Nondescript Kakol hamlet turns Net savvy

Hubballi: They may not always have electricity and have to  make do with mud roads and thatched roofs for their houses, but the people of the Kakol hamlet in Ranibennur taluk, Haveri district are all set to become Net savvy. Now, will no longer have to wait in long queues at railway stations or bus stands for  tickets or in dusty government offices for  Aadhar or voter ID cards as they will be able to get them all at the click of a mouse.

The village’s gram panchayat is preparing to provide the people all these services and more online after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the 'Bapu Seva Kendra' project, as it has been called, in Kakol on Friday. As many as 100 services, including issue of revenue and caste certificates and land records, will be provided online by the gram panchayat under the  project, which is expected to be extended to 33 of the  220 gram panchayats in Haveri district.

Having gained Internet connectivity, the panchayat has lost no time in installing  computers, scanners and the necessary software and also appointing trained operators  to assist the villagers in using it. To the villagers the Net access means freedom from middlemen and corruption. “Villagers can submit online applications by approaching the Bapu Seva Kendra, which will deliver all services in a prescribed period for a nominal fee,” said assistant commissioner Basavaraj Somannavar.  

While data entry operators will be posted to all  centres established by the selected gram panchayats,  panchayat development officers and secretaries are also being trained to provide these services to the people online. Eventually the project is expected to cover around 2,000 gram panchayats across the state in the first phase.

“We will work hard to make the pilot project a success. It will save the poor villagers a lot of time and money as they will no longer need to visit the office of the tahasildar or deputy commissioners for every service,” said Zilla Panchayat president, Kotreshappa Baseganni.