THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All the 14 Friends Janaseva Kendras in the state will be soon revamped by introducing payment services of more government institutions as well as enabling point of sale system for credit and debit card payments.
The government is also planning to make all services at Akshaya centres available at the Janaseva Kendra’s in due course, free of service charges.
The renovation of the Janaseva Kendras are being initiated utilising the Right of Way charges collected from telecom service providers for laying cable along public roads. Rs 2.18 crore was sanctioned for the renovation,which is expected to be completed by December.
Repair of defunct token systems, air-conditioners and furniture at many Janaseva Kendras and refurbishment of furniture also becomes part of the renovation.
At present services of local bodies, KSEB, Kerala Water Authority, Revenue, Civil Supplies and Motor Vehicles departments, Kerala, MG and Calicut universities, police, electrical inspectorate and Cultrual Welfare Board are being undertaken by the Janaseva Kendras.
The Kerala State IT Mission, which is managing the Janaseva Kendras, are in talks with more government insititutions like welfare boards, to offer their service through Janaseva Kendras. One hurdle faced is the constrians of many departments in sparing staff for Janaseva Kendras.
Meanwhile, though there was slight dip in collection through Janaseva Kendra after many departments introduced online payment, still a good number of customers are using the facility. IT Mission sources said that during the last one year the collection of KSEB alone through Janaseva Kendras was nearly Rs 80 crores.
