Srinagar: As part of its endeavor to bring quality improvement in the education sector, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir appears keen to establish an information technology (IT) park at Ompara in the state’s Budgam District.

It is hoped that the setting up of this park will further enhance delivery of modern information technology facilities to persons interested in this medium.

Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Information Technology (IT) Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi recently chaired a meet of officers to review the functioning of the IT department, and it was decided that appropriate steps should be taken to promote the use of IT in all spheres.

The IT Park would be developed on 200 kanals of land at the Ompara Industrial Complex.

Commissioner Secretary (Information Technology) Atul Duloo, Commissioner Secretary (Industries and Commerce) Umang Narula, Managing Director, SIDCO and other senior officers attended the meeting.

The Information Technology Department of Jammu and Kashmir was created in 2002, and is at present in the process of creating an independent Directorate of Information Technology with a team of technically skilled persons.

This is being done keeping in mind the several projects (State and Central) which are in the pipeline.

Community Information Centres

Among its major projects is the setting up of Community Information Centers (CICs) with the help of the Central Government.

Plans include setting up state-of-the-art computer communications infrastructure in each block of the state, which is a combination of PC-based Citizen Kiosk with content enabling citizen centric services, e-governance, e learning and e-commerce.

It enables access to database containing wide range of information regarding agriculture marketing, disaster management, employment opportunities, public health etc.