Recognising that the use of Information and Communication Technology enables better management of offices and speeds up service delivery processes, the Odisha government has proposed to make basic computer skills mandatory for candidates aspiring for government jobs.
Computer knowledge, however, will not be compulsory for candidates to be recruited in Group D categories.
The State government has already included basic computer skills as a prerequisite for recruitment to some of the Group B and C posts such as junior clerk and junior stenographer in district and subordinate offices.
Computer skill is also a compulsory test for assistant section officer in State secretariat and State Assembly offices.
Sources said the government has prepared a draft Odisha Civil Services (Knowledge on Basic Computer Skills) Rules, 2015 seeking to make computer skills mandatory for job seekers.
The draft rule says the State government may ask every government servant holding any post to submit the certificate within two years from the date of commencement of these rules.
The Higher Education Department has established a public limited company, ‘Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited (OKCL)’ for universalisation and integration of information technology in teaching, learning and educational mansgement processes in particular.
Further, through e-Vidyalaya Project under School and Mass Education Department, school coordinators (computer) are being appointed at high school level and district coordinators at district level to impart teaching on ITC.
‘All government servants may be asked to submit the certificate within two years’
Prasanta Patnaik