Telangana govt to introduce e-panchayat service very soon

The State government is all set to introduce e-panchayat service in 8,684 village panchayats in 31 districts and the entire process would be completed in a short period of time. The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR&RD) Ministry had recently sent a high-level delegation to study the e-panchayat system implemented in Madhya Pradesh, PR and RD Minister Jupally Krishna Rao told.

The team comprising Panchayat Raj Commissioner Neetu Prasad, Assistant Commissioner Rama Rao and District Panchayat Officers Suresh (Medchal) and Padmaja (Rangareddy) visited Bhopal to study the implementation of e-panchayat system which will be christened as Palle Samagra Seva Kendram (PSSK) in the State. The idea is to ensure easy access of government-to-citizen services to villagers.

The PR and RD Department had already provided computers and other accessories to 5,785 villages to facilitate the setting up of the e-panchayat system. “It will ensure transparency in governance and will also help in curbing



corruption,” the Minister said, adding that the system would also provide employment to about 10,000 rural women.

Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), who are already members of the Self Help Groups (SHGs), would be selected based on their educational qualification for the e-panchayat operator job at gram panchayats. 

“There will be a close coordination with the Rural Development Department and Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) to ensure smooth functioning of the centres,” Krishna Rao said.

The system will provide both financial and citizen services to villagers at their doorstep. The initiative is expected to not only ensure hassle-free services to villagers but also saves cost and time. Main services that will be provided under the e-panchayats include financial services from banks and Stree Nidhi, including payment of pension, NREGS wages, MeeSeva citizen services, access to other government services and grievance redressal mechanism.