File picture of the NIC building in Balasore

Balasore, June 26: Local unit of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) is crippled due to lack of adequate manpower. The centre has been running with one officer and a peon since about four years.

The office remains closed when the lone officer goes out for other assignments.

The centre not only provides network service to various departments, but also publishes their tenders and advertisements. It facilitates video conferences as well.

“I have found the office closed when the officer is not available. At times, we don’t get data within the time of our requirement,” said Abhay Das, a resident.

The NIC unit was opened in the district under the ministry of communication and information technology in 1988 with two officers and two data entry operators. One officer and a peon were appointed, while other posts remained vacant.

“I am alone managing the office with one peon. Since the past four years, I have been shouldering the workload without adequate employees. Despite my repeated pleas, the posts are yet to be filled up. If I go out of the office for any other assignment or take leave, the centre remains closed for that period,” said district informatics officer Rabindra Pradhan.

The centre handles data related to health and land revenue projects, forest rights, integrated child development scheme, pension for old age and disabled and online registration of vehicles. The work for the online registration of police complaint is on progress. The NIC also looks after the choice-locking process of the candidates aspiring entry through the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination in the nodal counselling centres.

District collector Ranjit Mohanty said: “I would apprise the centre of the staff shortage. Besides, I would provide a trained person for data entry purposes.”