Jamshedpur, June 15: With computerisation of the state welfare department, students all over the state can apply for scholarships online.

Under one of its many computerisation programmes, the Jharkhand Association for Promotion of Information Technology (JAPIT), has decided to computerise the welfare department functions.

One of the direct positive outcomes of this would be for the beneficiaries of scholarship programmes.

“Many people think the role of the welfare department is limited to the fringes. But for the government, help extended to tribal and other underprivileged students is essential for successful computer isation,” said Sumanth Sinha, officer on special duty, JAPIT.

Several programmes especially for tribal students have been proposed for this purpose. Some of them are Scheduled Tribe Stipend and scholarships to technical institutions both within and outside the state.

Hundreds of students apply every academic year for these provisions, for which several rounds to the welfare office at the district level or Ranchi are needed.

With the creation of a separate website and computerisation, all this can be done online, said Sinha.

Students can also track how far their application has progressed and make enquires accordingly, he added.

The welfare department would be computerised, with all its present data going electronic and processes made online. Currently, work is in progress and would be completed in a few months, said officials.

The hardware and software requirement has been shortlisted and implementation remains to be done, said Sinha.

Tribal co-operatives that help income generation of tribals by exporting minor forest produce and minerals would also be benefited.

Loans to these co-operatives could also be tracked online though application would have to be made in person.

Trainees working at specific government technical institutes can also apply for stipend online.

In addition, the JAPIT hopes that the working of the department itself will be much faster to provide funds due to computerisation.

The food and public distribution system are some of the other departments that are also being computerised. JAPIT has also recently renamed the common service centre programme in the state as Pragya Kendra.

Roll-out time and resource estimate are in progress and work will started after a blue print of the action plan is drawn, said Sinha.