Common Services Centers (CSC) Scheme

The CSC Scheme as approved by Government of India in September 2006 for setting up of 100,000+ (one lakh) internet enabled centers in rural areas under the National eGovernance plan (NeGP) is being implemented in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The Common Services Centers (CSC) are proposed to be the delivery points for Government, Private and Social Sector services to rural citizens of India at their doorstep . The CSC Scheme is envisaged to be a bottom-up model for delivery of content, services, information and knowledge, that can allow like-minded public and private enterprises - through a collaborative framework - to integrate their goals of profit as well as social objectives, into a sustainable business model for achieving rapid socio-economic change in rural India.

As on 31st December 2012, a total of 99,247 CSCs are operational in thirty three States/UTs. 100% CSCs have been rolled out in 10 (Ten) States (Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim & Tripura). More than 70% of the rollout has been completed in 12 (Twelve) States (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and West Bengal). In about 4 (Four) States (Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Orissa) implementation of CSCs have crossed half way mark (more than 50%). As of March 2011, the target of completing roll out of 100,000 CSCs was June 2011. However, the target is not met as many of the CSCs have become non operational due to termination of SCA contracts, naxal activity and non-availability of connectivity. In the month of November 2012, 49,882 CSCs across 23 States and 21 SCAs have reported to have completed 106 lakh transactions worth about Rs. 579 Crores. As of November 2012, approximately 10,000 CSCs are providing financial services including banking, micro-finance and insurance services to over 1.8 lakh citizens.

The State Governments like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have issued Government Orders / Notifications to the various departmental heads / District Level authorities/ Stakeholders for use of CSC to deliver

various G2C Services. The various G2C Services offered are: Agricultural services, RTI Services, NREGA MIS Data Entry service, Postal Products, Land Records, Issuance of Birth and Death Certificates, Utility Services, Electoral Services, Transport Services, Grievances, e-District Services, etc. Financial Inclusion has started in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh.

Connectivity: As on 31st December 2012, States have reported that 85,928 CSCs are connected out of which 27,697 CSCs are connected through BSNL, 23,505 CSCs are connected via VSATs, 17,541 CSCs are using Data Cards and 17,185 are using Connectivity through other technology like WLL and GPRS.

Online Monitoring Tool Status: As on 31st December 2012, Online Monitoring Tool (OMT) has been installed/ registered in 73,122 CSCs covering twenty seven States and user ID has been created/ commissioned for 114,358 CSCs.