The Challenge

Bihar has one of the highest populations of out-of-school children in India, with significant numbers concentrated in rural and hard-to-reach habitations. The existing paper-based tracking mechanisms were ineffective at scale, making it nearly impossible to:

• Map and identify out-of-school children across 28,000+ habitations in real time
• Track the reintegration journey of each child from identification through enrollment and retention
• Monitor field-level activities of community mobilizers and education functionaries working in remote areas with limited connectivity
• Generate actionable reports for district and state-level decision-makers to allocate resources effectively
• Ensure data integrity across multiple administrative levels spanning 38 districts and 534 blocks

The Government of Bihar and UNICEF needed a robust, scalable digital platform that could function in low-connectivity environments while providing a comprehensive dashboard for monitoring and decision-making.

Velocity’s Solution

Scope of Work

Velocity Software Solutions developed an integrated web-based application and Android mobile app for end-to-end monitoring of out-of-school children in Bihar. The solution encompassed:

• Design, development, testing, and deployment of the web application
• Design, development, and deployment of the Android mobile application with offline capabilities
• Dashboard with graphical and map-based reporting
• User management and role-based access control system
• Integrated ticketing/helpdesk system for user support
• Comprehensive training and capacity building for field functionaries
• Ongoing operations and maintenance support

Key Features & Deliverables

Web Application:
– Multi-level Dashboard: Graphical reports with state, district, block, and habitation-level drill-down capabilities, featuring charts, graphs, and GIS-based map views

• Child Tracking Module: End-to-end tracking from identification to enrollment, with status updates at each stage of reintegration

• Habitation Mapping: Comprehensive mapping of all 28,000+ habitations with demographic and education indicators

• User Management System: Role-based access for administrators, district coordinators, block-level officers, and field mobilizers

• Report Generation: Automated and customizable reports for state and district-level stakeholders

• Ticketing System: Built-in support mechanism for field users to raise and track issues

• Data Import/Export: Bulk data upload capabilities and export in multiple formats

Android Mobile Application:
– Offline Data Collection: Full offline functionality allowing field workers to collect data in areas with no internet connectivity
– Smart Data Sync: Automatic synchronization of locally stored data when connectivity is restored

• GPS Integration: Location-tagged data collection for verification and mapping
• Photo Upload: Ability to capture and upload photographs as part of the verification process
• User-friendly Interface: Simple, intuitive design in Hindi language for ease of use by field-level functionaries
• Low Bandwidth Optimization: Designed to work efficiently on 2G/3G networks

Accessibility & Compliance:
– Open source technology stack ensuring no vendor lock-in
– Responsive web design accessible across devices (desktop, tablet, mobile)
– Hindi language support throughout the application
– Compliance with government data security standards
– Hosting on government-approved infrastructure

Technology Stack

• Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Responsive Web Framework
• Backend: Open Source Server-side Framework
• Database: MySQL / PostgreSQL
• Mobile: Android (Java/Kotlin) with SQLite for offline storage
• Mapping: GIS integration for map-based visualizations
• Server: Government-approved cloud / NIC infrastructure
• Security: SSL encryption, role-based access control, data encryption at rest

Implementation Approach

Velocity adopted an agile, phased implementation methodology:

1. Requirement Analysis & Design (Months 1-2): Deep-dive sessions with UNICEF and Government of Bihar stakeholders to finalize functional requirements, wireframes, and system architecture. Extensive field visits to understand ground-level challenges and connectivity constraints.

2. Development Phase 1 – Core Platform (Months 3-6): Built the core web application with dashboard, user management, and habitation mapping modules. Developed the Android app with offline data collection capabilities.

3. Development Phase 2 – Advanced Features (Months 7-9): Integrated the child tracking workflow, ticketing system, advanced reporting, and GIS-based visualizations. Implemented smart data sync for the mobile app.

4. User Acceptance Testing & Pilot (Months 10-12): Rigorous UAT with UNICEF and government stakeholders. Pilot deployment in select districts to validate the solution under real-world conditions. Iterative refinements based on field feedback.

5. Statewide Rollout & Training (Months 13-15): Phased rollout across all 38 districts. Conducted training sessions for district coordinators, block officers, and field mobilizers. Deployed the helpdesk and ticketing system.

6. Stabilization & Handover (Month 16): Post-deployment monitoring, bug fixes, performance optimization, and knowledge transfer to UNICEF and government technical teams.

Key Outcomes & Impact

• Comprehensive Coverage: Successfully deployed across all 38 districts of Bihar, covering 534 blocks and approximately 28,000 habitations
• Real-time Visibility: Enabled state and district officials to monitor OOSC identification and reintegration progress in real time through intuitive dashboards
• Offline-First Design: Ensured uninterrupted data collection in remote, low-connectivity areas through robust offline capabilities
• Scalable Architecture: Built to handle data for millions of children across the state, with the ability to scale to additional states
• Improved Decision-Making: Graphical and map-based reports empowered administrators to identify high-burden areas and allocate resources strategically
• Field Worker Empowerment: Hindi-language mobile app with simple interface enabled frontline workers to digitize data collection efficiently
• Data-Driven Reintegration: Systematic tracking of each child’s journey enabled targeted interventions and improved reintegration outcomes
• Open Source Compliance: Delivered on open source technologies, ensuring long-term sustainability and government ownership

Why Velocity?

Velocity Software Solutions was selected for this critical UNICEF initiative based on our:

• Deep expertise in building large-scale government technology solutions with multi-level administrative hierarchies
• Proven track record in mobile applications with offline-first architecture for low-connectivity environments
• Strong understanding of India’s education sector and the unique challenges of field-level data collection
• Experience with GIS-based dashboards and real-time monitoring systems for development sector organizations
• Commitment to open source technologies and government hosting compliance
• Robust project management capabilities for managing statewide rollouts with extensive training and capacity building

Velocity Software Solutions has been a trusted technology partner for UNICEF and other UN agencies, consistently delivering scalable, impactful digital solutions that drive measurable outcomes for children and communities across India.