The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to expand the Aadhaar Service Centre network to the gram panchayat level by establishing Aadhaar Service Centres in two gram panchayats of every block. The proposal was discussed during the e-Panchayat State Review Committee meeting as part of efforts to strengthen digital services in rural areas and improve access to citizen services at the local level.
The state is planning to enhance the role of gram panchayats in extending e-governance services to villages. During the e-Panchayat State Review Committee meeting held at the office of the Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj, various proposals were discussed to integrate technology into panchayats and make citizen services available locally.
Sampoornanand, the head of Bansa Gram Panchayat in Hardoi, raised the issue of access to Aadhaar-related services in rural areas. He proposed establishing an Aadhaar Service Centre in the gram panchayat building, stating that many villagers currently have to travel to nearby towns or cities for Aadhaar-related work.
He said that this requires additional time and travel expenses for rural residents, while making the services available at the gram panchayat level would directly benefit local people.
During the meeting, Panchayati Raj Director Amit Kumar Singh informed participants that Aadhaar Service Centres will be established in two gram panchayats in every block. The arrangement is intended to expand the reach of digital services in rural areas.
Providing Aadhaar-related services at the gram panchayat level could benefit residents who currently travel long distances even for routine work. Local availability of these services is expected to improve access to citizen services while increasing the utility of gram panchayat buildings.
The initiative is also aimed at developing gram panchayats as local digital service centres in addition to their administrative role. Making more government and citizen services available through panchayats could enable rural residents to complete a wider range of work within their own areas.
The e-Panchayat State Review Committee meeting also discussed measures to make panchayats more transparent, technology-enabled and better equipped to deliver citizen services. Emphasis was placed on increasing the use of digital platforms and e-governance to improve the delivery of government schemes and services at the panchayat level.
The meeting also reviewed the work being carried out by gram panchayats in the fields of education, rural development and digital services. Information was shared on initiatives undertaken by Bansa Gram Panchayat to improve citizen services.
Among those present were Virendra Shukla, head of Gorwa Gram Panchayat in Lucknow; Omkar, head of Nahurawan Panchayat in the Sindhauli area of Sitapur; Nagma, head of Miyaganj in Unnao; and other representatives.
The establishment of Aadhaar Service Centres is expected to make digital services more accessible in rural areas after implementation. Local availability of Aadhaar-related services could reduce villagers' dependence on towns and cities while supporting the development of gram panchayat buildings as centres for digital and citizen services.
