KOLLAM: Even after two years of starting of e-office service in the village offices, the management of a large number of files is done manually due to lack of sufficient equipment including computers. Due to this, the resolution of applications is also prolonged.

Village offices have five or six staff but most locations only have three or four laptops and a printer and scanner each. Also, the KSWAN network, the main network infrastructure for e-governance in the state, has not reached all the village offices. The use of alternative VPN networks is only 71 percent due to frequent technical glitches.

Applications for issues such as property dispute, boundary dispute, pattayam, one-time land tax, report for action on complaints received by the Chief Minister, etc. which are not included in the portal system are processed through e-office in the village offices.

20 crores earmarked, 4 crores spent

• 20 crores was earmarked for IT equipment last financial year
• 4 crores were spent
• The first laptop was allotted in 2012 under the E-District scheme
• The second one was in 2016
• Many of these are outdated

Chathannoor model

Permission was given to use MLA funds to buy IT equipment in Village offices but most of them were not ready. Since funds were allocated by Chathannoor MLA GS Jayalal, all village offices there have equipment.

District, Total Villages, E-Office Usage Percentage

Thiruvananthapuram-121, 67%

Kollam-105, 80%

Pathanamthitta-70, 73%

Alappuzha-93, 54%

Kottayam-100, 46%

Idukki- 68, 69%

Ernakulam- 121, 79%

Thrissur-184, 69%

Palakkad-157, 70%

Malappuram-138, 73%

Kozhikode-118, 64%

Wayanad-49, 63%

Kannur-133, 92%

Kasaragod-85.79%

Total-1542, 71%

"Files can be transferred online through e-office. Along with the progress, the officials delaying the process can also be found."

-Village Office Officials