Union Digital Centres gain popularity in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: By virtue of pro-people and need-based services, the Union Digital Centres in the district have gained popularity as the number of service-recipients is gradually rising, reports BSS. The grassroots people are getting their information related necessary services from the digital centers being operated in Union Parishad Complex.  Similarly, due to their relentless efforts the entrepreneurs are being encouraged to the job as many of them took the profession as challenge of becoming self-reliant.
In nine upazilas of the district, there are 71 Union Digital Centers where 142 entrepreneurs including 71 females are working for providing various services regularly. The digital centres were enriched with various need-based modern devices and machineries like computer, laptop, laser and color printer, projector, modem, digital camera, scanner, IPS, UPS and Photostat machine. In the wake of massive expansion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based service delivery activities, work of the entrepreneurs has been enhanced to a greater
extent but the slow speed internet connection is discouraging them in many times. While talking to BSS here many of the entrepreneurs said there are enormous potentialities to make the centers more effective and profitable.  The existing problems including slow speed internet connectivity need to be solved on priority basis.
Ziaul Haque, a 35-year-old physically challenged youth, looks beaming this time as Union Digital Center set up in Huzripara under Paba upazila, has brought a major change in his life as he is earning a satisfactory monthly income by providing ICT-based services to the people in general.
In respect to his earning, from very beginning he upholds the top position in the district and the second or third in the division comprising eight districts.
At the center, alongside providing different services including agriculture, land, health, education and legal aid, Ziaul provides computer training to the students and unemployed youths, which greatly helped them to get better jobs.
Very recently his major incomes started coming mainly from computer training, composing, scanning, printing services, photography, photocopy, b-cash, online registration, birth registration and internet browsing, he stated.
Like Ziaul Haque, some other entrepreneurs across the district have entered into profitable ventures and made them fortunate by enhancing their regular income despite of the slow connectivity problem.
Many unemployed youths have got jobs after receiving training on computer from the center, he said adding students, youths and working-people are imparted training in his centre, which is helping them to be skilled.
Parvej Raihan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education Development and ICT) said different services of the upazila administrations are available in the centers, which are helping to save time and money of the rural people.
The centers have opened up scores of opportunities to the people including training on ICT and different job related information and how to provide the services effectively.
It is expected that there will be no more slow connectivity problem as the government has adopted a gigantic project titled “Info Sarker” by which all the Union Digital Centers will be brought under optical fiber within near future.
Dr Pradip Kumar Panday, Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Rajshahi University, told the news agency that creating mass-awareness has become an urgent need for making the centers more effective and mass-media along with public representatives have a vital role to play to this end.

Union Digital Centres gain popularity in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: By virtue of pro-people and need-based services, the Union Digital Centres in the district have gained popularity as the number of service-recipients is gradually rising, reports BSS. The grassroots people are getting their information related necessary services from the digital centers being operated in Union Parishad Complex. Similarly, due to their relentless efforts the entrepreneurs are being encouraged to the job as many of them took the profession as challenge of becoming self-reliant. In nine upazilas of the district, there are 71 Union Digital Centers where 142 entrepreneurs including 71 females are working for providing various services regularly. The digital centres were enriched with various need-based modern devices and machineries like computer, laptop, laser and color printer, projector, modem, digital camera, scanner, IPS, UPS and Photostat machine. In the wake of massive expansion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based service delivery activities, work of the entrepreneurs has been enhanced to a greater extent but the slow speed internet connection is discouraging them in many times. While talking to BSS here many of the entrepreneurs said there are enormous potentialities to make the centers more effective and profitable. The existing problems including slow speed internet connectivity need to be solved on priority basis. Ziaul Haque, a 35-year-old physically challenged youth, looks beaming this time as Union Digital Center set up in Huzripara under Paba upazila, has brought a major change in his life as he is earning a satisfactory monthly income by providing ICT-based services to the people in general. In respect to his earning, from very beginning he upholds the top position in the district and the second or third in the division comprising eight districts. At the center, alongside providing different services including agriculture, land, health, education and legal aid, Ziaul provides computer training to the students and unemployed youths, which greatly helped them to get better jobs. Very recently his major incomes started coming mainly from computer training, composing, scanning, printing services, photography, photocopy, b-cash, online registration, birth registration and internet browsing, he stated. Like Ziaul Haque, some other entrepreneurs across the district have entered into profitable ventures and made them fortunate by enhancing their regular income despite of the slow connectivity problem. Many unemployed youths have got jobs after receiving training on computer from the center, he said adding students, youths and working-people are imparted training in his centre, which is helping them to be skilled. Parvej Raihan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education Development and ICT) said different services of the upazila administrations are available in the centers, which are helping to save time and money of the rural people. The centers have opened up scores of opportunities to the people including training on ICT and different job related information and how to provide the services effectively. It is expected that there will be no more slow connectivity problem as the government has adopted a gigantic project titled Info Sarker by which all the Union Digital Centers will be brought under optical fiber within near future. Dr Pradip Kumar Panday, Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Rajshahi University, told the news agency that creating mass-awareness has become an urgent need for making the centers more effective and mass-media along with public representatives have a vital role to play to this end.