|
| Chief minister Mukul Sangma inaugurates the Meghalaya Integrated Information System in Shillong on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos |
Shillong, June 21: Do you have any query to be cleared by Meghalaya chief minister Mukul M. Sangma? If yes, then log on to www.mii.nic.in and send your question. Or, if you have a query on any scheme, you can simply dial the toll free number 1800-345-3644.
These services turned out to be a reality from today, as Meghalaya became the first state in the country to introduce a Rs 4.7crore mass information dissemination system to bring people closer to the administration.
The Meghalaya Integrated Information System (Mii), launched by Sangma today, is a government-to-citizen and a citizen-to-government structure, which will bring about an “efficient, accountable and responsive government”.
The system, which will be the mouthpiece of the state government, also aims at informing people about government schemes and programmes, while citizens can provide feedback about the measures being implemented.
Some of the objectives are to keep the masses aware about the inclusion of government orders, policies and welfare schemes, application procedures for obtaining different government services, public announcements and government view on current issues, regional information (preferably in local dialects), information on natural calamities, disasters and their damage control, health, family welfare and medical facilities, weather information on long-term basis and its effects, traffic congestion, awareness on HIV/AIDS and others.
Until now, the state had a fixed loudspeaker system (FLS) for the purpose of disseminating information to citizens. It was a wired system and was implemented in Shillong, Jowai and Tura.
This system, however, had limited the communication, especially in the remote locations of the state.
With this new system in place, citizens will be empowered with knowledge on various schemes and policies of the state government and the latter will also receive constructive feedback from citizens.
It is also intended to be citizen-centric, where citizens would be in a position to receive information through Mii and provide feedback and lodge complaints through the grievance redressal mechanism. The system employs state-of-the-art technology in which the entire state would be connected through the use of loudspeakers, using the Internet.
Moreover, the project leverages existing core IT infrastructure of Statewide Area Network and State Data Centre for increasing reliability and reducing implementation costs.
The major components of the system include information dissemination using loudspeakers, text and video display panels, multi-mode feedback system based on toll free calling, e-mail, web-based and physical receipt and citizen facilitation centre.
In the first phase, the project has been laid out in 119 locations at Shillong, Jowai, Tura, Ampati and Nongpoh.
The target is to cover around 338 locations throughout the state.
Speaking at the launch of the project, Sangma said the information system would go a long way in partnering with the stakeholders, so that democracy thrives and becomes vibrant.
“We want the citizens to be well-informed, vigilant, intelligent and smart. It is only through proper dissemination of information and knowledge that a democracy can thrive. We will ensure that the project reaches all the blocks and major market areas of Meghalaya,” the chief minister said.
Meghalaya information and public relations minister A.T. Mondal said, “It will be the mouthpiece of the government of Meghalaya.”
| 
