e-district project to roll-out on December 17

Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
03-Dec-10

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Aimed at delivering a host of government services at the door steps of the citizens, the State Government is all set to launch the e-district project this month.

It has been decided to formally the launch the project on December 17. In the initial phase, the project would be pioleted in Kannur and Palakkad districts, sources in the State IT Department has said.

The Kerala State IT Mission is implementing the project with the supports of District Administrataion, Akshaya Centres, National Informatics Centre and Wipro. After evaluataing the success of the project in Palakkad and Kannur districts it would be extended to other districts in a phased manner.

The e-district project envisages delivery of a host of services of various government departments through the citizen service centres, especially the 2000 odd Akshaya centres spread across the state, and the Friends Janasevakendra. The e-district project also envisage delivery of the services through district portals.

In the initial stage about 50 services would be delivered through the e-district project. Services of Revenue, Agriculture, Police, Election, Transport and Local Self Government departments are included in the project so far and more departments would join it in the due course. Passport related services and filing of Right to Information applications could also be done through e-district project.

The services to be offered through e-district project include issuing various certificates under the Revenue department, like residence, nativity and income certificates, soil testing, crop insurance, ration card related services, filing police complaints, enrolling into the electoral list, booking date for leaners licence or vehicle test and registrataion of birth and death certificates. Applications under Right to Information could also be given through e-district project.

The implementation of the e-district project is also expected to reduce the delay involved in government services these days as the entire process of file tranfer would become automated. The application for the project has been developed by NIC and Wipro is the consultant, said sources.

The project would be a major milestone in the efforts of the State Government in bringing the benefits of IT Enables Services to the grass root levels.