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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Govt likely to miss target of 250,000 rural kiosks by ’12 by Surabhi Agarwal

Govt likely to miss target of 250,000 rural kiosks by ’12 by Surabhi Agarwal

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published Published on Sep 14, 2010   modified Modified on Sep 14, 2010

An initiative to set up information technology (IT) kiosks to offer government services in rural India is likely to miss its expanded target of establishing 250,000 centres because of delays in releasing funds.

The scheme to set up 100,000 common service centres (CSCs), through which villagers would be able to access a host of services, was launched in 2006.

In June 2009, President Pratibha Patil said in her inaugural address to the Lok Sabha that a total 250,000 CSCs would be established in three years’ time with the help of private partners.

But the department of information technology (DIT), the nodal agency for the project, has only been able to set up a little over 80,000 CSCs in four years.

DIT received `1,700 crore for the initial target of 100,000 kiosks. It has asked for `2,800 crore more for the new target.

“We have already written to the expenditure financecommittee for the funding of the project,” said a DIT official, adding that the funds were yet to be received even though several months had passed since the request was sent.

“We have asked for higher funding this time as the new centres will be in even more far-flung areas than the initial ones, and would require better financial support in the beginning,” another DIT official said.

“We can only start the bidding process once the funds are allocated.”

Both officials wanted to remain anonymous.

DIT planned to set up 90,000 kiosks in 2011 and 60,000 kiosks the next year.

But e-governance experts said the deadline is not realistic.

“The DIT should first ensure the viability of the initial 100,000 kiosks before setting out on a target for rolling out additional ones,” said Sabahat Azim, former chief executive of Srei Sahaj e-Village Ltd, which is operating more than 5,000 kiosks under the project.

Many government services that were supposed to be offered through the CSCs are yet to be available online.

“It’s been four years since the project was started. The department should ensure that all government services such as MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) that were envisioned to be provided through CSCs are in place,” said Neel Ratan, executive director at consultancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

MGNREGA is the government’s flagship welfare project, promising 100 days of employment a year to at least one member of every rural household.

Some technology companies such as 3i Infotech Ltd, Reliance Communications Ltd and Comat Technologies (P) Ltd have pulled out of the project, citing lack of financial viability.


Live Mint, 14 September, 2010, http://www.livemint.com/2010/09/13220716/Govt-likely-to-miss-target-of.html?atype=tp


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