According to J. Satyanarayana, Principal Secretary of IT and Communications Department, the e-government gateway would serve as the central exchange for routing the transactions to departments concerned besides paving the way for introduction of the digital signature concept to avoid tampering of the confidential data. "Once the gateway is operationalised, the scope for contractors bidding for various works to make complaints about the security of their bids would be reduced. In addition, it will provide for a single stop access to all transactions,'' he told The Hindu.
Towards this end, the Government would initiate moves to provide the services in an integrated manner through suitable technological and commercial arrangements between the APOnline portal and the eSeva centres within six months. APonline will be the single stop access point to all the electronic services of the Government.
In his orders issued recently, Mr. Satyanarayana said most of the Government-to-citizen services involved payments and certifications and unless there was an authority of the Government delivery channels would not evoke confidence and trust of customers. In view of this, it was envisaged that the electronic delivery services policy would be administered by a director acting as a single umbrella organisation for all channels of electronic delivery of services. The departments and agencies should evolve appropriate strategies for the delivery of services using the framework which should form an integral part of their planning process and support the wider Government policies on universal access.
On the user/service charges being collected on the transactions, the orders said no user charges would be collected from citizens in respect of payment of utility bills and taxes irrespective of the delivery channel. Instead, the department/agency concerned would remit the charges to the service providers.
However, in respect of other services like information services, interactive services like online filing of forms, submission of forms and issue of certificates, the customers would have to pay charges ranging from Rs. 5 to Rs. 15 to the operator of the delivery point. The revenue sharing between the service delivery point, service providers and the department would be mutually agreed between the parties involved and will in a specified service-level agreement.
Quelle: The Hindu
