1. Background:

The flow of free information is one of the prerequisites for the empowerment of the people. It is possible to bring about positive change in their way of life by ensuring information flow especially among the backward people. The involvement of local government bodies is essential to ensure the empowerment of the people by reaching information services at a grassroots level. To this end, the Department of Local Government has taken initiative to set up 'Union Digital Center (UDC)' at the union level. UDC is a state-of-the-art information center (telecentre) - whose purpose is to ensure information services at the doorsteps of grassroots people. Some of the major advantages of UDC include Internet connectivity for establishing overseas communications at very low and low cost; The convenience of exchanging knowledge by browsing hundreds of thousands of web sites in various parts of the world by connecting to the Information Super Highway; Information and services on offline databases such as agriculture, health, education, law and human rights, employment, markets, various government forms, in vivo, audio, animation and text formats; There will also be low cost computers with various training systems and computer related business services, such as low cost composing, printing, photocopying, photolithing, scanning etc.

2. Relevance

Digital 'Bangladesh' is one of the major electoral commitments of the present government. Implementation of this commitment is absolutely necessary to ensure free flow of information at grass root level, which can be done through setting up of UISC. Moreover, the UDC program is also capable of contributing significantly to the achievement of the Right to Information Act 20 of the Government. Meanwhile, the government is committed to delivering information technology services to the public as one of the signatories of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Plan of Action-2003. The importance of ensuring free flow of information has also been emphasized in achieving the goals of the government's poverty alleviation program. Therefore, by 2021, every union council in the country will be able to play a pivotal role in establishing knowledge center and as a focal point for all kinds of development activities in the area.

৩. Institutional Engagement:

Although UDC is a union based information service center, it has the involvement of various local and national level organizations for its smooth implementation. The institutional affiliation is as follows:

1.1 Introduction of the Union Council:

The union council is the main entrepreneur of the UDC. The Union Council shall ensure overall oversight, management and accountability of the UISC activities. However, the specific duties of the Union Council include:

- Provide appropriate room allocation for setting up centers;

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

- Purchase and supply the furniture needed to set up the center;

- Provide electricity connection, water connection and other necessary institutional facilities;

- Ensure necessary security;

- To provide full support to the implementation of the activities of the 'UDC Steering Committee';

- To play a role in providing financial and infrastructure support at the local and national level in the development of the UDC;

- Examining and evaluating UDC work;

- Prepare weekly reports.

1.2 Role of the focal point of the Upazila administration:

1. Finalizing union council elections for the UDC;

2. Need to build the UDC as a financially viable organization

3. Assist in providing / achieving administrative, technical and financial support;

4. To play a co-ordinator role in the involvement of UISC with other local and non-governmental organizations;

5. To arrange the purchase of computers, printers, laptops and multimedia projectors in all unions;

6. To make transparent ideas to the public representatives and the public about e-services and e-governance;

7. Examine and evaluate the work of the UDC;

       8. Make progress review meetings at least once every month.

                 9. Visit these centers on a weekly basis.

               10. Send monthly report to the District Focal Point in the prescribed form.

1.1 Role of the District Administration (Focal Point):

      1. Monitor the activities of the Union and Upazila focal points in the implementation of the UDC program.

2. To assist the upazila focal point in the election of the Union Council for the UDC;

3. Need to make the UDC a financially viable organization

4. Assist in providing / achieving administrative, technical and financial support;

5. To play the role of the District Coordinator in facilitating the involvement of UISCs with other local government and non-governmental organizations;

6. To make transparent ideas to the public representatives and the public about e-services and e-governance;

7. Implement field level training;

8. Examine and evaluate UISC's work;

       9. Have a progress review meeting at least once every month.

                10. When visiting the field, visit the aisle center on a priority basis.

                11. To send monthly report in the prescribed form to the focal point of the Central and to the Prime Minister's Office.

3.1 Introduction of Local Government Department / NILG:

- Policy and legal decision-making at the union level at UISC;

- Circular issued at ground level for setting up of UISCs;

- Implementation of national level incentive programs;

- To ensure financial and technical support for UISC, the donor company and its affiliates