Our Government has plenty of initiatives that come up every year – to make it a better place for its population. One such initiative is the common service center scheme. The Common Services Centre (CSC) program is an initiative of the Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). CSCs serve as entry points for the supply of various electronic services to communities around India, hence helping to a more digitally and financially inclusive society.
Understanding CSCs
In rural India, CSCs are more than just service delivery locations. They are positioned as agents of change, supporting rural entrepreneurship and developing rural capacities and livelihoods. They facilitate community engagement and collective action in order to bring about social change from the ground up, with a particular emphasis on the rural citizen.
CSC e-Governance Services India Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, under the Companies Act, 1956, to monitor the execution of the Common Services Centers Scheme. It provides a centralized collaborative framework for the delivery of services to citizens via CSCs, as well as assuring the scheme’s systemic viability and sustainability.
What are the Core Objectives?
This initiative was set up for a particular reason – do you want to know them? Read on.
- To create a centralized platform for the delivery of numerous services to citizens in a transparent way.
- To broaden the reach of G2C and B2C service delivery to rural citizens.
- To encourage collective action for rural societal empowerment and to enable community engagement.
- To strengthen the institutional framework for project management by assisting the State and District administrative machinery as well as Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) through local language Help Desk support.
- To allow e-services through a single technology platform, making service delivery at CSCs accountable, transparent, efficient, and traceable.
- Increasing the viability of VLEs through the provision of e-services and encouraging women to become VLEs.
The digital Seva portal partners with certain groups, which are mentioned here for you.
Who are the Partners of the Scheme?
The Banking Sector and Central Administering Bodies: This includes central ministries, their departments, and other central agencies to provide a variety of services to citizens, as well as partner banks (public and private sector) and regional rural banks to enable CSCs to become Banking Correspondent Agents or Customer Service Points to provide a variety of banking and financial services.
State Level Agencies: The State Designated Agency is the agency designated by the State to support the Scheme’s implementation inside the State.
Entrepreneurs of the Village: Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) supply services to rural consumers in their villages.
Services Offered by CSCs
- Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Sericulture, Veterinary, and Agriculture services.
- School, Vocational Education, College, Employment, and more services.
- Telemedicine, Health Check-ups, and Medicines services.
- Micro-credit, Loans, Insurance, and Other Banking Services.
- Movies, Television, and More Entertainment Services.
- Bill Payments, Online bookings, and Other Utility Services.
- DTP, Printing, Internet Browsing, Village level BPO, and Several More Commercial Services.
Also, this is not a scheme for everyone but a select few who fit the margin. If you want to know who belongs here or can apply, let’s look at the eligibility criteria for it.
Who is Eligible to Participate in this Scheme?
- The applicant must be a local youth over the age of eighteen.
- The applicant must have completed the 10th level test from a recognized board and have a minimum level of educational qualification.
- The applicant must be fluent in reading and writing the local dialect, as well as have a basic understanding of the English language.
- The applicant should be familiar with basic computer skills.
If you fit in these brackets, there is no more waiting – just go ahead and apply for it, and we will tell you how to get it done with a step-by-step guide.
How to Register for CSC?
Step 1: Go to the official website of the Common Service Centers (CSC) Scheme.
Step 2: On the site, click the “Apply” option.
Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar number and name, choose the authentication type, and then enter the Captcha Text.
Step 4: Click the “Submit” button to confirm the information you’ve provided.
Step 5: Following authentication, please fill-up the necessary information under the headings personal, residential, Kiosk, banking, document, and infrastructure.
Step 6: After completing the form, read all of the terms and conditions on the “Certifications” tab.
Step 7: Review your information and click the “Submit” button to register. An application ID will be generated.
Step 8: You will receive an email confirming the successful completion of your application at the email address you supplied during registration.
Conclusion
Hoping all of the confusion around the common service center has been resolved – what is it, who does it benefit, how does it work and so much more. These kinds of implementations and taking their full potential can make India a Digital force.
