Common Service Centre is an IT-enabled Public services project that is accessible to the common man in his / her village through secure, open, reliable and affordable ways. CSC scheme inclusive of the CSC operator known as the (Village Level Entrepreneur or VLE); the Service Center Agency (SCA) responsible for the division of CSCs; and the State Designated Agency (SDA) designated by the State Government responsible for managing implementation throughout the State. The purpose of the CSC project in Chennai, by using ICT, is to include full government services to provide high-quality and cost-effective e-government services.
The CSCs in Chennai are emphasized in providing rurally-based e-government services, including application forms, certificates and payments to facilities such as power, telecommunications and water bills. The CSC in Chennai is the one point platform for numerous Government to Citizen(G2C) and Business to Consumer(B2C) services. Through this facility citizens of Chennai can get all the services and also track their application status at their doorstep. Apart from this CSC programme also offers a career option for the eligible citizen to work in lucrative business such as TACTV, PACCS, VPRCs and IFAD.
Rural peoples of Chennai get all the government services at their doorstep which is offered by E-Governance Services India Limited through Digital Seva Portal. To manage CSC throughout the geographical area of Chennai a VLE is a Village Level Entrepreneur individual who provides various government and non-governmental services from the CSC Center to the rural citizens of Chennai. It is VLE's duty to ensure a safe and comfortable place, to provide e-Seva portal services and to make kiosk banking accessible during the day. Digital Portal Seva CSC connects local citizens with different departments of government, banks, insurance companies and various services provided by private service sectors using the CSC Centre.
Some of the below highlighted are the main goals of CSCs. Scroll down and know all the functions that are provided by Chennai
The infrastructure details required to register a CSC in Chennai are given below.
2 Desktop or laptop with high-speed internet access or WIFI The desktop or laptop must fulfil the specified requirements:
CSC implementation Framework in Chennai
Village Level Entrepreneur- VLE serves first-tier local residents. VLE represents rural customers at a baseline level in a community of 5-6 villages.
Service Center Agency (SCA)- It is the second-level / middle-level agency that indirectly supports customers by monitoring and operating VLEs in one district or more. One district usually covers 100–200 VLEs.
State Designated Agency- At the third level, SDA serves state level customers by delivering the necessary, legislation, resources and assistance to the SCAs.
Based on the CSC framework study, the Government initiated the CSC 2.0 program in 2015 to expand the CSC's outreach to all Gram Panchayats throughout the country. Under the CSC 2.0 scheme, at least one CSC for each of the 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country has been established. For an additional 1.5 lakh CSCs, CSCs that operate under the new framework can now be strengthened and extended throughout the country. The CSC 2.0 system would improve the delivery of service through a single infrastructure network, allowing e-services accessible in different G2C services to citizens anywhere in the country.
Under the Companies Act, 1956, the Ministry of Electronics & IT established CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, a special purpose agency, to supervise the implementation of the CSC system. In addition to ensuring the Program's institutional consistency and sustainability, CSC SPV offers a centralized coordinating framework for providing services to citizens in Chennai through CSCs.
Building CSCs as a comprehensive and pervasive IT-enabled network of Citizen Service Points linking local residents with government offices, corporations, banks, insurance agencies, and educational institutions, affecting the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of Chennai's economy. CSC e-Governance Service India Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India to supervise the activities Common Service Centers (CSC) under the Companies Act of 1956. It implements a coherent coordinated framework for the delivery of services to local citizens of Chennai by CSCs, thereby preserving the functional consistency and viability of the CSC network. Common Service Center represents a key component of the Digital India Programme. CSC are the entry points for the delivery of various digital services in the rural regions of Chennai, which grow into a technologically and financially viable community.
VLE is a platform that offers different end-customer services relevant to government and non-government across its channels. VLE is responsible for providing the user with a streamlined service accessible via the Digital Seva Platform. There is no registration charge applicable in VLE but the registration of VLE (Village Level Entrepreneur) in the CSC web database is now restricted.
Since the sum of accepted VLEs has reached their saturation point in each of the Gram Panchayat or villages, there is no space for any new CSC IDs, but if the CSC wants a further submission, they will let you know on their portal. One should register for CSC earlier, but it's not that easy now. Next, you have to be a member of the Self Help Group (SHG). When you're not a part of the SHG, you can't apply with the CSC. However, the new CSC registration is now locked, however, you can register for SHG.
CSC 2.0, established in August 2015, aims to build a self-sustaining network of 2.5 lakh CSC centers at Gram Panchayat (GP) level through Digital India-Pillar 3-Public Internet Access Program – National Rural Internet Project and to include a range of citizen-centric facilities.
The CSC 2.0 model is projected as a transaction-based and service delivery platform, providing a large spectrum of e-services through a single infrastructure distribution system that will enhance the reliability of CSCs in Chennai.
The current CSC 2.0 implementation strategy at GP level emphasizes on a service delivery / transaction-oriented, self-sustainable system with the aim of making optimum use of the infrastructure created in the form of BharatNet / NOFN and other communication infrastructures active in Chennai. Presently, the CSC is a robust entrepreneurship platform with no effective shortfall in the Government of India's hardware and infrastructure support to Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs). Regular activities of CSCs and awareness updates on innovative programs and instant assistance are given to VLEs via the training of the Entrepreneurship Development Programme across the city.
To maintain standardization throughout all States/UTs, the national brand 'Digital Seva Kendras' has been introduced combined with the co-branding of States/UTs. With a unique CSC and GIS mapping number for each area, this will include a transparent and accountable eServices monitoring mechanism delivered via the CSCs and allow the government to fill the gap in the establishment of a self-sustaining CSC network throughout the city. At present, efforts are being made at State / UT level to integrate various service portals with the CSC Universal online portal-"Digital Seva Portal "- for the delivery of all (G2C & B2C) services through CSCs.
Women's role in the CSC ecosystem-The Government is promoting women entrepreneurs to set up common services centers. It makes a lot of women come out and set up the Community Services Centers (CSCs). In fact, the Government is now encouraging female members of self-help groups to be VLEs in Chennai.
CSC — SPV is the implementation agency for the CSC 2.0 plan to develop the DeitY and State / UT Administration with enough program management tools to ensure the project is active.
Even after the implementation of the CSC stability project across the city, the CSC SPV is an organization in continuance. The key objectives to be achieved by CSC-SPV are listed below:
G2C Services in Chennai
Central Government Services: Soil Health Card, Agriculture Service, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, PAN card Application, Passport Applications, Income Tax Return, Employment Service.
State Government Services: Income, Caste, Domicile certificate, e-District/State Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG) services, Land Record, Ration Card, Date of Birth and Death Certificate.
UIDAI Aadhaar Service: Aadhaar Print Out, KYC Authentication, Mobile Updates, Demographic Updates, Enrolments, e-KYC Services, Enrolments.
Election Commission Services: New Voter Registration, deletion of voter's details, Changes in Voter's details, Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) Printing, transposition services etc.
B2C Services in Chennai
Tour & Travels, Sale and Purchase of farming products and seeds, e-Commerce Services, e-Recharge. IRCTC Services etc.
Financial Services in Chennai
Banking Services: Creating Business Correspondent Agents of all the banks at CSC, Opening of New Bank Account, Cash deposit and withdrawal services, Remittance Services etc.
Insurance Services: Opening of new LIC Policy, Renewal of LIC Policies, General Insurance etc.
Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) Services: Cash Withdrawal Service only
Pension: Allowing the PFRDA services only
Educational Services:
Financial and Legal Literacy, Coaching services of IIT and Civil Services, CCC & Basic Computer Course -BCC), Computer Concepts Courses, National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NEILIT) Courses, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Courses, CyberGram project, Digital Saksharata Abhiyan (DISHA) / Pradhan Mantri Gramin (PMG) DISHA, National Digital Literacy Mission, (NDML).
Banking and Insurance
CSC SPV plays a key role in providing services related to financial inclusion (FI). CSC VLEs are Banking Correspondents (BC) and act as Customer Service Points offers a range of banking and finance services. Central Bank of India works with CSC SPV with the aim of providing numerous banking facilities including bank account opening, money transfer, net banking, bill payment, cash withdrawal, and so on. And also offer Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana(PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana(PMJJBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
HDFC ERGO, one of the top general insurance companies in the country, offers numerous insurance plans which are offered via CSCs. The company drew up a chart of their VLE insurance policy and strategies and explained each of the advantages. Most VLEs are Rural Authorized Persons (RAPs), i.e.
they are eligible for IRDA exams which are necessary for VLEs who wish to provide insurance cover by CSCs.
Skill Development-
Under skill development services, electronics course materials, auto mechanics, mobile customer support, healthcare specialists, etc are provided.
Utility: The service is offered for utility bill payments and implementation of new electricity connection.
Healthcare- JAN Aushadhi, facilities for diagnosis, telehealth, and telemedicine are provided under this facility.