Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Thursday that Kerala has achieved the distinction of becoming India’s first fully e-governed state. The southern state has successfully digitized an extensive range of government services, ensuring prompt and transparent delivery to its citizens.
Speaking at the ‘Total e-Governance Kerala’ event, Chief Minister Vijayan highlighted that this significant milestone would not only establish a strong network between government offices and citizens but also leverage technology to drive Kerala’s development and bridge the digital divide. He also said that total e-literacy would fast track the journey towards a knowledge society and economy.
“By the term governance what the present government means is total commitment to fulfil the promises it has made to the people. The government and governance are reaching out to the people more and more,” the Chief Minister said.
“The service delivery has been made people-oriented and corruption-free and public utilities have become people-friendly. These transformative changes have been felt by people in the last seven years,” the Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Under this comprehensive e-governance initiative, the Kerala government aims to bring services directly to the masses, eliminating the need for citizens to visit government offices in person. “This can be ensured by leveraging new technology, and that is exactly what the government is focusing on,” Vijayan said.
A noteworthy step in this direction is the implementation of the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON) project, which has made internet access a citizen’s right. This pioneering initiative will make the internet affordable or even free for the residents of Kerala. Furthermore, the government has launched a single-window portal called e-Sevanam, offering an extensive array of 900 services which would soon be extended to taluk-level offices.
“In panchayats, delivery of as many as 250 services has been made online,” the Chief Minister said.
To bridge the digital divide and propel e-governance, Kerala has established the country’s first digital university and embarked on the ambitious digital science park project, worth ₹1,500 crore. These strategic initiatives are aimed at fostering a knowledge-based society and economy, promoting e-literacy, and ensuring that the benefits of e-governance reach all sections of society.
Chief Minister Vijayan emphasized that the government’s commitment to e-governance extends beyond this milestone, with a continued focus on expanding service accessibility to the masses. By leveraging technology, the government aims to ensure that services are readily available, eliminating the need for citizens to navigate bureaucratic hurdles.
Coinciding with the second anniversary of the LDF government, the declaration of Kerala as a fully e-governed state served as an opportunity to unveil a series of pro-people projects, including the 100-day program, rather than a mere celebration of achievements.
State Chief Secretary V P Joy, in his welcome address, expressed that Kerala’s achievement as the first fully e-governed state in India would lead to seamless service delivery and eliminate delays from government departments and offices. He further highlighted that the positive changes resulting from e-governance implementation would be a decisive factor in the social progress of the state.
A government statement said that the delivery of all vital services has already been digitised, covering all key domains including health, education, land revenue, documentation of properties, public distribution system and social security payouts.
To showcase these achievements, an exhibition featuring the digitization of service delivery by various government departments is currently open to the public at Kanakakunnu. The exhibition, which is free for all, will conclude on May 27.
(With agency inputs)
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