Telangana to take e-governance to villages

Hyderabad, March 3 (IANS) The Telangana government is all set to launch an e-panchayat initiative, aimed at taking e-governance to the village level.

The Panchayat Raj department will launch the initiative from Domakonda mandal (block) in Nizamabad district.

Minister for Panchayat Raj and Information Technology K.T. Rama Rao said that under the e-panchayat in Domakonda, 18 gram panchayats will be connected with internet enabling them to offer a wide range of services to the rural people.

He said the e-panchayat centres would act as "one-stop shop" offering a wide range of citizen services including tax payments, pension and payments under MNREGA, the rural livelihood scheme.

"Establishment of this e-panchayat will serve rural students and farmers in many ways like getting updates regarding crop prices, results and job notifications," Rama Rao said.

He said the e-panchayat initiative will be extended to 150 mandals as a part of a World Bank-assisted programme called "Telangana Palle Pragathi", and the remaining mandals will be covered in a phased manner.

The department is holding discussions with service providers and software developers for necessary infrastructure and connectivity for e-panchayats.

The government in principle has decided to use VSAT technology and fiber optic cable network for connecting e-panchayat centres.

The e-panchayat centres in the state will be managed only by educated women in villages. The department will select women to be trained for the purpose.