Patna : A statewide helpline aimed at streamlining citizen access to land and revenue-related services will launch next month in Bihar, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday between the Revenue and Land Reforms Department and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited.
The agreement, formalised at Kautilya Hall in Hotel Maurya, Patna, marks a major step toward improving communication between citizens and the state. The helpline number, 18003456215, is set to become operational in the first week of June and will be staffed by a trained team to assist the public with queries related to land records, revenue disputes, and other departmental schemes.
Inaugurating the event, Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar Singh emphasised the need to eliminate middlemen from the digital services process. “People often visit cyber cafes where operators use their own numbers instead of the applicant’s. This results in a lack of updates for the raiyats (landholders),” he said. “We have been working to ensure that citizens use their own contact information and are not misled.”
The helpline, Singh added, is part of a broader push to digitise services and provide immediate, transparent, and accessible support. It will also serve as a platform for grievance redressal and real-time status updates on applications.
Speaking at the event, Department Secretary Jai Singh highlighted the digital transformation underway within the department: “All our services have moved online. Through CSC’s rural outreach, we aim to make services accessible even at the zonal level.”
Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, Managing Director and CEO of CSC e-Governance Services, echoed this sentiment: “Our collaboration with the Bihar government is aligned with the Digital India mission. With CSC’s technical capabilities and grassroots reach, this helpline will empower citizens, especially in rural areas, with timely access to vital services.”
The initiative is expected to bridge the digital divide in Bihar, particularly for rural residents who often face challenges in accessing online services independently. Officials called it a crucial step toward a more transparent and accountable system of digital governance.
