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UDCs play vital role in taking IT services to village people's doorsteps in Jhenidah

Our Correspondent | October 24, 2017 00:00:00


JHENIDAH, Oct 22: Union digital centres (UDCs) have been playing an important role in reaching the information technology (IT) services to the doorsteps of common people across the district at a lower cost.

UDCs in 67 unions were opened in Jhenidah in 2010 with government initiative to reach the IT services to the doorsteps of the people. Besides revenue earnings, the project has created job opportunities for around 134 unemployed youths. And the young male and female entrepreneurs are earning money from their occupations.

The service was introduced under the Access to Information project of the Prime Minister's Office. Since the inauguration, the general public has been getting IT services from the UDCs.

However, more material support like modem, photocopy machine and printer in some UDCs here in Jhenidah is needed to successfully run the IT services.

UDCs offer 60 types of private and public services including collecting exam results, citizenship certificate, mobile banking, computer training, photographing, visa applications and trucking, printing, scanning and laminating, agricultural information, raising land porcha, health advice, birth registration, filling up university and college admission forms, sending job applications and video calls.

Prior to this, the locals had to run to different places including the district and upazila headquarters seeking for the IT services. But they are now happy to get these services at their doorsteps at lower costs.

Farjana Akther, entrepreneur of Shadhuhati UDC under Sadar upazila said, "I have received training under an income-generation project since I joined one year ago. If we have more training under projects like it, we will have opportunities flourishing our knack, making us self-reliant. However, I am satisfied with how I am serving people."

An entrepreneur of Maliat UDC in Kaliganj upazila Md. Nazmul Haque (25) said, "There are no photocopy machine and printer here. If we had them, we would be able to earn some additional money making people's more access to the services."

Monoharpur union parisahd chairman under Shailkupa upazila Md. Mostafa Arif Reza Monnu told this correspondent, "The entrepreneurs at my union is giving the people very good IT services. We also get all types of documentary services done by them. However, they are continuing their entrepreneurships hoping to start enjoying some financial assistance officially."

Deputy Commissioner of Jhenidah Md. Zair Hossain told The Financial Express, "That the village youths are giving the people nice services is having a highly positive impact. Among others, rural people now can talk to their relatives aboard from here. We promote the UDCs. When I visit any place, I go to the UDC nearby and inquire about what is happening there including its earning."

He also said, "We are holding meetings on how to bring more people under the service. And we are ready to support the entrepreneurs locally through zila parishad or upazila parishads, if necessary".

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