Will All Government Services be Online by August 15?

Mumbai, April 28 (NationPress) - Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has mandated that all governmental services must transition to an online format by August 15 this year. He emphasized the need to enhance the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act to be more accessible and user-friendly for the public.

Fadnavis cautioned that any government department failing to comply by the deadline will incur a penalty of Rs 1,000 for each service that remains offline. He made these remarks during the celebration marking the “Decade of Implementation” of the Maharashtra Public Service Rights Act, 2015, as well as the “First Service Rights Day.”

The Chief Minister proposed introducing this act into educational curricula to ensure that students learn about the services the government offers during their formative years.

Currently, over 1000 services are recognized under the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, with approximately 583 services already accessible online. Plans are underway to bring another 306 services online, while 125 services are available but not featured on the common portal. Fadnavis reiterated the importance of making all governmental services available online by the August 15 deadline, asserting that the fundamental rights enshrined by Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Constitution should be accessible to all.

He highlighted the significant advancements in technology over the past decade and how the government is striving to deliver services in a more efficient and dynamic manner. The introduction of a face verification app has notably halved the foot traffic at Mantralaya. The government aims to enhance the “ease of living” for residents, with proposals to offer all government services via WhatsApp and ensure comprehensive information is available on the website, which would likely reduce complaints and improve overall quality of life.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stressed the importance of working with a sense of duty in a democratic setup.

Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik confirmed the government’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology to provide online services to the public, noting an agreement with Microsoft aimed at making Maharashtra a benchmark for digital governance in the country.

During the event, former District Collector of Wardha, Rahul Kardile, was honored for initiating the Sevadoot project, while Pankaj Asia, District Collector of Yavatmal, was recognized for launching the Feedback Room. Additionally, Amol Yedge, District Collector of Kolhapur, was acknowledged for starting a pilot project in his district.

Celebrity brand ambassadors for the Maharashtra Right to Public Service Act, Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan and Sonali Kulkarni, were also honored.

Manu Kumar Srivastava, the Chief Commissioner of the State Right to Service Commission, shared insights on the progress achieved in implementing the Maharashtra Right to Public Service Act, 2015, over the past decade. He also discussed upcoming well-planned innovative activities aimed at raising awareness about this act and the initiatives recommended by the Commission for the future.