Goa to boost computer knowledge among govt employees

In a move to uplift Goa to bring it on par with other IT savvy cities, the state government is considering imparting ?computer literacy? to all its employees.

?If Goa has to be at par with other IT cities like Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad, then we need to expedite certain things,? Information Technology (IT) Chairman Subhash Shirodkar said at the launch of ?e-SMS Goa Mobile Governance? and IT Knowledge Centres on Tuesday evening.

He said that over 600 persons have taken admission in the Info Tech Corporation of Goa Ltd?s (ITG) 40 IT knowledge centres across the state.

?The centres will help bridge the gap between the rich and poor. To achieve this, IT training should be imparted to both, government servants as well as public. This will also help people in rural areas,? he said in the presence of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Chief Secretary Sanjay Shrivastava.

These centres provide basic computer skills to youth, housewives, working section and other citizens. The initiative, Shirodkar said, is to ensure computer literacy among the Goan citizens and make them eligible for jobs.

Goa, besides, has become the pioneer state to adopt m-governance (mobile governance) in India by setting up e-SMS gateway for the exclusive use of all State departments.

?This will enable a person to connect to the Government via devised e-SMS portal for any related information. A citizen can also get SMS alerts regarding the status of his e-applications,? Kamat said. The services will be released in phase manner.

Goa will launch 50 more e-services by Goa?s Liberation Day on December 19 with about 600 more services in the pipeline.