UP turns pro-computers

By Ruchi Shrimali

A computer course may soon become mandatory to get a government job in Uttar Pradesh. The government led by Samajwadi Party had also promised tablets for students in its election manifesto.

Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, the new Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, definitely thinks computers can usher in a wave of development in the state. His government has proposed to make a computer certificate course mandatory to apply for a government job. This three-month certification course is called Course on Computer Concepts (CCC) and is conducted by the employment exchanges of the state labour department.

The course content has been standardised and approved by the government. It covers basics of computer science, networking, making presentations and data sheets, browsing, emailing, and systematic printing and storing of documents.

The course fee per candidate is around Rs 2,860. The move is expected to provide a uniform level of understanding and ability to perform in all new government recruits. The proposal has already been cleared by the state finance office and is awaiting clearance by the department of personnel affairs.

The UP Public Service Commission has already made the course a qualifying criterion to apply for the post of section officer in the state government. The State Hydel Corporation also appoints new candidates on the condition they will clear the certification courses within three months.

Employment offices conduct the course from 8 am to 6 pm in five shifts. Usually, the batches for the course are large sized and can have up to 179 students. A candidate must have cleared high school to be eligible to apply for the course. Read more

In its election manifesto, the Samajwadi Party had also promised laptops for all students who clear Class XII boards and a tablet PC to those who clear their Class X boards. Read more about SP's GeNext manifesto

Find institutes offering computer courses in your city here.