Bangalore One goes to villages

In a pioneering effort, Karnataka has decided to set up 800 'Tele Centres' under the 'Nemmadi' programme to extend basic citizenry services to the villages using IT tools, at an estimated expenditure of Rs 30 crore.

Modelled on the lines of the existing 'Bangalore One', the 'Tele Centres' at the hobli level (revenue sub divisions) will act as one-stop centre for various government services like issue of birth and death certificates, caste certificate, income proof and bonafide certificates apart from payment of bills.

"We have adopted IT for the masses approach. These Tele Centres will become virtual offices of the government. All kinds of services will be offered to the citizens. Now villagers need not come all the way to taluk headquarters for government related work. We are taking services to the doorstep of villagers," Karnataka's e-governance secretary Rajeev Chawla said here.

The Tele Centres are being set up under a public private partnership model by 3i Infotech, a technology solutions company, specialised in e-governance. Initially, 25 Tele Centres will be set up by October 1. Another 225 will come up by November 1. The remaining will be set up gradually by January 31, 2007.

According to Chawla, the entire investment (Rs 30 crore) will be made by 3i Infotech while the government will take care of the backend work like integration of data at the 176 taluk centres.

"Each service will cost Rs 15 at the Tele Centre, which will work like a paperless office. There is no need for the farmers to fill up any kind of application form. It will be an over the counter delivery services," he added.

To begin with, the Tele Centres will issue certificates for 31 categories like population, residence, non-tenancy, widow, landless farmer, unemployment, agriculturist, small / marginal farmer, non-creamy layer, solvency, old age pension and physically challenged pension.

Each Tele Centre will be equipped with two computers (with broadband connection), webcam, fingerprinting facility, digital imaging and scanning. The total investment on each Tele Centre will be Rs 2.50 lakh. The Tele Centres will also take up computer aided education, dissemination of information relating to agriculture, prices of commodities, availability of fertilisers, seeds and pesticides.

Chawla said the Tele Centres will facilitate a large range of private services like payment of electricity and telephone bills, sale of insurance services, recharge coupons, applications for loan and access to internet.

"Our aim is to have 8,000 Tele Centres over the next five years. The agreement with 3i Infotech is for a period of 2 years. We might have new partners for the expansion programme," Chawla stated.