Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 15, 2015 : In another positive move in ushering e-governance, the Odisha government has initiated to take Common Service Centers (CSCs) to Panchayat level.

The decision to promote more CSCs at Panchayat level was taken on Wednesday at a meeting chaired by chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati here.

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.

Reviewing the progress made by the governmental initiatives of both the central and State government departments, the chief secretary directed the departments to make common and concentrated effort to link up more a nd more public services with CSCs. He also advised to tag up other services like refresher training course for teachers, e-vidyalaya, Banking Correspondent, utility services, booking of tickets, insurance services etc with the common service centers for making them more viable.

Chief Secretary asked information technology principal secretary, Pradeep Kumar Jena, present in the meeting, to prepare a list of gram panchayats having broadband 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 information 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.

At present about 2500 CSCs are operating in the State out of which about 978 have been connected to the central hub 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, UCO, 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 Rs 2500/- 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 clearances 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.