With a population of over 16 lakhs, Keonjhar District of Orissa has lately witnessed tremendous increase in the economic activity due to the recent boom in the steel industry. The service delivery mechanism of the government was complicated and cumbersome and people had to run from pillar to post to obtain basic services like licenses and certificates from the administration. However, with the initiation of e-Sahayata, the service delivery mechanism system of the district has become efficient, fast and accurate.
Ajit Kumar Pattnayak District Informatics Officer NIC Keonjhar (Orissa) kendujha@ori.nic.in
With an aim to bring about a citizen-friendly change in service delivery mechanism, NIC Keonjhar District conceptualized the idea of e–Sahayata. e-Sahayata is an integrated Citizen Information and Service delivery system that involves application of Information Technology to improve the service delivery mechanism, by ensuring that the common man has easy access to (i) Information about various departments and schemes and, (ii) Citizen friendly desk having convergence of services which he seeks from the Government at a common point. This also enables the authorities in District Administration to monitor the procedure of the service delivery at any given time easily.
e-Sahayata Citizen Information Centre in Keonjhar Collectorate
Citizen Information Centres A web-enabled system in local language was installed with touch screen facility for easy access to e-Sahayata services at the Citizen Information Centres. The e-Sahayata software was also integrated with 'SANJOG', a LAN based monitoring system of District Administration implemented in the Keonjhar Collectorate. This combines the monitoring of the main activities of Collectorate, i.e., monitoring of Dak, Court cases and public grievances. The computers of Citizen Information Centre were connected to the Local Area Network (LAN) of the District Collectorate to connect all the sections/ departments of the Collectorate. This also helped the senior functionaries to keep a track of the functioning of the e-Sahayata Kendra.
Citizens served with a smile at e-Sahayata Kendras
Innovative Methods Used The basic purpose of e-Sahayata was the convergence of a number of services at one location and elimination of the role of touts/middlemen. This has ensured a transparent and corruption free interaction between the citizens and the administration. Since the services can also be accessed at the district website http://kendujhar.nic.in, the system has indeed helped in saving the time, money and effort of the masses. The success of e-Sahayata project in Keonjhar encouraged other districts in Orissa to adopt the e-Sahayata service delivery mechanism system.
e-Sahayata services at Keonjhar District Website
Available Services The kind of services that can be availed through e-Sahayata include Driving Licence(M/C), Vehicle Registration, Nationality Certificate, Explosive Licence (New and Renewal) Society Registration , Gun Licence (New and Renewal), Encumbrance Certificate, Driving Licence (LMV), Building Plan Approval etc.
During the conceptualization of e-Sahayata, a list of services which can be converged through a single window delivery system was identified. A rationally arrived time frame was also fixed in consultation with the departments for quick delivery of those services. The details are as below : Sl. No. Name of the Service Disposal Time (in days)
- Driving Licence(M/C) 3
- Registration of Two Wheelers 3
- Nationality Certificate 30
- Explosive Licence (New) 30
5 Explosive Licence (Renewal) 30
- Society Registration 15
- Gun Licence (New) 30
- Gun Licence (Renewal) 30
- Encumbrance Certificate (EC) 3
- Small Savings Agent Licence 15
- Driving Licence(LMV) 3
- Certified Copy(Record Room) 30
- Driving Licence (LMV & MC) 3
- Building Plan Approval 15
Project Implementation A working group under the chairmanship of Sri S.K.Lohani, Collector & District Magistrate, Keonjhar with members drawn from different Government Departments including DIO, NIC conceptualized the e-Sahayata project. As a first part of the project, all the computers installed in different sections/ departments of Collectorate were connected through Local Area Network. Sri S. K. Mohapatra, Technical Director, National Informatics Centre, Orissa State Unit and Sri A K Pattanayak, the local District Informatics Officer along with the officers of District Administration conducted the system study for this project. With a collective effort all, list of services, which could be converged through a single window delivery system, was formed. This included services like availing Driving licence, Nationality certificate, Registration of Two Wheelers, etc.
Positive Outcomes Till date around 20000 people have been benefited from the e-Sahayata services All they had to do was to file an application along with requisite application fee at the counter and received the service within the prescribed time frame. The e-Sahayata touch screen window has been visited more than 18000 times in the last two years. This speaks for the utility and relevance of the project for the common citizen of Keonjhar.
Status of applications received as on 31.08.2007 e-Sahayata has brought about a total change in the mindset of Government servants who are now more sensitized to the needs of the common man and have become more responsive and prompt. This is also changed the perception of the people about the Government departments who were earlier seen as unfriendly, unapproachable and insensitive.