News

First private e-gov't kiosk goes live in India

December 1, 2003

BANGALORE, India -- The state IT department this week said 42 services, including issue of caste, birth, income and agricultural-income certificates would be entrusted to private entrepreneurs as a part of its decentralization of the Bhoomi Project comprising computer kiosks for e-government.

According to an article in Deccan Herald, the first private kiosk opened on Monday in Kengeri, on the outskirts of Bangalore. As many as 400 entrepreneurs have expressed interest in starting such kiosks through out the state, Rajeev Chawla, e-governance secretary, said in the article.

He said 1,000 kiosks will appear across the state within the next six months. Chawla said the 42 services identified by the government will be launched within the next two to three months. These services will be provided on demand.

The kiosk owner is free to provide other services like Internet access and video conferencing, according to the article.

Each kiosk will cover a "circle" of five to six villages. The kiosk owner will have to set up his or her own infrastructure. Basic requirements include a computer, printer and an Internet connection. Each owner will pay a security deposit to the revenue department.