The Hindu 30.12.2010
Corporation website gets more user-friendly
Staff Reporter
|
New software creates dynamic content |
Makeover expected to improve
e-governance
Keltron to maintain the website
Kozhikode: The City Corporation website www.kozhikodecorporation.org
is getting a changeover from the existing html (HyperText Markup
Language) system to the Content Management Framework format from January
1.
Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd. (Keltron), a
public sector company, has designed and developed this user-friendly
site using ‘Joomla,’ a free and open source content management software
for e-publishing.
The Joomla package allows clients to modify and upload content
without the support of the webmaster or service provider. The new
website will have dynamic pages unlike the static pages now available,
said A. Gopakumar, engineer, Keltron.
Officials said the Kozhikode Corporation would be the only civic body
in the State utilising the services of Keltron for website maintenance.
It will continue for five years. The official websites of most civic
bodies in the State are serviced by Information Kerala Mission.
N.V. Sujeeth, Superintendent, Janaseva Kendra, told The Hindu here on
Wednesday that the new format would not need a separate programming
language. Clients could manage the website by uploading, updating and
deleting the content of any links on the site without hassles. The
makeover of the website is expected to bring in new features aimed at
improving e-governance in the city. Besides, the format will also
address civic issues related to the residents of the erstwhile grama
panchayats—Beypore, Elathur and Cheruvanur- Nallalam—recently merged to
the Corporation.
More data
The customised website will accommodate more data, from the existing
200 MB to 500 MB. The sub-links attached to the eight menus will provide
improved services to citizens. Adequate security features have been
incorporated to avert possible hacking.
Gradually, facilities such as e-payment and interactive links would
be introduced. As of now, complaints and emails could be sent to the
respective departments, Mr. Sujeeth said.
He said Joomla was a well-tested and effective tool that helped build
the website with powerful online applications. The new format will help
the Corporation to keep track of every piece of content on the website
like a library storing and tracking data on books and journals.
Uploading of content, including text, pictures, sound track, video
and documents, would also be easy. No technical skill or knowledge is
required. Earlier, the webmasters had to be contacted to update data on
the website, like council decisions or inviting tenders. This usually
resulted in delays, Mr. Sujeeth said.
The new software will also bring the content and the template
together to produce web pages. It has other features such as built-in
help files, content display scheduling, database-driven engines, text
edit similar to Word Pad and over 400 news feeds.
Residents can get better online services such as getting information
on building construction and property tax and obtaining birth, death and
marriage certificates.
