Computer literacy must for Karnataka govt staff

BANGALORE, INDIA: Tech-savvy Karnataka will offer Rs.5,000 per annum to its government employees for becoming computer literate, as knowledge of using computers has been made compulsory for its staff below 50 years.

"Knowledge of operating computers in Kannada, the state's official language, is a must for all government employees. Prospective employees have to pass an exam in computer literacy within three months of joining service," Law Minister Suresh Kumar said after a cabinet meeting here.

The state government has, however, exempted primary school teachers, police constables, nurses, forest watchers, excise guards, health assistants, group D employees and drivers from the essential qualification.

"Serving employees above 50 years will also be exempted from the mandatory computer learning on age considerations," Kumar said.

As part of its e-governance initiative to provide as many of its services online using network of computers, the government has also decided to make computer knowledge a pre-requisite for promotion and annual increments.

"Employees who fail the computer skill exam within three years will be denied promotion and those who do not qualify even in the fourth year will be denied the annual increment," Kumar warned.

According to a personnel department official, of the 540,000 government employees across the state, about 20 per cent of them are in D category and another 20 per cent in C category, including those exempted from the mandatory computer learning.