Nizamabad: In an effort to take e-governance to the grass-roots level, Telangana Panchayat Raj Department is set to launch e-Panchayat initiative soon in Domakonda mandal of Nizamabad district.
IT Minister K T Rama Rao, while making this announcement in Nizamabad today, also said that the proposed e-Panchayat programme will cover 18 gram panchayats and all of them will be connected with Internet, enabling them to offer a wide range of services to the rural people.
"The e-Panchayat centres would act as 'One Stop Shop' offering a wide range of citizen services, including tax payments, pension and NREGA payments," the Minister said.
Telangana Panchayat Raj Department has already initiated the process of establishment of these e-Panchayats and is holding discussions with service providers and software developers for necessary infrastructure and connectivity.
The government in principle decided to use VSAT technology and fibre optic cable network for connecting e-Panchayat centres.
"Establishment of the e-Panchayats will serve rural students and farmers in many ways, like getting updates regarding the crop product prices, results and job notifications," Rao said.
The Minister assured that all the e-Panchayat centres in the state will be managed only by educated women in villages and asked Panchayat Raj Commissioner to select women in proposed mandals for the purpose of training.
He said the e-Panchayat initiative will be expanded to 150 mandals as a part of World Bank assisted program called 'Telangana Palle Pragathi' and the remaining mandals will be covered in a phased manner.