The Hindu 30.12.2010
Corporation website gets more user-friendly
| 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.
