24th May 2010
Srinagar
Ruhullah launches Khidmat Education Services ; Khidmat Initiative a role model for others to follow: Drabu
Keen to bring the state of Jammu and Kashmir on the IT map of India and ensuring e-learning services to rural youth, J&K Bank in collaboration with the state's IT ministry announced the launch of Khidmat Education Services today here at SKICC. The service is a part of the ambitious Khidmat Centre initiative, a government of India project overseen by Ministry of IT, J&K and executed by J&K Bank, the implementing agency for the project in the state of J&K.
Launching the service formally, Ruhullah, Minister for IT, who was also the Chief Guest on the occasion, described the project take off as a dream come true. "At the initial stage it looked like the project will never take a practical shape but thanks to J&K Bank for their unmatched and relentless support for displaying outstanding implementing capabilities. And today as I speak to you more than 350 Khidmat Centers are already operational", he said.
The idea of Khidmat Education Services materialized after J&K Bank, premier educational institutions and their governing bodies like IGNOU, Kashmir University, Board of School Education, Directorate of School Education, and Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) expressed their willingness to be part of this revolutionary exercise. Senior officials from these institutions signed MOUs with Khurshid A. Pandit, Vice-President J&K Bank and Director on Board of National e-Governance Initiative in presence of Aga Syed Ruhullah, IT Minister, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Chairman & CE, J&K Bank, Prof. V.N Rajashekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, Professor Riyaz Punjabi, Vice Chancellor Kashmir University and Atul Duloo, Commissioner/ Secretary IT.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Chairman, J&K Bank said that Khidmat centers provided an ideal and easily accessible alternative services delivery mechanism to people in rural areas. "The best thing about this project is that it is driven by younger generation. J&K Bank has utilized CSC to encourage youth into such novel and IT-driven ventures with a broader vision to nurture entrepreneurship in the state", Dr Drabu stated.
He expressed hope that the availability of varied governmental and non-governmental services at the Khidmat Centers would turn these centers into centers of business and social service. "I am sure Khidmat centers will become for the government, its departments and even banks what ATMs have become for the bank branches.
He expressed his satisfaction over the way J&K Bank has ensured smooth implementation of the Khidmat Initiative in the state "despite RBI articulating reservations in the initial stage of the project implementation". "RBI's apprehensions stand cleared today as J&K Bank with due support and guidance from Ministry of IT has carved a success story out of it and a model worth for others to follow", Drabu emphasized.
Dr Drabu invited a huge applaud from the audience when he said that he envisioned Khidmat Centre Initiative as a state's e-Governance company. "I believe it is time for J&K Bank to move out of the project. Youngsters (VLEs running the Khidmat centers) must own this project. In fact, I would like them not to restrict it to e-governance only but ensure new delivery mechanisms based on public-private partnership", Drabu stressed.
V.N Rajashekharan Pillai, VC IGNOU in his address branded Khidmat Centers as vehicles of education. "Inclusive growth is possible through inclusive education. And Khidmat centers have the potential to expose rural youth to modern, skill-oriented and entrepreneurship encouraging courses outside the confines of modes of formal education", said he.
Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University portrayed the Bank's intervention in CSC project as a quantum jump from a commercial organization to development and socially relevant institution.
Dr. Dinesh Tyagi, CEO, IFLS Education & Technology Services while laying emphasis on the massive potential of CSCs for employment generation, informed the gathering that each CSC in Kerala is employing seven people. He also suggested use of Khidmat centers for digitizing the government data in the state's quest for e-governance. "Rural youth are competent and vibrant but lack opportunity. CSC is an enabler to bridge the gap of availability of opportunity" he said.
Others present on the occasion included A.K Mehta, Executive Director, J&K Bank, top officials of J&K Bank, IT ministry, University of Kashmir, IGNOU, BOSE, Education Department and BOPEE.
Launching the service formally, Ruhullah, Minister for IT, who was also the Chief Guest on the occasion, described the project take off as a dream come true. "At the initial stage it looked like the project will never take a practical shape but thanks to J&K Bank for their unmatched and relentless support for displaying outstanding implementing capabilities. And today as I speak to you more than 350 Khidmat Centers are already operational", he said.
The idea of Khidmat Education Services materialized after J&K Bank, premier educational institutions and their governing bodies like IGNOU, Kashmir University, Board of School Education, Directorate of School Education, and Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) expressed their willingness to be part of this revolutionary exercise. Senior officials from these institutions signed MOUs with Khurshid A. Pandit, Vice-President J&K Bank and Director on Board of National e-Governance Initiative in presence of Aga Syed Ruhullah, IT Minister, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Chairman & CE, J&K Bank, Prof. V.N Rajashekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, Professor Riyaz Punjabi, Vice Chancellor Kashmir University and Atul Duloo, Commissioner/ Secretary IT.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Chairman, J&K Bank said that Khidmat centers provided an ideal and easily accessible alternative services delivery mechanism to people in rural areas. "The best thing about this project is that it is driven by younger generation. J&K Bank has utilized CSC to encourage youth into such novel and IT-driven ventures with a broader vision to nurture entrepreneurship in the state", Dr Drabu stated.
He expressed hope that the availability of varied governmental and non-governmental services at the Khidmat Centers would turn these centers into centers of business and social service. "I am sure Khidmat centers will become for the government, its departments and even banks what ATMs have become for the bank branches.
He expressed his satisfaction over the way J&K Bank has ensured smooth implementation of the Khidmat Initiative in the state "despite RBI articulating reservations in the initial stage of the project implementation". "RBI's apprehensions stand cleared today as J&K Bank with due support and guidance from Ministry of IT has carved a success story out of it and a model worth for others to follow", Drabu emphasized.
Dr Drabu invited a huge applaud from the audience when he said that he envisioned Khidmat Centre Initiative as a state's e-Governance company. "I believe it is time for J&K Bank to move out of the project. Youngsters (VLEs running the Khidmat centers) must own this project. In fact, I would like them not to restrict it to e-governance only but ensure new delivery mechanisms based on public-private partnership", Drabu stressed.
V.N Rajashekharan Pillai, VC IGNOU in his address branded Khidmat Centers as vehicles of education. "Inclusive growth is possible through inclusive education. And Khidmat centers have the potential to expose rural youth to modern, skill-oriented and entrepreneurship encouraging courses outside the confines of modes of formal education", said he.
Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University portrayed the Bank's intervention in CSC project as a quantum jump from a commercial organization to development and socially relevant institution.
Dr. Dinesh Tyagi, CEO, IFLS Education & Technology Services while laying emphasis on the massive potential of CSCs for employment generation, informed the gathering that each CSC in Kerala is employing seven people. He also suggested use of Khidmat centers for digitizing the government data in the state's quest for e-governance. "Rural youth are competent and vibrant but lack opportunity. CSC is an enabler to bridge the gap of availability of opportunity" he said.
Others present on the occasion included A.K Mehta, Executive Director, J&K Bank, top officials of J&K Bank, IT ministry, University of Kashmir, IGNOU, BOSE, Education Department and BOPEE.