What is UISC and why?

Union Information and Service Center is a state-of-the-art information and knowledge center (telecentre) based on information technology established in the Union Parishad with the objective of ensuring information services at the doorsteps of the grassroots people. From this center, the people of rural areas can easily get life and livelihood information and necessary services in a familiar environment near their homes.

On 11 November 2010, the Hon'ble Prime Minister inaugurated all the Union Information and Service Centers (UISCs) across the country via video conference from her office and from the Char Kukrimukri Union in Bhola District, Miss Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and former Prime Minister of New Zealand. About 4 million people receive information and services from these centers every month. Through UISC, easy, fast and low cost access to public and private services has started to bring about a huge positive change in the living standards of the local people.

The journey of UISC started with the slogan 'Service at Doorsteps'. The establishment of UISC has made it possible to create a free flow of information in every sphere of society and state system, where people do not have to go door to door for services, but services reach the doorsteps of the people. Free flow of information is one of the prerequisites for people's empowerment. The establishment of information and service centers in 4,501 Union Parishads of the country has facilitated the access to information and services in the fastest time with the participation of rural people in the free flow of information.

Materials:

A UISC has multiple computers and related equipment, which have been and are being installed in phases, with the aim of ensuring improved information services for the public in the area. The necessary materials for UISC come from entrepreneurial investments and Union Parishad funds (revenue sector and LGSP projects). A computer with a minimal stabilizer, a black and white printer, a color printer, a modem for on-line connection, a scanner, a digital camera and a UISC can be started initially. However, for full UISC management, the following materials are required:

Multiple computers (desktops and laptops)

1 multimedia projector with big screen

1 laser printer

1 color printer

1 modem

1 scanner machine

1 laminating machine

1 photocopy machine

1 digital camera

1 webcam

1 generator

Depending on the local demand, a UISC may have more or less the same.

The Union Information and Service Center has been set up based on the PPP (Public-Private-People's Partnership) model. Each UISC has two local young entrepreneurs, one male and one female. These entrepreneurs run UISC. In some centers, one woman and one man entrepreneur as well as one woman and one man are working as 'alternative entrepreneurs'. The entrepreneur is not a paid employee of UISC, the income of each UISC is the income of the entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is also an investor in UISC.

Partnership:

UISCs are being run under the leadership of Local Government Department. Other activities are carried out under the direction of the Cabinet Department and under the management of the local administration, including the supervision of the UISC. Funding for UISC's required ICT equipment and entrepreneurship skills comes from LGD and the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC). The BCC has also brought solar panels to 1,013 unions without electricity and brought all the union councils of the country under electricity. Apart from this, several banks-insurance, mobile companies, NGOs, educational-research institutes, hardware-software associations etc. are joining hands with UIAC with their services, new skills and technical support.

UAMS or UISC Activity Management System:

An online software called UISC Activities Management or ‘UAMS’ (http://www.e-service.gov.bd/uams/) has been developed to assist UISC entrepreneurs in accounting for income and follow-up of local administration. UISC entrepreneurs upload their daily income information here. Blog (uiscbd.ning.com): The UISC Blog (uiscbd.ning.com) has been created for entrepreneurs to interact with each other, establish relationships and communicate with entrepreneurs through local administration officials. The blog is a powerful online platform for 9,002 entrepreneurs from 4,501 UISCs across the country, where entrepreneurs can exchange experiences, identify problems and find solutions, work together, and work hand in hand with local administrations. , Even having the opportunity to discuss with policymakers if necessary.