CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has inaugurated 150 e-Service Centres in 22 districts, set up at a cost of Rs.4.08 crore through the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited and Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited.
Of the 151 centres, inaugurated on July 15 through videoconferencing, 51 are in Chennai, including the one at the Secretariat. The rest are located in the districts. The e-Service Centre at Punjaithottakurichi town panchayat office in Karur district, set up at a cost of Rs.3.48 lakh, is among them.
The general public could apply for income certificate, community certificate, social security schemes of the State government including five marriage assistance schemes, birth and death certificates, etc., through these centres.
This obviates the need for the public to approach the government offices in person.
The State government is also taking steps to increase the number of services being provided through these centres.
In the 2014-15 budget, it was announced that the Chief Minister would launch e-Service Centres in Chennai Corporation limits to facilitate payment of wealth tax, electricity bill, drinking water and drainage charges and several other taxes.
In the first phase of its introduction, on February 24, 2014, she launched the scheme on a pilot basis in Chennai. As many as 14 e-Service Centres, Tamil Nadu government portal for e-Service, e-district scheme for Chennai and other districts were inaugurated by her.
So far, as many as 52 lakh people have availed the services of these centres.