Finally, govt staff in Karnataka to become e-savvy!

Shortly, all government servants in Karnataka (India) will speak the language of computers! At last, the Karnataka government seems to have realized the need for training its staff in computer operations and make them e-savvy. According to reports in a section of the media, the state government has asked its four lakh employees to become computer literate. The catch – if the staff want promotions and increments, they have to be e-savvy. What a nice way to lure them !

It's not that all government servants are computer illiterates. A majority of officials in the IAS cadre and similar posts are highly tech savvy. So are most of the Group A and B employees, who have basic knowledge of computers. But that was not enough for a state which showcased its capital city, Bangalore, on the world map as the Silicon City of India. Somehow, they managed the show this far! However, just clicking the mouse and typing letters on the screen won't help. The government servants should pass a computer test with 75 percent marks, else they will not be eligible for promotions, the report states.

Incidentally, a press release issued recently by the office of a top police official in the city had erroneous mistakes with the liberal use of the 'F' word in the place of function. I guess, it was typed ignorantly and in a hurry by the department staff concerned. The press note which was emailed to all the newspaper offices made the department put down its head in shame and later send a corrigendum for the same. Was the person trying to show off his computer skills by sending emails or was he ignorant about his limited knowledge of English, god only knows. This incident is proof to many such mistakes in the government departments.

All said and done, let's congratulate the government for taking this initiative, at least now.