What is the full form of CSC?
CSC: Common Service Centre
CSS stands for Common Service Centre. It is an information and communication technology access point created by the govt. of India for the people of rural areas. It was created under the National e-Governance Project of Gov. of India. This project was started in 2006. It was funded and implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP).
A CSC is like a kiosk provided with a personal computer, a wireless connection and other accessories. It provides content related to e-governance, health, education, telemedicine, and more. It is a PAN India network that is introduced to make India a digital country under the Digital India Program. It is one of the largest government approved online service channels in the world.
How CSC works?
It is an e-Governance service in which a special purpose vehicle (SPV) is used to connect the rural population with the govt. departments, private and govt. banks, and other service providers like insurance companies, institutes, and more. The VLE (Village Level Entrepreneur) operates from CSC to serve the users.
Objectives of CSC points:
- To offers rural population a point to access information
- To ensure delivery of public services to the rural population
- To promote rural empowerment of socially disadvantaged people for inclusive growth
- To provide access to quality education and skill upgradation
- To provide online access to quality and affordable health services
- To promote rural entrepreneurship, social improvement, and participation from the people
Functions of CSC:
- To facilitate G2C (Government to Consumer) Communication related to health, education, social and economic development, agriculture, disaster warning, RTI, and more.
- Dissemination of information through interactive kiosks, regional language interfaces, etc.
- Edutainment (educational entertainment) in which people are educated through entertaining educational videos, group interaction, etc.
- eGovernance & eServices that include eKrishi, banking, travel, insurance, post and the facility to fill eForms to apply for govt. services, and financial help such as payment for NREGA, etc.
- To provide the facility of remote health camps, telemedicine, doctor advice, etc.
- To offer online agriculture support to help farmers to increase their yield and income
- Rural BPO to clear doubts of rural people about the govt. schemes, agricultural techniques, and more.
Besides this, after accessing the CSC schemes, govt. of India introduced the CSC 2.0 scheme in 2015 to make CSC available to all Gram Panchayats throughout the country. As per the CSC2.0 scheme, there should be at least one CSC in each of the 2.5 lakh GPs throughout the country before the end of 2019. CSC 2.0 scheme would make G2C services available to all citizens living anywhere in the country. The CSC Grameen eStore App is also created under the CSC scheme and it is powered by MiGrocer.
Key Features of CSC 2.0 scheme:
- A network of 2.5 lakh CSCs for all Gram Panchayats
- A collection of e-services through a single delivery platform
- Local help desk support
- To encourage women to emerge as VLEs by offering attractive commissions