All the 146 Janpad Panchayats in Chhattisgarh were linked with Video Conferencing network on Thursday.
The facility was inaugurated by Union Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in presence of Chief Minister Raman Singh at Thakur Pyarelal State Panchyat and Rural Development Institute at Nimora near Raipur.
Notably, the work for first phase of BHARAT NET Project will also be completed in Chhattisgarh during November this year.
This was informed by Union Minister of State for Telecom (Independent Charge) Manoj Sinha to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in New Delhi in September this year.
The Union Minister informed that 70 per cent of the first phase of work for the project had so far been completed.
Chief Minister Raman Singh informed the Union Minister that the completion of first phase of BHARAT NET project will provide better connectivity to more than 4000 panchayats in the State.
A total of 1293 villages in Chhattisgarh have the duct created for putting optical fibre cable as on July 16, 2017 under BHARAT NET project so far, the Central Government has informed.
Notably, the BHARAT NET project, which is one of the pillars of Digital India Programme, is planned to establish a network infrastructure by connecting all Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.5 lakh) in the country through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) and by using an optimal mix of underground fibre, aerial fibre, radio and satellite media, for providing broadband connectivity by all categories of service providers on non-discriminatory basis.
The project is planned to be implemented in three phases. Under Phase I of the project, 1 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) are to be connected by laying underground OFC by November 2017 in the country. Under Phase II, connectivity will be provided to remaining 1.5 lakh GPs in the country using an optimal mix of underground fibre, fibre over power lines, radio and satellite media, by March, 2019.
Under Phase III, a state- of- the-art future-proof network, including fibre between districts and blocks, with 5G services and Internet of Things and with underground OFC in ring architecture, is planned to be completed by 2023.
Out of total 9,770 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Chhattisgarh, 4104 GPs have been taken up under BharatNet Phase-I for providing broadband connectivity, the Central Government has informed.
As on July 9, 2017, a total of 7,873 kms (3,159 GPs) Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) has been laid. A total of 1,289 GPs have been provided with broadband connectivity in Chhattisgarh so far.
The Union Ministry of Telecommunications has also approved a plan to connect village panchayats of Chhattisgarh with internet connectivity.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Raman Singh in August last year had stated that Bastar will be included in Chhattisgarh Government's 'Digital Highway' which will be a catalyst in bringing about a new revolution of development of a knowledge-based society, opportunity and economy.
It will also enhance the transparency, accuracy and accountability of government services, said while disclosing details on implementation of the 'BastarNet' project in his Independence Day speech delivered at the Police Parade ground here on August 15 last year.
He said that owing to its geographical conditions, it is necessary to ensure mobile and internet connectivity in Bastar.
Under this project, 832 kms long optical fibre cable will be laid at the cost of Rs 40 crore. This network will be built with 'ring network' so that it may provide uninterrupted mobile and internet connectivity through alternative routes, the Chief Minister said.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Raman Singh in August last year had stated that Bastar will be included in Chhattisagrh Government's 'Digital Highway' which will be a catalyst in bringing about a new revolution of development of a knowledge-based society, opportunity and economy. It will also enhance the transparency, accuracy and accountability of government services, said while disclosing details on implementation of the 'BastarNet' project in his Independence Day speech delivered at the Police Parade ground here on August 15.
He said that owing to its geographical conditions, it is necessary to ensure mobile and internet connectivity in Bastar.
Under this project, 832 kms long optical fibre cable will be laid at the cost of Rs 40 crore. This network will be built with 'ring network' so that it may provide uninterrupted mobile and internet connectivity through alternative routes, the Chief Minister said.
The Chhattisgarh Government would get erected high masts for Chhattisgarh State Wide Area Network (CGSWAN) project across the State which can withstand the wind load speed of atleast 140 Kmph during storms, officials informed.
Notably, in Chhattisgarh, more than 3,000 rural CHOICE Centres, 200 urban CHOICE Centres and Common Service Centres (CSCs) are functioning where citizens are getting online citizen centric services, they informed.All the districts now have lok Seva Kendra and even in remote districts like Sukma, Bijapur, Balrampur people are getting Income Certificate, Birth & Death Certificate, Khasra & B-1 Copy, Marriage Registration, Aadhar Registration, Epic Card printing, Caste Certificate, Resident Certificate, Gumashta licence etc. online.
The State Portal Service has been provided to more than 40 lakh persons. The various departments of the State are providing online services to citizens.
The Revenue Department has put their services online like Mutation, Demarcation, Batankan and providing loan Booklet. Any eligible person can apply online to get benefit of pension schemes of Social Welfare Department.
Municipal Corporation, CSEB, RTO are also providing their services online.
Online payment of electricity bill is popular and time saving for urban as well as rural folks. More than 153 rural CHOICE Centres has been designated as Banking Agents and they have opened more than 1.40 lakh Bank accounts.
Commerce and Industry Department has also started online land allocation portal for investors. Public Health Engineering Department is monitoring online, the functioning of departmental activities.
The Health Department has started monitoring and registering of various schemes online like Janani Suraksha Yojna, E-Mahatari.
e-Scholarship has been started by School Education department. likewise Commercial Tax Department, Forest Department, Finance Department and other government establishments are also fully implementing the e-Governance project.
The e-Procurement system has been implemented in many Government departments.
Chhattisgarh is also the first state to prepare GIS (Geographical Information System) of villages in 37 layers, officials stated.
Through this system, land Record Map, Topography, land use, Drainage System, Forest, land fertility, Minerals data has been collected.
Computerisation of more than 20,000 village land maps has been completed. Administrative and physical map of all 27 districts has been completed. Dial 100 project of Police Department is also using GIS and based on GPS, officials informed.
Moreover, in order to establish coordination among students, educational institutes and industries, 'Chhattisgarh Campus Connect Portal' has also been started. Through this portal students get to know about skill development schemes.
Chhattisgarh's e-Governance projects has been lauded all over India and we have received various awards in this field recently, officials stated.
Prominent among this are "eReadiness Award" for extensive use of IT services in the State for the year 2013, CSI-Nihilent e-Governance Awards 2013-14 - Sustainability Award to Chhattisgarh Geographic Information System, CSI-Nihilent e-Governance Awards 2013-14 Award for Sustained Excellence in e-Governance.