1. Background:

Free flow of information is one of the prerequisites for empowering people. By ensuring the flow of information, especially among the backward people, it is possible to bring about positive changes in their way of life. The involvement of local government institutions is essential to ensure people's empowerment by delivering information services to the masses at the grassroots level. For this purpose, initiative has been taken to establish 'Union Information Service Center (UISC)' at the local government department union level. UISC is a state-of-the-art Information Center (Telecentre) - whose objective is to ensure information services at the doorsteps of grassroots people. Notable facilities at UISC include - Internet connectivity for short-term and low-cost domestic-abroad communication; By connecting to the information super highway, the facility of exchanging knowledge by browsing hundreds of thousands of web-sites in different parts of the world; Information and services on agriculture, health, education, law and human rights, employment, market, various government forms etc. in offline database in VVIO, audio, animation and text formats; There will also be low-cost computers and various skill-enhancing training systems and various commercial services with computers, such as - low-cost composing, printing, photocopying, photocopying, scanning etc. services.

2. relevance

'Digital' Bangladesh is one of the main election promises made by the current government. In order to implement this commitment, it is essential to ensure free flow of information at the grassroots level, which can be done through the establishment of UISC. Moreover, UISC activities can play a significant role in achieving the goals of the Government's Right to Information Act, 2008. Meanwhile, the government is determined to deliver information technology services to the people as one of the signatories of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Plan of Action- 2003. Ensuring free flow of information has also been given importance in achieving the goals of the government's poverty alleviation programme. Therefore, by 2020, every Union Parishad in the country will be a center point for knowledge practice and all kinds of development activities in the area. UISC is capable of playing a groundbreaking role.

3. Institutional Affiliation:

Although UISC is an information service center based on the Union, there is involvement of various organizations at local and national level for its proper implementation. Institutional affiliations are mentioned below-

3.1 Role of Union Parishad:

Union Parishad is the main promoter of UISC. The Union Parishad will ensure overall supervision, management and accountability of UISC activities. However, the specific responsibilities of the Union Parishad include-

- Allotment of appropriate rooms for setting up the Centre;

- purchase and supply of necessary materials outside the part of the entrepreneur;

- Purchase and supply of necessary furniture for setting up the Centre;

- Provision of electricity connection, water connection and other necessary institutional facilities;

- Ensuring necessary security;

- Providing full cooperation in the implementation of the activities of the 'UISC Steering Committee';

- To play a role in providing financial and infrastructural support from local and national level to the development of UISC;

- Monitor and evaluate the work of UISC;

- Preparation of fortnightly reports.

3.2 Role of Upazila Administration (Focal Point):

- finalizing union council elections for UISC;

- Assist in providing/obtaining necessary administrative, technical and financial support to make UISC a financially self-sustaining institution;

- Acting as a coordinator for the involvement of UISC with other local public-private institutions;

- Arranging purchase of computers, printers, laptops and multimedia projectors in all unions;

- Creating a clear understanding of e-services and e-governance among public representatives and the public;

- Monitor and evaluate the work of UISC;

- Conducting progress review meeting at least once every month.

         - Visit these centers on fortnightly basis.

         - Sending monthly report in prescribed form to District Focal Point.

3.3 Role of District Administration (Focal Point):

- Monitoring the activities of Union and Upazila Focal Points in implementation of UISC programme.

- Providing overall support to Upazila Focal Point for Union Parishad elections for UISC;

- Assist in providing/obtaining necessary administrative, technical and financial support to make UISC a financially self-sustaining institution;

- To play the role of district coordinator to facilitate the involvement of UISC with other local public-private institutions;

- Creating a clear understanding of e-services and e-governance among public representatives and the public;

- Implementing field level training;

- Monitor and evaluate the work of UISC;

- Conducting progress review meeting at least once every month.

         - During the field visit visit Asal center on priority basis.

         - Sending monthly reports in prescribed form to Central Focal Point and Prime Minister's Office.

3.4 Role of Local Government Department/NILG:

- Taking policy and legal decisions on establishment of UISC at the Union level;

- Issuance of circulars at field level for establishment of UISC;

- Implementation of incentive programs at the national level;

- UISC