Ms. Chakraborty in the World of GIS

Name of the Person: Ms. Sudeshna Chakraborty

Designation: Extension Officer (Panchayat)

Block: Burdwan-II

District: Burdwan

Ms. Sudeshna Chakraborty spent her childhood in Howrah district and is  now posted in Burdwan-II block as an Extension Officer (Panchayat) of Burdwan district. After completing school studies, she came to Kolkata for her higher studies and took admission in Presidency College. She completed her post graduation with flying colours.

When the Decentralised Information Management initiative started in Burdwan district Ms. Chakraborty came to Kolkata on 7^th February to attend three days residential computer training program.

Though coming from a strong Computer background, she joined her voice with other trainees to commence the training with computer basic. So the training commenced with Computer Basic. The trainers introduced them with the physical parts of the computer and its utilities one by one.

At the second half of the training began with Geographic Information System (GIS).  They started with Census India. She was surprised to find that pointing the mouse over the map could show the hidden information. Here she could search a location easily, build some queries on states and districts as well as her own block too. She told the trainers that some GPs were not shown correctly in the block  while the trainers introduced them with Gram Panchayat GIS of Burdwan district. She could find census information of individual Gram Panchayat. After a short tea break the trainers introduced them with MS PowerPoint. Here she could make a power point presentation using slides and different custom animation. At the end of the day trainers asked them to complete some questions relating to the day’s module.

The second morning started with MS-Excel and after lunch they were introduced with few blank formats in which they have to collect the data related to Anganwadi Centre, SSK, MSK, Primary School etc. A blank format in excel file was also introduced for the same purpose.

At the third day the training commenced with Internet. She browsed different sites. She was surprised and very happy to see her own picture in the internet. “The software will help us for making analysis and to take any decision regarding block’s development. But the collection of data from various Line Department is very tough in the current circumstances. No doubt it will make block office as  Information Hub” told Ms. Chakraborty at the end of the training.