Patna: Residents of Bihar’s rural areas may soon be able to enrol for Aadhaar and access other essential government services at their local Panchayat Sarkar Bhavan.
The Panchayati Raj Department is preparing to establish Aadhaar Seva Kendras across all 8,053 panchayats in the state. An agreement with Common Service Centres (CSC) is expected to be signed soon for operating the facilities.
Aadhaar Enrolment and Updates at Local Centres
Under the proposed arrangement, Aadhaar Seva Kendras will operate from Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans.
Residents will be able to apply for new Aadhaar enrolment and access permitted update services without having to travel to block or district headquarters for routine work.
The proposed centres will also provide a range of other government and citizen services at the same location.
CSC to Operate the Centres
The Panchayati Raj Department and CSC are preparing an agreement for operating the Aadhaar Seva Kendras. The draft agreement is currently under preparation, according to the department.
The department will provide computers and other required equipment, while CSC personnel will manage day-to-day operations. Their honorarium will be paid by the CSC and they will not be considered employees of the Panchayati Raj Department.
The CSC will obtain the required licence from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to operate the Aadhaar centres. Central-level approval for the arrangement has already been received, according to the information provided.
80% Revenue for CSC, 20% for Department
A revenue-sharing arrangement has been finalised for the proposed Aadhaar Seva Kendras.
Under the arrangement, 80 per cent of the revenue will go to the CSC, while 20 per cent will go to the Panchayati Raj Department.
Officials have also said action will be taken against centre personnel who charge more than the prescribed fees.
Rs 75 Fee for New Aadhaar Enrolment
A fee of Rs 75 has been fixed for new Aadhaar enrolment, according to the plan. Prescribed charges will apply to other Aadhaar-related services where applicable.
Around 21 categories of services will be provided without charges, including several certificate-related services such as caste, income and residence certificates, along with birth and death certificate services.
64 Services Under One Roof
The proposed centres will offer considerably more than Aadhaar services. Around 64 citizen services are expected to become available through the combined CSC and Aadhaar service facilities at Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans.
These services are expected to include:
- Caste, income and residence certificates
- Pension services
- Ration card-related services
- Land mutation or dakhil-kharij
- Jamabandi and land records
- Land Possession Certificates (LPC)
- Land revenue payments
- Scholarship services
- Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana services
- Birth and death certificates
- Agriculture-related services
PAN Cards, Banking and Bill Payments
The centres are also expected to provide several digital and financial services.
Residents will be able to access PAN card services, passbook updates and utility bill payments. Electricity and water bills can also be paid through the centres.
Banking and insurance services, including loans and micro-credit facilities, are proposed to be available. Travel booking for trains, buses and flights will also be offered.
What Will Change for Villagers?
At present, residents in many rural areas may have to travel to block headquarters or other government offices for Aadhaar-related work, certificates and land records.
If the proposed system is implemented, Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans will function as local service hubs, allowing residents to access Aadhaar, certificates, welfare services, land records and several digital facilities closer to home.
The government’s stated objective is to reduce travel time and expenses for rural residents while making essential government and digital services more accessible.
The immediate step is the proposed agreement between the Panchayati Raj Department and CSC. Once the operational framework is finalised, Aadhaar Seva Kendras can be established across the state’s 8,053 panchayats.
The rollout is expected to bring a wider range of government and digital services to Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans, subject to completion of the required approvals and arrangements.
