The Prime Minister announced a plan for the establishment of IT facilities at the block level in the North-Eastern Region in February, 2000. In April 2000, the then Ministry of Information Technology launched a project to establish Community Information Centres (CICs) in all blocks in North-Eastern States. Under this project CICs have been set up in all 487 blocks of the North-Eastern States. The pilot project covering 30 blocks in these states was inaugurated on 12 August 2000, by the Hon'ble Union Minister for Information Technology.

The establishment of the CICs constitutes a tremendously challenging task in view of the remoteness of the area and the difficult mountainous terrain. In a region where good communication is lacking, satellite based links to the world outside will usher in a revolution in socio-economic development. The establishment of Community Information Centres (CICs) has been envisaged as a means to use the benefits of Information Technology (IT) to raise the socio-economic conditions of the people of India particularly those in the remote areas of the North Eastern states. This project is planned as a major initiative to utilize IT as a cutting edge tool of development for the state by establishing Community Information Centres. Out of 37 Blocks, 32 have been covered under the project implemented during 2000-2002. These CICs will help the region avail the benefits of global connectivity through Internet and will also help the state government to plan for IT based citizen-centric applications making government. services available through CICs. Under the project, computers, peripherals along with VSATs for satellite communication have been placed at designated locations in each block in the State.

Objectives of CICs

Scope of CICs

Computer and communication infrastructure have been set up in each block and are located in a Community and Rural Development building. In order to ensure uninterrupted communication, the Centres are connected through a satellite based computer communication network. Each CIC is equipped with a VSAT, computer systems, printers and networking equipment.

The CICs will not only facilitate the region to avail the benefits of global connectivity through Internet, but will also bring the region closer, emotionally, to the national mainstream by enabling more efficient and faster information flow amongst the people, State Governments and the Central Government.

Establishment of CICs will help bridge the digital divide between the North East and the rest of the country. Local language interfaces are expected to be provided for Citizen Centric services. These services will entail an IT-enabled interface for public dealings of the government. Some examples are Comprehensive House hold Survey, MPLAD Schemes, Schemes for the underprivileged, Local Market information and so on. There will be an increased awareness of IT especially under the IGNOU programme where a course on Computer Literacy Programme (CLP) was launched in almost all the CIC centres. The project create a knowledge based society and skill enhancement in the Blocks. Internet access will tremendously benefit college goers and professionals among others.