Rajasthan takes lead with E-Mitra

While Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat may be in focus for racing ahead in implementing e-governance projects...

While Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat may be in focus for racing ahead in implementing e-governance projects, Rajasthan seems to have quietly taken the lead in empowering its citizens.

Conceptualised over two years back, E-Mitra is an integrated e-governance project that aims at providing information on the government and its services through dedicated centres and kiosks. The project is also a one-stop facility for electricity, water and telephone bills, dues of the municipal corporation, Jaipur Development Authority and the Rajasthan Housing Board among others.

Having tasted success in the first phase of the project, the IT Department is now all set to take it to the remotest areas of the state. The state has already set up 508 e-kiosks in 32 districts, of which 59 are located in rural areas. Jaipur has the highest number of kiosks 97, followed by Jodhpur with 54, Bikaner with 48 and Alwar with 25. Already, around six lakh customers are being served at these centres every month and the average monthly collection is Rs 71.4 crore.

The kiosks also serve as processing centres for applications for revaluation of marks for board exams, ration cards, caste certificates or birth and death certificates. It also works as a public grievance centre and a databank with easy access to government information and a counter for buying stamp papers, revenue tickets, rail tickets or deed writing. The services provided at the kiosks vary according to the needs and demands of a particular area.

8220;Initially, we began as a collection centre for electricity and water bills. But we soon graduated to a one-window concept for several government services,8221; says IT and Communication Department Commissioner Rohit Singh.

During the next year, the government is aiming to set up more than 6,700 centres in rural areas under the Centre8217;s Common Service Centres scheme and another 1,000 in association with NABARD.

For the rural areas, the departments plans to develop the kiosks as data collection centres and as a retail outlet where financial products like Kisan Credit cards, collection of money for savings accounts in banks, etc would be offered. For the cities, the kiosks will provide services like air ticketing, bill collection for private mobile operators and insurance companies, collection of traffic police fines, passport services and submission of forms for tenant registration on behalf of police department.