Vol. II: Shaping Information and Communication ... - IMA,ZLW & IfU

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veterinary and home science. Apart from producing man-power for entrepreneurship and
providing support for IT enabled services to the rural community, the training also gives a
competitive edge to the professionals in their respective fields enhancing their job prospects.
First batch was admitted to this one-year programme in 2000-2001.
The inspiration, motivation and academic help came through the EU-India Cross Cultural
Innovation Network project in which PAU is one of the Indian partners. The University of
Brighton, U.K. helped in providing all the academic help right from the development of
course modules to the sponsoring of faculty visits from U.K. and India for the faculty training
in Internet technologies and multi-media applications. The University Brighton also provided
help in submitting a proposal to the British Council for providing grant under Higher
Education Links Scheme.
The project proposal “Strengthening of PG Diploma in Information Technology and
Training” was finally approved from the year 2000-2001. This three-year project envisages
the visits from and to U.K. for faculty training and course support by they of class teaching,
provision of books and necessary software. The programme has duly benefited from this
project in setting up its IT multimedia laboratory and developing a course on Systems
Analysis and Design.
This step is very much in line with the initiatives taken by different states for e-governance
including the Punjab State. It has decided to set-up a web portal www.punjabsewa.gov.in
where the citizen centred services would be available in a comprehensive manner. In the first
phase, the goal is to provide information, procedures and application forms for same of the
common services in the area of transport, municipalities and panchayats, pensions, revenue,
common certificates, licenses, renewals, permissions, etc.
E-Health
This is the service that assumes major significance in life saving for the people located in farflung
places with little or no easy access through roads, telecommunication, etc. These centres
will enable the on-line consultation with doctors, arrange ambulance services and make
available first-aid to patients in emergency cases. Special medicines not available with nearby
chemist can be made available from larger cities. Common first-aid training can be provided
on-line or off-line.