The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has initiated a comprehensive digitization project for all student records dating from 1965 to 1990. This move aims to safeguard historical data and streamline verification processes.
Digitization of Historical Records
Trigun Kulkarni, Chairperson of the State Board, announced that the board is in the process of scanning and uploading approximately 80 lakh pages stored in physical registers. These records are currently kept in record rooms and are susceptible to damage. The digitization will be carried out by an agency selected through a tendering process, with the data stored in a secure Document Management System (DMS). Kulkarni mentioned that the board is exploring Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding to avoid incurring costs.
Transition to In-House Servers
Until now, the board has been using rented servers for hosting data, which involves recurring expenses and security risks. To address this, the board has decided to establish a data center within its headquarters in Pune. This will centralize all data, including records from after 1990, which are already digitized but not yet integrated into the DMS. The goal is to complete the entire project within one year.
The initiative is expected to significantly reduce the time required for document verification, benefitting both officials and applicants. Currently, verifying pre-1990 records involves manually searching through physical registers, a time-consuming process. Once digitized, verification will be instantaneous.
Kulkarni emphasized that the board is committed to enhancing efficiency and data security through this digitization drive.
