(Sept. end 2002)

The new CNAA project is being pursued for implementation since last more than three months, with the active support & thrust from NIC SIOs and efforts of individual DIOs. Now, as desired by Secretary (FW), GOI and committed by NIC at the highest level, all the project activities on the part of NIC are targeted to be completed by mid. October 2002, in all 562 district DMO/FW offices and State FW offices (as per the CNAA list of district/state locations) all over India.

1) To develop (already developed by NIC MP State Unit), down load/ distribute (to district DMO/FW offices and state FW Hqr. office locations, as per CNAA locations list), install and get implemented the CNAA Data-entry/Feedback Monitoring S/w on PCs, in respective offices (PCs are supplied by the central Ministry’s vendors—either M/s ECIL or Terrasoft of Hyderabad).

[ Imp. Note: The use of old Unix/ Foxplus based s/w, long back operational at NIC Distt. Units, is to be discontinued forthwith. Now the new Windows PC based version is (being given since last May/June) is only to be used by district FW offices for feedback of CNAA data to Centre/ States ]

The s/w is in Visual Foxpro, under Windows (98/2000) environment and the executable version is made available for installation. The CNAA district/ State FW office locations list has already been sent earlier (or is being separately attached with e-mail).

2) To give dial-up modem / phone based connectivity (locally from district NIC unit) to the DMO/FW office PC (where s/w is getting installed) for e-mail/ Internet and to configure the e-mail account (already got created for all such locations on HUB mail server at NIC Hqr., Delhi) allotted (for the specific district/state office) in the ‘Outlook Express’ on the user PC.

The User-IDs created for district DMO/FW office locations have already been sent earlier (or given along with the CNAA locations list in the separate attached file).

3) To conduct adequate On-site User-training to the designated staff, soon after installation of the s/w and operationalization of dialup connectivity/ e-mail etc. The training is to be in the use of the software (primarily in navigation thru’ menu-options for different CNAA activities, as users are supposed to be conversant with the physical CNAA feedback forms/parameters) and use of e-mail/Internet, so as to enable them sending CNAA feedback data files, as attachment to e-mails to their State & Central FW offices. This training can also be partly or fully at NIC Unit, as mutually agreed and convenient. The local training may also be followed up later, by State level collective Workshop/ Training sessions, as per subsequent need felt.

If any District NIC Unit is not able to download, due to some serious problem at his end, he may request his NIC State Unit coordinator for getting the same in CD or floppies (the five folders of the s/w, Disk1, Disk2 …. Disk5, can be copied to 5 floppies and again re-assembled in a folder, also creating 4 blank folders as SEND, RECEIVED, APPENDED & REPORTS, for further installation), or even sending thru’ e-mail attachments, in parts.

The s/w presently (from 25^th Sept. 02) made available for download on ftp server is somewhat modified version of the first released one (in May 02) and will not be modified any more for at least next 2 years or so. These modifications were carried out, in view of some printing problems and other small problems reported from NIC/ User ends and to ease the handling of feedback data/ text files generated for transmission/ printing or those received at State/Central offices for appending to the database. Also, a detailed User-guide has now been made available to help implementation and use.

Those states/ districts, who have not yet implemented the s/w at user sites, should straight way use the modified presently available version (identified as CNAA2.1 instead of CNAA 2.0 within the s/w screen) and the Guide, even if they have downloaded the first release (prior to 25^th Sept. 02). For others, who have already installed the prior released version, the approach is given below.

The NIC Units, who have already implemented the New PC based CNAA s/w (first release) at their district DMO/FW offices (since May 02 or after), should preferably install the latest modified version (identified as CNAA 2.1 instead of CNAA 2.0, within the s/w screen) made available now, to avoid the check-list printing and some other small problems faced earlier and to have a neat way of handling generated feedback data files or print files (text files of temporary relevance).

In order to effect this change, when the existing system already has been in use, with PHC/FRU data and different forms data entered since sometime and already available in the database, the following approach should be taken: --

Regarding the detailed User-guide given now (along with the modified s/w), it fully corresponds to the modified s/w being given now. But the same can also be used for the existing first version (as long as it is not replaced with the modified one) and it’s users, except for the treatment w.r.t. the four additional folders (viz: SEND, RECEIVED, APPENDED & REPORTS) provided in the modified s/w. Wherever these four folders are referred in the Guide, first version users should treat it as the reference to the main ‘cnaa’ folder itself (in which the s/w is installed), because in the first version all text files, of generated feedback data (for transmission), transmitted/ received data and check list reports etc,. used to get created within the main ‘cnaa’ folder. Other wise, the detailed guide addresses the way out for printing and other problems very clearly, with explanation to all other use aspects, which are also valid for the first version.

Though the first released version of the s/w had many missing / wrong district names (even some of those available in the CNAA list) in it’s Master District Directory, the modified version now has fully updated district list (including the newly created/ bifurcated districts, not in the CNAA list), with suitably assigned unique state/ district codes. The up-to-date district code-list is also available on the ‘CNAA Support Website’ for particular reference of the DIOs of already installed districts. [ It is important that throughout all the installations of the s/w (in districts/ states or Centre) the code followed/used for a particular district is same (i.e. same at the district, it’s state office and central installation). Other wise, it may result into -- data sent from one district , to be interpreted as that from another, at State/ Centre end. ]

As such, the DIOs having already implemented the first version s/w at their locations, must cross check from the Web site (or new version’s Master Directory) to confirm that the code used for their district (in the Master Directory) at the DMO/ FW office installation is matching with that displayed on the Website (or in the modified s/w). If it is not so, it must be modified in the district end s/w to match (till new version is installed). If this is not possible, because sufficient data already entered and/or data transmission has started with his used code, then the DIO should urgently inform back to NIC Hqr to modify at our end (and also get this done at State end), so as to match his code.

G) Issues relating to district/ State offices which are not covered in the CNAA list:

The Ministry has supplied PCs/ modems etc. to the district/ state FW offices listed in the CNAA list of locations (as given to NIC by the Central Ministry) and NIC is also presently targeting only these district/state offices (or their equivalent changed/ bifurcated district names, in some cases) for implementation activities on its part. This list had earlier been sent through SIOs/ state unit coordinators, but can again be given, if asked.

As of now, this CNAA list does not cover many (around 80) new/ bifurcated (or simply omitted by mistake) districts of some states and also does not include the State FW office locations of the three new states (viz: Jharkhand, Chattisgarh & Uttranchal). As such, the e-mail User-IDs have also been created/conveyed for districts/ state offices as per CNAA list only (of course considering for any changed names) for implementation. For the balance (left out or newly created) districts/ state offices, the Ministry is soon gearing up to supply PC/ modem etc. and then only will request for needful to NIC subsequently.

But it may be noted, that even as of now, if some such district/ state FW office is having PC/ modem from any other source, which they want to utilize for CNAA work, we may be informed of this need, so that can Ministry’s approval can be taken to give dial-up etc. and installing the s/w, even before Ministry supplies PC to them for CNAA work.

For the districts of the three states (viz: Jharkhand, Chattisgarh & Uttaranchal) where CNAA s/w is being implemented, but no e-mail addresses have been created for the State FW offices --- during district level s/w initialization, one can skip filling-up of ‘State E-mail’ on the initialization screen, as the feedback data can be sent manually (using Outlook Express from outside the s/w) after generating the text files, and it is manual only in the modified s/w also.

The Support page will further be enhanced in the near future, to increase it’s usefulness.