Odisha Govt to take Common Service Centers to Panchayats
In another step towards realization of e-governance, Govt has started the move to take Common Service Centers (CSCs) to Panchayat level. A meeting to this effect was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sri Gokul Chandra Pati in secretariat conference hall on Wednesday. Reviewing the progress made by the Governmental initiatives of both the Central and State Govt departments, Chief Secretary has directed the departments to make common and concentrated effort to link up more and more public services with CSCs. A sub-committee has been formed under Chairmanship of principal Secretary General Administration department to work out detail roll out plan of various services through CSCs with timelines. It has been decided to promote more number of CSCs at Panchayat level targeting to cover all Panchayats.
Chief Secretary has advised to tag up other services like refresher training course for teachers, e-vidyalaya, Bank correspondent, utility services booking of tickets, insurance services etc with the common service centers for making them more viable. Bankable schemes for establishing CSCs has also been worked out. Chief Secretary has advised Sri Pradeep Kumar Jena, Principal Secretary IT present in the meeting, to make out a list of GPS having broad band and mobile connectivity. As of now, broad band connectivity has been provided to all block headquarters. BBNL and BSNL have been requested to expedite the process of connectivity to gram panchayats. It has been decided to roll out some public services through mobile connectivity also.
CSC provides a platform for Governmental departments, private and social organizations to roll out their services for benefit of the rural citizens. It provides for both C2G and G2C communication platform. Various services and informations from different departments can be shared with citizens through this center and citizens can also register their grievances, complains, requests and suggestions in this platform. Various educative and entertainment services can also be extended through this center.
Available data shows that at present near about 2500 CSCs are operating in the State. Out of them near about 978 have been connected to the central services rolled out through department of electronics and information technology. Many of the G2C services relating to issue of various miscellaneous certificates, electoral rolls, unique identification number, pass port, open schooling, pan card , agriculture, health care, payment of utility bills, mobile bill payments, data card recharge, e-commerce and e-shopping, women education, IT literacy, e-ticketing and investor awareness programmes, etc are being linked to these centers. Till now 11 banks like Andhra Bank, Bank of Boroda, Bank of India, U.CO, UGB, PNB, Allhabad Bank, Corporation Bank, IDBI and Canara Bank and 53 insurance company products have been linked to CSCs. More than 50 CSCs have been selected for UID enrolment. The CSCs enlisted as Bank Correspondents get around Rs2500/- per month apart from transaction commission. Appolo and Medanta telemedicine services have also been linked up with these centers. Many other services under e-municipality for various certificates and clerances of housing & urban development dept, e-prerana for scholarship of ST & SC students, e-srathi & e-bahana of commerce & transport department etc have been proposed to rolled out through CSCs. A senior officer from the department of information technology, Govt of India said that at present Odisha stands 1st in women education under e-inclusion programme and 3rd in IT literacy scheme participation among all States.
Principal Secretray General administration Sri G.V.V.Sharma, Principal Secretray IT Sri P.K.Jena, Secretray H & UD Sri G.Mathivathanan, Secretary Cooperation Sri Manoj Ahuja, Secretary School & Mass Education Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Additional Secretary Administrative Reforms Sri R.S. Goplan along with senior officers from Govt of India and Govt of Odisha participated in discussions.