Orissa institute unveils ICT solution

In a bid to assist small businesses in Orissa, one of country's premier management institute based in Bhubaneswar -- the Institute of Management and Information Science ( IMIS) -- has developed an Information Communication and Technology (ICT) link by adopting a model that works on a three-tier formula.

The three-tiers include back end support, a front-end portal and user interface. With Orissa gradually becoming an industrial hub and especially a haven for small and medium industries, this ICT-intervention model is envisaged to create an online environment wherein rice growers can directly get in touch with buyers, vegetable growers would grow vegetables keeping in mind the market demand for their produce and craftsmen may not have to share a chunk of their profit with middlemen since they can sell it directly to buyers.

These basic features of the ICT model were highlighted at a recently-held workshop organised by IMIS on"Capacity Building for Small Business in Orissa through ICT".

Speaking at the workshop, the state minister for Energy, IT and Culture Suryanarayan Patra said, announced the state would also receive a prize for its ICT initiatives. IMIS authorities said the institute has already chalked out a plan to partner business incubation initiatives in Orissa.

The proposal on "Capacity Building' in small business in Orissa through ICT" is a step-by-step approach to assist small entrepreneurs to get linked with the outside world. This proposal harps on capacity-building that will ensure information to the entrepreneurs from all quarters.

Some of the support services planned under this model relate to financial, consulting, networking, R&D, legal, facilitation and database support. IMIS proposes to be a facilitator in the process of capacity building wherein it would train and sensitise the people holding kiosks to ensure a foolproof user interface. This exercise will commence through direct interactions with school teachers at district levels.