PNS
Ranchi
Minister for Rural Development, Rural Works, and Panchayati Raj, Deepika Pandey Singh said that digital services have now reached every village, making government facilities accessible to villagers right near their homes.
Pandey made these remarks while inaugurating the 17th Foundation Day celebration of the Common Service Centre (CSC) at the Central Training Institute (CTI) in Ranchi, where she attended as the chief guest. On this occasion, Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) who had performed exceptionally well were honoured. Additionally, a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between CSC eStore and the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS).
Addressing the gathering, the Minister noted that ‘Digital India’ was a key component of the vision for a 21st-century India envisioned by the late Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Carrying forward this visionary thinking, initiatives like the Common Service Centre were launched during the UPA government’s tenure, and the positive results of Digital India are now visible across the country.
Pandey further highlighted that government facilities are now available to villagers close to their homes. She recalled that previously, villagers had to make multiple trips to block and district headquarters for essential services such as PAN cards, Aadhaar, banking services, and caste, income, and residential certificates; however, these services are now available at the Panchayat level itself through CSCs and VLEs. This saves time, money, and effort, making life easier for villagers.
The Minister stated that the agreement between CSC eStore and JSLPS would prove to be a milestone in the journey toward the economic empowerment of rural women. She mentioned that the state government is giving a new identity to products made by women from Self-Help Groups through brands like ‘Palash’ and ‘Adiva’. Now, these products will also be sold via the CSC’s e-commerce network, providing a wider market for the goods produced by rural women.
Addressing the VLEs, Deepika said that the state government has placed its trust in them by providing space within Panchayat buildings. He stated that the operation of CSCs within Panchayat buildings has enhanced both the credibility and the sense of responsibility of VLEs.
Congratulating the entire UIDAI and CSC team, the Minister noted that significant progress has been made in extending Aadhaar services to the Panchayat level. He added that the initiative to launch Aadhaar services in Panchayats—in accordance with the MoU signed with UIDAI on April 24 in the presence of Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren—is proceeding rapidly.
