Common Services CentersThe CSC is a strategic cornerstone of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), approved by the Government in May 2006, as part of its commitment in the National Common Minimum Programme to introduce e-governance on a massive scale.The CSCs would provide high quality and cost-effective video, voice and data content and services, in the areas of e-governance, education, health, telemedicine, entertainment as well as other private services. A highlight of the CSCs is that it will offer web-enabled e-governance services in rural areas, including application forms, certificates, and utility payments such as electricity, telephone and water bills.In addition to the universe of G2C services, the CSC Guidelines envisage a wide variety of content and services that could be offered as listed below:Agriculture Services (Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Veterinary)Education & Training Services (School, College, Vocational Education, Employment, etc.)Health Services (Telemedicine, Health Check-ups, Medicines)Rural Banking & Insurance Services (Micro-credit, Loans, Insurance)Entertainment Services (Movies, Television)Utility Services (Bill Payments, Online bookings)Commercial Services (DTP, Printing, Internet Browsing, Village level BPO).The Scheme creates a conducive environment for the private sector and NGOs to play an active role in implementation of the CSC Scheme, thereby becoming a partner of the government in development of rural India. The PPP model of the CSC scheme envisages a 3-tier structure consisting of the CSC operator (called Village Level Entrepreneur or VLE); the Service Centre Agency (SCA), that will be responsible for a division of 500-1000 CSCs; and a State Designated Agency (SDA) identified by the State Government responsible for managing the implementation in the entire State.CSC Online Monitoring ToolThe four key applications developed and currently implemented which form part of the CSC monitoring solution include:CSC SMART Solution: This application tracks CSC roll out progress at block level up to the stage CSCs are finally commissioned. The application tracks CSCs over stages, such as selection of SCAs, selection of CSC locations, identification of VLEs, setting up IT infrastructure, Internet connectivity, commissioning, final certification of CSCs, the system also tracks status of BSNL connectivity at various CSC and provides useful performance information of CSCs. http://www.cscsmart.in CSC Online Monitoring Solution: Post CSCs are commissioned; the online monitoring tool helps in registration of CSC IT terminals and tracks uptime of IT terminals. Each CSC PC is required to install and register online monitoring tool. The online registration process serves a proof of availability of CSC IT terminals as validated by their unique machine ID (Mac ID) and internet availability for delivering digital services.CSC Online Dashboard: This tool provides executive MIS on registration and uptime status of CSCs on Pan India basis and tracks the performance of CSCs, SCAs and States based on uptime logs generated and disseminated by the online monitoring tool. http://www.csclive.in/dashboard.

CSC Connect: CSC Connect is a facility available to various Service Access Provider (SAP) Portals to allow CSCs to login into their portals using their unique CSC ID / password combination defined under CSC Online Monitoring System. This facility would save CSC the trouble of registering their profiles and remembering their IDs and password with multiple SAPs. The CSC Connect mechanism would make it possible for CSCs using their unique CSC ID / Password to gain access to the SAP Portal and will also help DIT to measure the usage of services of various SAP sites at various CSCs. http://www.csclive.in/cscconnectThe solution currently serves the following purposeProvides unique identification of a CSC based on their geographyMaintains a centralized database of CSCs, VLE with their addresses, email and contact details.Enables online registration status of CSCsReckons uptime performance of CSCs which have been registered online on a daily basisMaintains uptime Performance of a CSC, SCA and States based on CSC performance in their respective territoriesProvides role based access to all the stakeholders based on their privilege geographic usageProvides single waterfall view of CSCs from Pan India-State- District-Block to the ultimate CSCEnables recording of BSNL connectivity status at each of the CSCshttp://deity.gov.in/content/common-services-centers

Common Service Centres ProgrammeCommon Services Centres (CSCs) Scheme is the nationwide initiative of Government of India to provide support for establishing 1 lakh Common Service Centers in 6 lakh villages of India. CSCs scheme has been started in 2006 with the vision to develop these centres as a front-end delivery points for Government, private and social sector services to rural citizens of India in an integrated manner.The objective is to develop a platform that can enable Government, private and social sector organizations to align their social and commercial goals for the benefit of the rural population in the remotest corners of the country through a combination of IT-based as well as non-IT-based services.An estimated amount of Rs. 5742 crores, will be spent over a span of 4 years for the project. A major portion of the total amount will be pooled from contributions made by the state and central governments, while the balance will be mobilized from the private sector. The central government would contribute Rs. 856 crores while the state government contributes an amount of Rs. 793 crores out of the total amount. The Scheme is to be implemented through a Public-Private Partnership. CSCs are the primary physical front-end for delivery of Government and private services to citizens.The government has taken a three pronged approach for effective implementation of National egovernance plan to enable anytime anywhere delivery of government services. CSCs are one among the three pillars, they support the infrastructure requirements State Wide Area Network provides the necessary support for Connectivity. This has already been approved by the Government for Rs 3334 crore State Data Centre Scheme is useful for secure hosting of data and applications The Common Services Centres would be designed as ICT-enabled Kiosks having a PC along with basic support equipment like Printer, Scanner, UPS, with Wireless Connectivity as the backbone and additional equipment for edutainment, telemedicine, projection systems, etc., as the case may be.

The CSC Scheme has a 3-tier implementation framework: First (CSC) level would be the local Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) to provide service the rural consumer in a cluster of 5-6 villages (but Tamil Nadu government has planned to set up an CSCs centre for every 3 villages) Second/middle level would be an entity termed the Service Centre Agency (SCA) to operate, manage and build the VLE network and business. An SCA would be identified for one or more districts (one district would cover 100-200 CSCs). Third level would be the agency designated by the State- the State Designated Agency (SDA) - to facilitate implementation of the Scheme within the State and to provide requisite policy, content and other support to the SCAs.

The Common Services Centers Scheme: Background 1.1 The Government of India has formulated the National E-Governance Plan with the vision of providing all government services in an integrated manner at the doorstep of the citizen, at an affordable cost. The NeGP initiatives consist of 26 Central, State and Integrated Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) along with 8 other support components for rapid introduction of e-governance in the country. The NeGP envisions a three pillar model for delivery of web-enabled Anytime, Anywhere access to information and services in rural India. These are: a) Connectivity: State Wide Area Networks (SWANs)/NICNET b) National Data Bank/ State Data Centres (SDCs) c) Common Services Centers (CSCs) 1.2 The CSC Scheme, as approved by the Government of India, envisions CSCs as the front-end delivery points for Government, private and social sector services to rural citizens of India, in an integrated manner. The objective is to develop a platform that can enable Government, private and social sector organizations to align their social and commercial goals for the benefit of the rural population in the remotest corners of the country through a combination of IT-based as well as non-IT-based services. 1.3 Thus, the CSCs cannot be seen as mere service delivery points in rural India. The CSC is positioned as a Change Agent - that would promote rural entrepreneurship, build rural capacities and livelihoods, enable community participation and collective action for social change - through a bottom-up model with focus on the rural citizen. 1.4 Undertaking such a mammoth task calls for active participation and close interaction amongst various stakeholders such as State Governments, local bodies, opinion makers and agencies/ institutions involved or having interest, commercial or otherwise, in rural areas/ markets. Under the CSC Scheme, a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model has been proposed for undertaking this challenging task and addressing the related issues in the most effective way.

2. The Implementation Framework 2.1 The CSC Scheme has a 3-tier implementation framework: a) At the first (CSC) level would be the local Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE- loosely analogous to a franchisee), to service the rural consumer in a cluster of 5-6 villages. b) At the second/middle level would be an entity termed the Service Centre Agency (SCA loosely analogous to a franchiser) to operate, manage and build the VLE network and business. An SCA would be identified for one or more districts (one district would cover 100-200 CSCs). c) At the third level would be the agency designated by the State- the State Designated Agency (SDA) - to facilitate implementation of the Scheme within the State and to provide requisite policy, content and other support to the SCAs.

3. Other Agencies 3.1 The National Level Service Agency (NLSA): There are significant challenges in exploiting opportunities to achieve economies of scale in the identification, customization and implementation of the physical and digital infrastructure required for the project. Further, many of the potential citizen-centric services would lend themselves to aggregation at the national level. To enable the State-specific implementation plans to benefit from such economies of scale, aggregation of best practices, content providers, etc., the DIT would be appointing a National Level Service Agency (NLSA). 3.2 The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): In addition to the NLSA, an SPV has been proposed for the day-to-day monitoring of the CSC Scheme, in terms of channeling Government support, content aggregation, etc. While the SPV is proposed to be set up during the initial implementation phase of the Scheme, it is essentially an entity created to be an integral part of the CSC

Common Service Centre Scheme Government of India under NeGP (National eGovernance Plan program proposed to setup 1 lakhs Common Services Centers (CSC) in rural India in PPP mode NeGP envisions web-enabled Anytime, Anywhere access to information and services in rural India, through three infrastructure pillars CSC is the front-end delivery points for Government, private and social sector services to rural citizens of India Unique PPP initiative accepted by all the state government Essence of CSC is its equitable spread geographically Centralised planning and decentralised Implementation Private entities identified in all the states without exception value at the bottom of the pyramid

Maharashtra (Maha e-SevaKendras) The State of Maharashtra started the CSC implementation in September 2008 by appointing four SCAs, viz, CMS Computers, Reliance Communications, Spanco and 3i Infotech, to rollout 1181 CSCs across the State. It was envisaged that each CSC would cater to 4 villages. However, due to non-performance 3i Infotechs contract was terminated and Bharat Samruddhi Finance Ltd. was selected in its place in January 2011. By August 2011, 9336 CSCs have been rolled out in the State, with over 80% having connectivity Setu Maharashtra, the State Designated Agency has taken a number of steps to make a number of G2C services available to the citizens via the CSCs, including 96 Revenue Department services, land records, ration card and employment exchange services. Already over 22 lakh G2C certificates and affidavits have been issued through CSCs. Currently test runs are being conducted for delivery of e-District services as well. UID enrolment in the State is also taking place through the CSCs. Further, the SCAs have taken a proactive step to offer a range of B2C services including IRCTC services, electricity bill collection, insurance sale and premium collection, mobile sim sales and recharges, DTH services and online job registration. Currently a few districts are offering Pension services as well. Education is a key service that is being successfully delivered through CSCs in the State. SCAs have tied up with the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation (MKCL), to offer the popular MS-CIT computer course. Currently, the State is enabling, various Banks to leverage the CSC network to offer banking services to ensure financial inclusion amongst its citizens. http://csc.gov.in/states/maharasthra/

Concerns raised: Why set up a front end when there is no back end No basic survey done Not feasible in all the location naxal areas Gradual approach may have been better first district , then block Do you need Intermediaries like SCA Govt to set up SCA exploit the VLE The CSCs are like a shop- Not fit for service delivery- poor infrastructure Poor Connectivity Power Issues In adequate G2C services Are they sustainable

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