Maharashtra services to go online soon

Government services will soon be available online in Maharashtra as bidding for the e-governance project is under evaluation.

The Maharashtra government has marked this calendar as the IT year and the computerisation process is in full swing and will soon reach the people's door steps.

"There is an urgency in the state to set up e-governance as the Chief Minister has declared the year as IT year. The expectations are also very high from the state," Kshatrapati Shivaji, IT chief secretary, government of Maharashtra, told PTI. 

Currently the bidding was in process There are many plans under e-governance among which computerisation of government system and setting up kiosks is on priority, he added.

The state is planning to computerise the government offices from Mantralaya upto the tehsil level by using broadband of 6 Mbps line which can be upgraded to 32 Mbps if required.

"There is lack of communication among government servants. Computerisation of the government offices will connect all offices up to tehsil level," Shivaji said.

It would be helpful in bringing transparency in the system and working procedure. People would become more accountable and efficiency would certainly increase, he said.

The government is also planning to set up around 7,285 and 924 kiosks in rural and urban areas respectively. The kiosks will work on build, operate, own and transfer-BOOT system.

The kiosks will offer services regarding land records, various licenses, caste or domicile certificates, payment of taxes and enrolment forms for the state government's various schemes.The operators, running the kiosks, which will be a 24-hour service, will be allowed to charge users for these services, Shivaji said.

People require various government services and need to go to tehsil, district offices or Mantralaya. Most of them are middle class or poor people. It is a time consuming and tedious process. Besides, many people cannot afford such visits.

The computerisation of offices and the kiosk facility can provide them all the information they want at one place. Eventually, the decision-making process becomes fast and accurate.