E-Governance and the Influence of Common Service Centers on Rural Citizens: A Study in Rayagada District

Abstract

The “Government of India” in the year 2006 has initiated the step of establishing rural
tele-centers in the name of “Common Service Centers (CSC)” under “National e-Governance
Plan (NeGP)” to provide “various government services” electronically to citizens. The idea
behind establishing such tele-centers in public private partnership (PPP) was to provide quick,
effective and hassle free government services in affordable price within the village or panchayat,
so that the citizens should not go to various offices physically. When the researchers were
reviewing the available literatures in the area of e-governance and CSCs found various studies.
But as far as Odisha state is concerned there were absolutely very few studies were available on
this area. Further “Rayagada” being a tribal dominating district far from the state capital attracts
the “researchers to focus and conduct the study”. The main focus of the study is to find out how
influential are the CSCs to cater the need of the citizens for various government services
electronically. This paper addresses and evaluates the influence of CSCs on rural citizens in
rendering e-governance services with a focus on Rayagada district of Odisha state.