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Digital community information centre opened

By The Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, June 9 - A digital community information centre (CIC) established under the �SBI Gram Seva�, a flagship programme of the State Bank of India under its CSR initiative, was inaugurated recently by Kailash Deka, District Agriculture Officer of Mushalpur in Baksa district.

The project is being implemented in the district across five most remote villages by the Assam Centre for Rural Development (ACRD), an NGO working on various developmental issues in Assam, a press release stated.

The CIC, first-of-its kind in the district, is meant for the backward and tribal communities to access matters on government schemes, jobs, health, internet and rural banking services. The CIC has been set up under the SBI�s Gram Seva project by completely renovating public community halls in five most remote villages of Baksa district where development is still a far cry due to various reasons.

Each CIC is digitalised and has a computer, wifi connectivity, a flat screen TV, drinking water facility, library and information related to government jobs and schemes, etc.

�Every individual in the village must be aware of the schemes in order to avail benefits from the government. Farmers can avail krishi loan and micro irrigation scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), besides soil health card for better farming facilities.

�The Community Information Centre set up under this project will help every individual to access information regarding schemes and applying for government jobs,� said Kailash Deka, District Agriculture Officer of Mushalpur.

During the inaugural programme, certificates were distributed among the people in the village who had undergone training on tailoring and vermi-composting imparted by the NGO through the project.

Further, the �SBI Talent Scholarship� was also conferred on three meritorious students from BPL families. Under the project, rural women have been imparted training on piggery, tailoring and vermicomposting.

�The beneficiaries who underwent tailoring training can avail Mudra loan under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Loan scheme for purchasing sewing machine or to open a tailoring shop at a very nominal interest.

�Nowadays, it is necessary to have health insurance for every individual in case of accidental death. An individual is eligible to get benefit upto Rs 20 lakh in case of accidental death by depositing an amount of Rs 1,000 during the time of insurance. A nominal amount of Rs 12 given during the time of insurance later turns into Rs 1 lakh� said Pulin Saikia, manager, State Bank of India, Mushalpur.

�The CIC will be of great help to the backward communities in Baksa in the coming days. There are certain benefits for women, especially from tea garden areas. Under the wage compensation scheme for pregnant women in tea garden areas, an amount of Rs 12,000 has been offered to pregnant woman.�

�We also have a motorcycle ambulance helpline service for people who hail from remote areas and where four-wheelers are not easily accessible. The process is ongoing and we are hopeful that once this becomes functional, it will benefit the community,� said Dr Abhijit Basu, Joint Director of Health Services, National Rural Health Mission, Mushalpur.

It may be pertinent to add here that the �SBI Gram Seva� project is a flagship programme launched by the State Bank of India Foundation in 2017 across six states of India, including Assam, and the focus is on integrated development of villages through gram panchayats.

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