Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state: -
(a) whether the Government plans to use the Common Service Centres (CSCs) for assemble and manufacture of LED lamps in a bid to boost rural economy;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also true that the Government has plans to increase the number of CSCs to 2.29 lakh from 80,000; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and reasons the therefor?
(a) and (b): Common Services Centres (CSCs) are being managed by CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (known as Common Services Centre Special Purpose Vehicle- CSC –SPV). The CSC -SPV has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Energy Efficient Services India Ltd (EESL) for distributing the LED Bulbs and LED Tube lights through CSCs. Also, CSC -SPV has given some LED assembling Kits to CSC local operators known as Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) for assembling the LED Bulbs. VLEs have to purchase the LED parts from the open market and with the help of assembling kits they assemble the LED Bulbs of 5W, 7W & 9W. After assembling, VLE sells them in his own locality.
(c) and (d): Yes Sir. The Government has plans to increase the number of CSCs.
In this direction, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has approved a programme “CSC 2.0” in August, 2015 under Digital India Pillar- 3 (Public Internet Access Programme) for enhancing the number of Common Services Centre (CSCs) to 2.5 lakhs at Gram Panchayat (GP) level over a period of four years. CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (CSC –SPV) is the implementing agency of CSC 2.0.
So far, 3,10,685 Common Services Centres (CSCs) have been registered across the country, among which, 1,77,812 are at GP level. Out of the total registered CSCs, 2.43 lakhs CSCs are active and transacting for delivery of eServices; out of this, 1.62 lakhs are at GP level.
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