Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday announced that the entire range of government services in the southern state has been digitised, making it India's first fully e-governed state. This move ensures transparency and enables prompt delivery of services to citizens.
After announcing that the state has become entirely e-governed, the Chief Minister stated that this move would not only establish a connection between government institutions and citizens, but also channel technology towards advancing Kerala and equipping its residents by overcoming any digital gaps.
According to him, the event 'Total e-Governance Kerala' could speed up the transition to a knowledge-based society and economy with complete electronic literacy.
What Does "E-Governed State" Means?
"By the term governance what the present government means is total commitment to fulfil the promises it has made to the people. The government and governance are reaching out to the people more and more," he was quoted by PTI in its report.
"The service delivery has been made people-oriented and corruption-free and public utilities have become people-friendly. These transformative changes have been felt by people in the last seven years," the Chief Minister said.
The government is committed to proactive efforts in facilitating access to services for the masses, rather than waiting for people to seek assistance from departments. "This can be ensured by leveraging new technology, and that is exactly what the government is focusing on,” Vijayan said.
Steps Taken To Facilitate E-Governance
An example of a forward-thinking move in this regard was the implementation of the KFON initiative, which grants citizens the right to internet access. As a result of this program, internet access will become less expensive or even free.
He provided a comprehensive rundown of various government efforts, such as the e-Sevanam portal, a one-stop shop for accessing up to 900 services. These initiatives are aimed at facilitating e-governance and are expected to be expanded to local offices at the taluk level in the near future.
"In panchayats, delivery of as many as 250 services has been made online," the Chief Minister said.
The government has introduced several initiatives to ensure comprehensive e-governance and minimize the digital gap, such as establishing the initial digital academy in the state and kicking off the digital science park program valued at 1,500 crores.
Vijayan took note of the fact that the complete e-governance declaration aligned with the LDF government's second anniversary. He emphasized that his administration utilized this occasion to introduce various projects aimed at benefiting the people, such as the 100-day program, rather than merely celebrating the event.
Benefits Of E-Governance
The Chief Secretary of the State, V P Joy, declared during his introduction that Kerala has achieved the status of being the first fully e-governed state in India. Consequently, there will be no hindrance in the prompt delivery of government services to the populace through various departments and offices.
He expressed that the widespread effects of e-governance implementation would be apparent in all facets of society, serving as a significant contributor to social advancement.
According to a statement from the government, essential services across various domains such as healthcare, education, land revenue, property documentation, public distribution systems, and social security disbursements have already been digitalized.
A public exhibition showcasing the digitalization of government services conducted by multiple departments is currently taking place at Kanakakunnu. The exhibition is accessible to the public for free and will draw to a close on May 27th.