The Mamata Banerjee government is set to recruit nearly 3,000 youths to run the Bangla Sahayata Kendras — Internet hubs set up by the state government to help people with online related work — after complaints poured in that several such centres were not functioning properly.

“There were complaints that many of the 2,500-odd centres were not functioning properly because of lack of manpower. The government is set to recruit nearly 3,000 youths to run the centres properly,” said a senior state government official. The youths will be recruited on contract and paid in the range of Rs 7,000-8,000 every month.

Recently, chief secretary H. K. Dwivedi asked the district magistrates to send detailed reports on the centres.

“The chief secretary made it clear that district magistrates concerned should mention the kind of problems the centres are facing, from Internet connection to lack of space or manpower,” said a source.

An official said the state government was putting effort in running the Bangla Sahayata Kendras smoothly as rural people depend heavily on them to apply online for government schemes and facilities.

“Computers, laptops or smartphones are not so easily available to many people in remote and rural areas. Rural reople rely heavily on these centres,” said a source.

According to sources, the government can reach residents of remote parts easily with schemes and campaigns through these centres if they work smoothly.