The department of posts plans for Goa to have a common service centre (CSC) facility at some of its post offices to improve the efficiency of services and aid citizens that don’t have access to the Internet.
CSCs are a part of the government’s Digital India initiative. They function as single access points for the delivery of services electronically, including passport and Aadhaar enrolment. CSCs also provide access to online government services like booking train tickets and submitting various forms and bills.
According to news reports, the post office CSCs are equipped to provide a single-window delivery mechanism for various government services. Through its digital platform, it will also ensure minimal interference for people.
The department has already installed facilities at every post office where staff can help fill in forms and online applications on for people who have difficulty accessing the web.
There are a total of five divisions in the Goa circle: north and south Goa, Kolhapur, Sangli, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. A CSC will be set up at Kolhapur in the first phase.
During the second phase, the CSCs will be set up at 17 post offices. Also, the department proposed to set up the centres at post offices in Ponda, Mapusa, and Vasco.
The department said it will initially select a few locations and implement this system in phases one and two. If footfall increases, it will integrate all other locations into this system, through the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The existing staff of the department will be trained to operate the CSCs, which will include understanding technical requirements like assisting the public, processing customer applications and submitting them to the state government, which will be handled at the front-end office.
The flow of work after receiving the documents will be handled at the back-office. The back-office staff will also require training. The department will reach out to existing government agencies where CSCs are already operating successfully, the official said.
The state has been pushing for digital transformation through IT-related initiatives. Earlier this month, its department of information and technology signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) to establish a start-up centre.
The agreement was signed at the Vibrant Goa Global Expo and Summit 2019.
At the event, the Chief Minister said that 14,000 square metres of land will be handed over to the STPI for the centre.
He also said that Goa is trying to position itself as a hub for the start-up industry and the agreement with the STPI will help attract more start-ups to the state.
STPI is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, New Delhi. Its objective is to encourage, promote, and boost software exports from India.
The proposed project will be set up in Dona Paula and is expected to be completed in two-and-half years.
The state and STPI signed another MoU to set up an IT park at Dona Paula, for which the state government has already given the land.
It will develop a mentor-enabled centre of excellence in emerging technologies.
The Director-General of STPI said that the development of this facility, with IN ₹40 crores (about US $5.62 million) worth of funding, would go a long way in the promotion of the IT industry, entrepreneurship, and start-up culture in Goa.
