From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 8: As part of the move to take administration to the doorsteps of citizens, Karnataka’s panchayat raj bodies have started offering 43 services online for the citizens.

According to Karnataka’s Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister H K Patil, services like getting approval for building plans, water connection, paying property tax, trade licenses and obtaining birth and death certificates have now been made available online.

The services are being made available online to citizens by using the specially developed 'Panchatantra Software,’ the minister said.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, the minister said lack of steady power supply and trained manpower to provide these services at Gram Panchayat offices was the major challenge.

Patil said Data Entry Operators had been appointed and staff had been trained to deliver the services.

As for the issues related to power supply and other technical hitches, action is being taken to ensure efficient rendering of services.

With the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat polls expected to be announced in the next few days, rural development works are gaining pace in Karnataka.

The State Government has released Rs 189 crore for the all round development of villages under the Grama Vikasa Yojane.

The programme envisages to provide all basic amenities for atleast 5 villages in each of the 189 rural Assembly Constituencies in the state in the first phase.

The process for identifying the works, selection of beneficiaries and planning for taking up works under the programme had already been completed.

The concerned local legislators had been asked to keenly monitor the progress of implementation of the works, Patil said.