Common Service Center Scheme

The Common Service Center Schemes (CSC) is one of the mission mode projects under the Digital India Programme initiated by CSC e-governance Services India Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act 1956, promoted by MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) having its registered Office at Electronics Niketan, 4” floor, DLE. Program Management Unit, 6, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003.

The Common Services Centers (CSCs) are internet enabled access points for delivery of various Digital Services (e-services) to the citizens. The CSC enable citizens to avail the government and other services closer to their locality in a transparent and timely matter.

Based on the assessment of the CSC Scheme, the government of India has launched CSC 2.0 Project in August, 2015, under pillar-3 of Digital India Programme, to expand the outreach of the CSCs to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country.

  • It is the most efficient system in which government benefits are made available to the general public through technology, in a very transparent and short term manner.
  • It is an online technology which provides service to the public in a fast paced manner without transferring the documents in physical manner.
  • The concept of one village one CSC can be implemented in all the villages to provide suitable facilities to the eligible.

However, due to lack of awareness of these systems and lack of effective implementation, the services are not being used by the public as expected.

Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) established by Dr. D. Veerendra Heggadeji is now an integral part of the life of the rural people in the state of Karnataka. Considering grassroots network and service of SKDRDP in the state, CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd came forward to extend its CSC services through SKDRDP in the State of Karnataka.

               Agreement with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited

CSC e-governance Services India Limited agreed to consider SKDRDP as their partner for channelizing CSC services through its network across the state of Karnataka. Accordingly, in the year 2021 CSC entered into an agreement with SKDRDP to provide CSC services through its existing Customer Service Points across the State of Karnataka.

Implementation of the CSC programme by SKDRDP BC Trust

Common Service Center project is implemented step by step as follows-

Phase I - Established CSC Centers in each Project offices at Taluk level. SKDRDP field workers have convinced the beneficiaries to visit Taluk Project Offices to obtain the CSC services. During this phase 200 CSC Service Points have been established at Thaluk Offices of SKDRDP

Phase II -During the Phase 2, 6,000 CSC Service Points were established. 6,000 new laptops, printers, biometric devices, internet connectivity, office setup etc. were established properly to provide CSC services to public. New 6,000 centers are actively providing CSC services to public across the state of Karnataka. Around Rs. 60 Crores has been invested by the SKDRDP BC Trust for establishing 6000 Centers.

Phase III- 3,331 additional new Common Service Center is established in the state during phase 3 with additional Rs. 40 crores. Accordingly, around 9,547  CSC points operating across the state to provide various services to the people.

SKDRDP BC Trust CSC Programme Organizational Structure

  1. A CSC operator for each 9547 CSC Centers:

A CSC Operator has been appointed for each 9547 CSC centers established across the state. CSC operator is responsible to provide the CSC services to the rural people who visit the center seeking their needy CSC services. Sevaprathinidhi’s and field Supervisors canvas about the CSC services and guide the people to visit the nearest CSC Centers. These CSC Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) are well trained by the CSC  District Manager and District Level Nodal Officer in every District.

  1. A Taluk Nodal Officer for each Project Office:

A Taluk Nodal Officer is appointed for the purpose to take care the needs and hindrance a CSC operator is facing to provide the services to public. On an average of 35- 45 CSC Centers are under the supervision of Taluk Nodal Officer. He/ She personally visit the CSC centers to know the performance and problems faced by the CSC Operator at their Center.

  1. A District Nodal Officer for each District Office:

A district Nodal Officer monitor and guide on an average of 6-8 Taluk Nodal Officers and the centers under them. District Nodal Officer plays major role in implementing the CSC programme smoothly in the field. The guidance from Head office and Regional Office with regards to operations, accounting, financials etc. is monitored by District Nodal Officer.

  1. A Director for 3 Regions and Project Officer for each Regional Office:

A Director for 3 Region and Project officer guides and monitors the District Nodals and Taluk Nodals who falls under his Regional Office area of SKDRDP BC Trust. Performance of the Centers and Nodal officers will be evaluated by the Project Officers. Sample or Random visit of CSC Centers are performed by the Project Officer at Regional Office. Any issues with regards to brought to the notice of Project officer at Regional Office.

  1. Head Office- CSC Department:

An exclusive department has been setup to look after the operations, Accounting, Financials of the project at Head Office. This department is headed by Regional Director. It consists of a director, project officer and managers. This team is responsible for implementing the project across the state of Karnataka. This team will be in contact with CSC State team as well as Central team for the smooth run of the project.

Poojya D. Veerendra Heggade has sanctioned Rs.100 crore as capital investment for this great project. Result of which 9,547 CSC centers at village level and 205 CSC Centers at Thaluk level has already been established. 9,531 New laptops, Printers, finger print scanners, Internet connectivity, Center premises and 205 PVC card printers has been provided to the Centers in order to provide all the services to the public at rate prescribed by the Government. 9547 CSC operators are appointed and training has been provided to them by CSC District Managers present in DC office of every District.

SKDRDP BC Trust has enquired for the end to end security of the laptops and blocked all other sites in these laptops by installing the security system. IT team developed exclusive software for Accounting, Financials and MIS system to monitor the operations. Grievance redressal team is working at Head Office, receives complaints from beneficiaries and act on them to provide solutions immediately.

Key Points

  1. This is First time in the history of CSC to engage a private institution for its services by signing the agreement.
  2. SKDRDP BC Trust has become corporate partner to CSC and corporate ID/ Master wallet is created with CSC. SKDRDP BC Trust CSC operator IDs/ sub wallet is linked to this master ID.
  3. SKDRDP BC Trust is acting as link to the service provider department and the applicant. Decision of approval or rejection of the application is entirely with the respective service providing department.
  4. DigiPay lite can be utilized by SKDRDP BC Trust CSC operators to convert the hard cash in the hands of SKDRDP BC Trust SHG members into digital money. This would help us for Digital Programme.
  1. As this is an online system this will help us to apply for the services error free and transparently.

Other benefits of providing CSC services through SKDRDP

Poojya Dr. D Veerendra Heggadeji has attached high importance for various social welfare schemes of both Central and State Governments. Heggadeji has been facilitating public to avail such welfare schemes through SKDRDP since last 4 decades. Now official engagement with CSC provided wide opportunity to SKDRDP BC Trust to facilitate governments various social welfare schemes to right beneficiaries through highly transparent system.

  1. Online banking services can be delivered to the general public through DigiPay lite platform. Members can transfer their weekly savings and loan instalment amounts from their personal account to the groups account through the Bank  Application at the weekly meeting.
  2. Many government services like Aadhar card, Ayushman card,  E-shram, Pan card etc. can be delivered directly to members and their families.
  3. Various benefits can be provided to the members of Vastalya Groups (Aadhar card, old age pension etc.).
  4. Various equipment can be provided to especially abled people by government which can be made available to needy by applying through CSC.
  5. Free effective online training can be given on women’s health, legal and empowerment, economic empowerment etc. using CSC platform.
  6. We can renew or opt for new Micro Insurance policies by our-self using CSC platforms.
  7. There is a separate health care system called “Tele Medicine”, our members and employees can make use of the services.

DigiPay Lite

CSC Common Service Centers has collaborated with the National Payment Corporation of India to launch Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AePS) at locations where CSC has been acting as Business Correspondent. This payment system is called as DigiPay lite.

A citizen/customer with bank account can deposit/withdraw amount using Aadhar authentication service of UIDAI. This system facilities disbursement of government entitlements like NREGA, Social security pensions, Handicapped, old age pension etc. of any central or State Government institution/entity.

This system is based on demographic and biometric/iris information of an individual, which reduces the threat of any fraud or non-genuine activity.

  • Micro ATM (mATM)
  • Balance Enquiry
  • Mini Statement

List of some of the important services available under Common Service Center Scheme

E-SHRAM:

E-Shram is a portal created by the Ministry of Labor and Employment for the welfare of workers in the unorganized sector who are not members of the EPFO or ESIC. Registered members will be eligible for a variety of benefits of the government.

Ayushman Bharat:

Citizens who are financially weak and have difficulties in affording medical services are being given the opportunity to register themselves with health insurance through registering for the Ayushman Card.

Aadhar services:

Aadhar mobile update and addition services on apna CS portal. CSCs are providing Mobile update and addition facility under Aadhar service on Apna CSC portal.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana:

For landholding small and marginal farmers, the Government of India has implemented a voluntary and contributory pension scheme The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana, to ensure social security of farmers so they can lead a healthy and happy life during their old age. For a monthly contribution ranging from 55 to 200 rupees, all eligible small and marginal farmers can receive a monthly stipend of Rs 3,000/- under this scheme.

PAN Card service:

PAN (Permanent Account Number) is an identification number assigned to all taxpayers in India. In July 2011, CSC e-Government Services India Limited (CSC SPV) and UTI Infrastructure Technology & Services Limited ( UTIITSL ) signed an agreement enabling CSC to provide PAN-related services, including the acceptance and submission of applications to UTIITSL, to issue PAN cards.

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana:

PM Kisan Yojana is a government scheme through which, all small and marginal farmers will get up to Rs. 6,000 per year as minimum income support. This 75,000-crore scheme aims to cover 125 million farmers, irrespective of the size of their landholding in India.

Tele-Medicine :

CSC offers medical consultation through video conferencing under which patient is enrolled by VLEs. VLE can either book an appointment or schedule an instant call with a doctor of different specialities like Allopathy, Homeopathy and Ayurveda. Post consultation a prescription is given to the patient through the VLE.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

  • Providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/ damage arising out of unforeseen events
  • Stabilizing the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
  • Encouraging farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.

DigiPay lite

CSC Common Service Centers has collaborated with The National Payment Corporation of India to launch Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AePS) at locations where CSC has been acting as Business Correspondent. This payment system is called as DigiPay lite.

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)

Benefits about six crore households, making them digitally literate. With PMGDISHA, most rural households would benefit and enhance their livelihood.

Income Tax/TDS filing

The concept of TDS was introduced with an aim to collect tax from the very source of income. As per this concept, a person (deductor) who is liable to make payment of specified nature to any other person (deductee) shall deduct tax at source and remit the same into the account of the Central Government. The deductee can visit the CSC Service Center and file income tax/TDS.

Pm Vishwakarma Yojana:

PM Vishwakarma, a Central Sector Scheme, was launched on 17th September, 2023 by the Prime Minister    to provide end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople who work with their hands and tools. The artisans can avail of an initial loan of Rs. 1 lakh and after successful payments of the amount in 18 months, the beneficiary will be eligible for an additional loan of Rs.2 lakh. The interest rate will remain the same at 5 percent.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra Crop Healthcare Services

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is an agricultural extension Center created by Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its affiliated institutions at the district level to provide various types of farm support to the agricultural sector.

National Pension System:

All Citizen Model- National Pension System (NPS) is a voluntary retirement savings scheme laid out to allow the subscribers to make defined contribution towards planned savings thereby securing the future in the form of Pension. It is an attempt towards a sustainable solution to the problem of providing adequate retirement income to every citizen.

CSC Health Services:

Serve thousands of people from their years to retirement. The mission is to help rural masses live healthier lives and make the health system work better and the vision is to play our best part in creating a more sustainable health care system: one that works for the betterment for everyone.

Tele-Law Services:

It means the use of communications and information technology the delivery of legal information and advice. This e-interaction between lawyers and people would be through the video- conferencing infrastructure available at the CSCs.

Kissan Credit Card:

Under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, p a flexible limit of Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 has been provided to marginal farmers [13] (as Flexi KCC) based on the land holding and crops grown including post-harvest warehouse storage related credit needs and other farm expenses, consumption needs, etc., plus small term loan investments without relating it to the value of land.

Other Services

  • Swachh Bharat Mission.
  • Passport Services.
  • Cultural Survey.
  • RTO services.
  • SIDBI's Udyami Mitra.
  • Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd.(IRCTC).
  • CIBIL Score
  • Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS).
  • Vehicle Insurance.