MP, W Bengal gear up for e-District projects

Finally the e-District Mission Mode Project under NeGP (National e-Governance Plan) has started seeing the light of day. With a successful implementation of e-District project at the pilot mode level in Kerala, states like West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh have also geared up for the roll out. While MP had started the e-District in March 2012, the West Bengal government has just launched e-District projects from January, 2013 in the state, thereby making the delivery of essential government services online. Estimated to be about Rs 41 crore, the project is being launched in 19 districts. According to the government, a sum of Rs. 2.14 crore will be spent per district.

The project seeks to provide improved services to citizens, strengthening new and existing delivery channels for the district administration, subdivision and blocks. If the government claims are to be believed, it is expected to be over in six months after which citizen-centric e-services will be available online.

It is important to note that 640 districts in the country would be covered under e-District Mission Mode Project by 2016 with an estimated cost of Rs 1663.08 crore to deliver around 50 services online at the district level and its subordinate offices.

e-District as a concept proposes integrated, seamless, and online delivery of citizen services at the district level through automation of workflow, backend digitization, integration and process redesign. The major service categories include G2C services like issue of Certificates, Filing of RTI & Public Grievance, Request for new ration card etc. This project will also provide G2E/G services like revenue cases, government dues and recovery etc.

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Information Technology Mission (KSITM), which launched the pilot projects in Pallakad and Kannur district, is also working towards the state- wide roll out of e-District Kerala.

Through KSITM, citizens can submit applications anytime for availing the required services. All certificates are issued through the e-District portal and it also includes the digital signature of the issuing officer.

According to an official press release by the KSITM, "As many as 23 revenue certificates have been already made available online in the first phase. Nine other departments are preparing to roll out 43 citizen-centric services through the e-District portal."