The Hindu Business Line : 1 lakh rural computer kiosks planned

Bridging the divide
The CSCs, basically computer kiosks, are to be set up through public-private partnership mechanism.
Project expected to provide employment to 1 lakh people directly and 2-3 lakh additional indirect jobs.

New Delhi , Sept. 21

The Government is planning a major digital expansion by setting up one lakh rural Common Service Centres (CSCs), which will basically be computer kiosks, at a total cost of Rs 5,742 crore, through a public-private partnership (PPP) mechanism.

These centres are expected to bridge the digital divide existing today between the urban and rural areas.

According to a Government spokesperson, a proposal for setting up CSCs was approved by the Union Cabinet on Thursday. These centres are proposed to substantially extend the reach of digital services and economic opportunities into the rural and remote areas of the country.

Of the total outlay of Rs 5,742 crore, the Centre's share will be Rs 856 crore and the State Governments' contribution Rs 793 crore. The private sector is expected to chip in with the balance and bulk of the amount of Rs 4,093 crore.

These centres are proposed to be rolled out by March 2008. "The CSC project is a strategic corner stone of the national e-governance plan, approved by the Government in May this year," the spokesperson said.

Basket of services

The scheme is aimed at making all Government services accessible to the common man.

Under this project, the CSCs will be broadband Internet-enabled and will offer a basket of Government-to-citizen and business-to-customer services. These centres will cater to 600,000 villages — one CSC in six villages. The project is expected to provide employment to 1 lakh people directly and 2-3 lakh additional indirect jobs.

The CSCs will provide high-quality and cost-effective video, voice and data content and services in the areas of e-governance, education, health, telemedicine, entertainment as well as other private services.

They will offer Web-enabled e-governance services in rural areas, including application forms, certificates and utility payments such as electricity, telephone and water bills.

Other public and private services that can be accessed through these centres will be remote consulting for healthcare, e-enabled vocational training, market and supply chain linkages, rural BPOs, agriculture price and weather information.

Three-tier structure

According to the spokesperson, while the project will be a Central scheme, its implementation will be decentralised, enabling entrepreneurship to flourish locally.

The CSC model envisages a three-tier structure consisting of the CSC operator (called Village-Level Entrepreneur), the Service Centre Agency that will be responsible for a block of 200-500 CSCs and a State-designated agency responsible for managing the implementation over the entire State.

While approving the proposal, the Cabinet expressed the view that the scheme, when fully operational, would help people enjoy higher disposable income achieved by reducing time and costs in obtaining Government and private services and through enhanced employment opportunities available digitally.

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