The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) recently launched a technology-driven control room and information management system.
The online portal, called Champions, utilises the latest ICT tools and aims to assist Indian MSMEs to have a platform to compete in international markets.
Short for Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength, the portal offers support for the country’s small businesses.
According to a press release, the Ministry’s Secretary noted that the system was set up to help the MSMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to ICT tools like video conferencing facilities, the system is enabled by artificial intelligence, data analytics, and machine learning.
It is also fully integrated on a real-time basis with the government’s main grievances portal, CPGRAMS, and the MSME Ministry’s own other web-based mechanisms. The entire ICT architecture is created in-house with the help of the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
Similarly, the physical infrastructure is created in one of the Ministry’s rooms in record time, the release noted.
As part of the system, a network of control rooms has been created in a hub and spokes model. The hub is situated in New Delhi, in the Secretary MSME’s office. The spokes will be in the states in various offices and institutions of Ministry. Currently, 66 state-level control rooms are created as part of the system.
A detailed operating procedure has been issued, officers have been deployed and training has been conducted.
On 9 May, the Secretary conducted a trial launching of the Champions system amidst his officers and staff. On this occasion, around 120 locations of the country were connected through video conference.
While trial launching the system, he explained that it is meant for MSME units and the people that depend on them.
The government also launched another portal called COVID-19 Warriors.
Users can find information on doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, volunteers, ex-servicemen for ground-level administration at the state, district or municipal levels.
A dashboard master database of details of healthcare professionals and volunteers has been made operational. It contains a state-wise and district-wise availability of the large pool of human resources from various groups.
Also, it includes contact details of the nodal officers. The website states that the dashboard is available for use by various authorities to prepare for crisis management and contingency plans based on the available manpower, in coordination with nodal officers for each group.
It calls for use of iGOT online training modules mounted on a special digital platform-Integrated Government Online Training(iGOT) for the training and capacity building of doctors, nurses, paramedics, hygiene workers, technicians, staff, and other frontline workers and volunteers.
It provides anytime onsite delivery of training material or modules through any devices, such as mobiles, laptops, and desktops. Already 44 modules, which are part of 12 courses, have been onboarded with 105 videos and 29 documents.
