Panaji: The Goa Information Technology Development Corporation (GITDC) intends to set up new citizen service centres (CSC) in Dharbandora, Sanquelim, Panaji and Bicholim. The corporation will spend close to 90 lakh to setup the facilities, which will enable citizens to get access to different govt services from one location. Goa currently has seven CSCs across the state, according to the Goa Electronics Limited (GEL). CSC is a single-window facilty that provides govt services to the citizen in a time-bound manner. These facilities cater to all online and offline citizen services provided by various departments for a fee. The major benefits of CSCs are that it provides a single window counter to avail the services and citizen need not visit multiple govt offices.Interestingly, while govt has been pushing for CSCs as a means to make it simple for citizens to access govt services, the CSC operators and village-linked entrepreneurs (VLEs) who serve as gramin mitras, are struggling with delays and flawed integration with Goa’s digital services. A delegation of CSC and VLE representatives met chief minister Pramod Sawant at Ravindra Bhavan, Sanquelim on Sunday to draw his attention to concerns such as delayed incentives, loan scheme implementation, pending bills, and integration into Goa’s digital services. Sawant assured them that he would resolve their concerns. The CSCs also provide status updates of the application via SMS to the applicant.The GITDC wants the new CSCs to be ready within four months once the contractor is appointed. The contractor for the project will have to provide a defect liability period for three years after the date of completionAccording to the GEL, govt currently has CSCs at Mapusa bus stand, Pernem, Honda KTC bus stand, at Margao’s Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex, Canacona KTC bus stand, Quepem govt office complex, Sanguem govt office building and Ponda KTC bus stand.
