1) Background:

           Free flow of information is one of the prerequisites for empowering people. By ensuring the flow of information, especially among the disadvantaged, it is possible to bring about positive changes in their lives. The involvement of local government institutions is essential to ensure the empowerment of the people by delivering information services to the masses at the grass root level. For this purpose, initiatives have been taken to establish Union Information Service Center (UISC) at the local government level at the Union level. UISC is a state-of-the-art Information Center (Telecenter) - whose objective is to ensure information services at the doorsteps of grassroots people. Notable facilities at UISC include - Internet connectivity for fast and cost-effective international communication; By connecting to the information superhighway, the facility of exchanging knowledge by browsing hundreds of thousands of web-sites in different parts of the world; Information and services on agriculture, health, education, law and human rights, employment, market, various government forms etc. in offline database in VVIO, audio, animation and text formats; There will also be low-cost computers with various skill-building training systems and various computer-related commercial services, such as low-cost composing, printing, photocopying, photocopying, scanning, etc. services.

2) Relevance:

            'Digital' Bangladesh is one of the main election promises made by the current government. Ensuring free flow of information at the grassroots level is imperative to implement this commitment, which can be done through the establishment of UISC. Moreover, the UISC program can play a significant role in achieving the goals of the Government's Right to Information Act, 2008. Meanwhile, the government is determined to deliver information technology services to the people as one of the signatories of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Plan of Action- 2003. Ensuring free flow of information is also emphasized in achieving the goals of the government's poverty alleviation agenda. Therefore, by 2020, every Union Parishad in the country will be the focal point of knowledge practice and all kinds of development activities in the area. UISC is able to play a groundbreaking role.

3) Institutional Affiliation:

              Although UISC is an information service center based on the Union, there is involvement of various institutions at local and national level for its proper implementation. The institutional affiliations are mentioned below-

Role of Union Parishad 1 of 3:

Union Parishad is the main promoter of UISC. The Union Parishad shall ensure overall supervision, management and accountability of UISC activities. However, the specific responsibilities of the Union Council include-

> Allotment of suitable rooms for setting up the Centre;

> Purchase and supply of necessary materials outside the entrepreneur's lot;

> Purchase and supply of furniture required for setting up the centre;

> Providing electricity connection, water connection and other necessary institutional facilities;

> Ensuring necessary security;

>Providing full cooperation in the implementation of the activities of the 'UISC Steering Committee';

          > To play a role in providing financial and infrastructural support from local and national levels for the development of UISC;

          > To monitor and evaluate the work of UISC;

          > Preparation of fortnightly reports.