ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001--INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TEXTILES

The emergence of a new order by the convergence of the Information Technology with Communications has already begun to influence the productivity, quality, management and efficiency of the industry. Ministry had started various initiatives in 1997 to integrate IT in Textile Sector as well as building in-house IT infrastructure for facilitating the process of planning, monitoring and providing need based services to the sector. During 1999-2000 year, these initiatives were carried forward. Ministry enhanced its citizen government interface considerably and strengthened its web site with the latest information on policies, schemes and initiatives without delay. National Informatics Centre (NIC) has also been providing full-fledged technical support in developing and maintaining the IT infrastructure, and introduced various analytical tools and databases for usage at various levels of management.

COMPUTERISATION AND INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE MINISTRY
A Local Area Network (LAN) of 70 nodes extended up to section level is already functional in the Ministry for sharing information on the Intranet along with the facility of accessing Internet and email. Databases on Industry like Cotton, Jute and Man Made Fibres are made available as shared resources for day-to-day operation. This facilitates the exchange of information within the Ministry and also with the other organisations including international.
Dedicated web site for the Ministry (http://texmin.nic.in) with bilingual facility is being maintained by Ministry. Information on Acts, Textiles policy -2000, Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme, Public Grievances, Cotton Technology Mission, Performance Budget, and Audited Budget of Public Sector Units is made available on the web site. New features like Web Guide, Citizen Government Interface, and Textile Chat are added to enhance the utility of web site. Initiatives are being made to provide dynamic web queries, on-line submission of public forms etc in the existing web site.
Various office automation packages like File Monitoring System, Electronic Submission of leave application/tour programme and Monitoring System for Public grievances are planned for implementation. To facilitate the accessibility of circulars/office orders/notices within the Ministry On-line Electronic Notice Board is set up on the Intranet.

IN-HOUSE COMPUTER TRAINING PROGRAMME
A basic level training program is organised by NIC for the officials of the Ministry for the year 2000. Training programme provides an exposure on various salient features of text processing, electronic spreadsheet, mail, Internet, browsing etc. About 60% of the officials using the computers in the Ministry are already trained.

IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION PLAN OF E-GOVERNANCE
Ministry is engaged in implementing the action plan of E-Governance approved by High Powered Committee under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary. Already the Ministry has achieved nine of twelve point’s minimum agenda on E-governance and the steps are initiated to achieve the remaining points by the year-end.

IT IMPLEMENTATIONS IN OTHER ORGANISATIONS
In O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), full-fledged LAN has been laid with the capacity of 32 Nodes, providing individual workstation for each Section with Internet and Email facility. Monitoring system on Financial Assistance to various Schemes, NGO profile, DILLI HAAT is made operational. Web site having information on various schemes, its procedures, performance, etc. is maintained along with the Ministry’ web site.
In O/o Development Commissioner (Handlooms), workstations (10 in Numbers) are set up and hooked on Local Area Network (LAN) along with NICNET for accessing Internet and email facilities. These workstations are provided to the officers of the level of Joint Development Commissioner and above. Web site having information on various schemes, its procedures, performance, etc. is maintained along with the Ministry’ web site.
At present, out of 37 organisations under the Ministry, 31 organisations have E-mail facility and 27 organisations have set up their own web site. This had facilitated the exchange of information among the organisations. To ensure transparency in day-to-day functioning of the office, concerned organisations have included notices, bulletins, publications, events, policies, forms and applications in their respective web sites.