Door step services to elderly under e-Chhawani

Aurangabad, July 14:

The Aurangabad Cantonment Board (ACB) has launched transformative citizen centric services ‘e-Chhawani Project’ for public convenience. In order to increase accessibility of senior citizens to avail these online services offered by cantonment board, the ministry of defence has ordered the ACB to provide door step services to elderly.

The service has been launched by the directorate general defence estates, ministry of defence, government of India. In phase-I, of the digital cantonment initiative, the e-Chhawani service was introduced for the citizens of the cantonment area through a portal. Services like lodging public grievances pertaining to ACB, submitting applications for trade license, making online payments through 'm-Collect' module, submitting online application for renewal and extension of lease are being offered to the public. However, many elderly were not able to avail these services due to not being able to use computers and mobile applications. Hence the ministry of defence ordered all cantonment boards to provide door step services to all elderly citizens. As per the orders, the board must appoint employees and provide them with laptops with internet connection. These employees will then visit the homes of the elderly and key in their requests for services available on e-Chhawani portal. However, the officials have expressed difficulties in providing such services to elderly residents stating that the ACB lacks manpower and resources. Meanwhile, preparations are underway to launch the service in the ACB.

ACB lacks manpower

When quizzed a highly placed source in the ACB said that the e-Chhawani portal has made it easy to report grievances and avail services from anywhere and anytime. The board is trying its best to resolve all the complaints. However, the implementation of the new orders to provide door step services to the elderly seems difficult as the ACB already lacks staff to deal with daily work. Various posts have been vacant for the past many years. Employees have to work under tremendous work load. If the orders are implemented at least two employees will have to be appointed for the work. This will hamper development work and will also delay in resolving online complaints.