raising and allocation of resources from the state government to subordinate levels of the government and PRIs’ Up dating of Rural House Survey (RHS) using a handheld by developing a client application for hand held and using SMS PULL function to obtain data from the server and update Making available information on resource allocation to various levels of Government and PRI’s through SMS Push function To make the above services available databases will be created to be attached enterprise services and their clients.

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TILL NOVEMBER,2008 : 

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TILL NOVEMBER,2008 Need assessment has been made Technical requirements has been specified Hardware and software specification has been finalized RFP, bid process management has been made and vendor has been selected Contract has been awarded to the vendor Branded HP Server, hardware has been installed on the premises of WBSRDA at Jessop Building 63, N S Road 1st Floor Kolkata -1 Windows 2003 Server installed on the server. SMS enterprise Server and DB server installed. A GSM Modem to receive message for PULL application has also been installed at the Premises.

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TILL NOVEMBER,2008 ( Contd) : 

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN TILL NOVEMBER,2008 ( Contd) Soft copy of Software operation manual has been installed in the server. Broadband service connected with the server and our server application can be accessed over the internet. Push services have been started on the application. Pull services have been tested and will be lunched by the end of this month. User accounts and company user accounts has been created and credit limit has allotted for doing SMS to each account. Collection of the mobile no. of all officials has been made and those have been incorporated in the database. Collection of mobile number AT THE GRAM PANCHAYAT LEVEL is in progress.