The Bengal government has launched an initiative to develop Bangla Sahayata Kendras (BSKs) as a one-stop solution for common citizens where people can get all documents, apply for schemes and deposit fees and taxes, instead of visiting offices that are located far away from their homes.

“The state government is all set to develop the BSKs in a manner so that they can serve as a one stop shop.… So far, the BSKs were used as centres for people to apply for various schemes and facilities online. The ambit of the BSKs will be extended to help people, particularly those living in rural areas,” said a senior bureaucrat.

According to the plan, the state government will turn the BSKs into centres where common people can deposit taxes related to land and motor vehicles. The government also plans to enable the BSKs to undertake Aadhaar-related works and collect electricity payments.

In addition to these, people will be able to get trade licences, death, birth, residential and caste certificates from the BSKs. “All these are daily requirements of common people. For these services, people, particularly in rural pockets, have to travel a long distance as the offices of departments concerned are located at block towns. As each of the 3,330-odd gram panchayats has at least one BSK, people in rural areas will be benefited immensely,” said a senior official.

A section of officials said the government found that people in rural areas faced trouble to reach block offices to get their names registered for government schemes when Duare Sarkar camps were organised.

“Considering that people were suffering a lot to reach block offices of various departments, it has been decided that BSKs need to be developed in a manner that these can serve people for their daily needs,” said a source.

The basic difference between the BSKs and Duare Sarkar camps is that while the BSK centres are permanent in nature, Duare Sarkar camps are held for a few weeks in a gap of six months or so. Another difference is that the government usually receives applications for various schemes through the Duare Sarkar camps. But at BSKs, people will be able to apply for schemes and get delivery of services.

Sources said meetings were being held among departments like land and land reforms, power, transport , urban development, panchayat and health to ensure that various services were made available through the BSKs.

“The government is trying to make the facilities available through the BSKs before next year’s panchayat polls. If the facilities can be made available before the panchayat polls, it will definitely give an advantage to the ruling party,” said an official.