The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has reported a substantial surge in traffic on the websites of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as people seek information about Covid-19.
Public Desire for Authentic Information
Citizens are increasingly relying on trustworthy sources for information related to the pandemic. As the situation continues to evolve, the demand for factual and updated knowledge has grown exponentially.
State Initiatives in Pandemic Management
In collaboration with the State governments, various State centres of the NIC are actively developing tracking and management portals. These platforms will aid State and district administrations in their efforts to combat the pandemic. The model follows the successful implementation of similar projects in Kerala and Meghalaya.
Case Study: Covid-19 Jagratha Portal
An exemplary instance of such an initiative is the Covid-19 Jagratha portal in Kerala. It is a comprehensive platform providing emergency services and Covid-19 related information to the public. This portal ensures transparency and quality in public services and welfare measures.
Work from Home Challenges Highlighted by NIC
However, the transition to working from home due to the pandemic has not been without obstacles. Three primary challenges have been identified by NIC: configuration challenges, limited manpower, and logistical constraints. The rapid need to configure Virtual Private Network (VPN) access for a significant number of employees in a short span of time was one such hurdle. Coupled with the limited manpower, as most NIC members were also working remotely, executing changes at different levels became difficult. Additionally, ensuring the availability of laptops or a home desktop for each individual was another challenge.
Increased Usage of NIC’s Videoconferencing Service
The necessity for social distancing led to an increased reliance on NIC’s videoconferencing service. It is extensively used by government officials, including the President and the Prime Minister, as well as Union Ministers, Governors, and Chief Ministers.
About the National Informatics Centre (NIC)
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the NIC provides network backbone and e-Governance support to the Central Government, State Governments, and UT Administrations. Established in 1976 in New Delhi, NIC has been closely associated with the Government in various aspects of Governance. Over the years, it has built a large number of digital solutions and established a Nationwide State-of-the-Art information and communication technology (ICT) Infrastructure. The far-reaching span of NIC’s digital solutions supports the government at various levels, enabling the last-mile delivery of government services to citizens.