Bhubaneswar, July 30 (UDN): Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Wednesday underscored the growing role of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in transforming governance and improving access to public services, describing them as the backbone of the state’s digital outreach, particularly in rural and tribal regions.
Speaking at the 17th Common Service Centre Day celebrations in Bhubaneswar, Mahaling said the CSC network has emerged as an effective platform for delivering government services directly to citizens while accelerating Odisha’s journey towards digital governance.
He said CSCs have played a pivotal role in extending the objectives of the Digital India programme beyond urban centres by bringing essential digital services to villages across the state. Over the past 17 years, the CSC Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) has strengthened digital inclusion by enabling citizens to access government schemes, banking services, digital education, telemedicine, and welfare programmes through a single platform.
The Minister highlighted the impact of CSCs in the healthcare sector, stating that the National Digital Health Mission has significantly improved healthcare accessibility in rural areas. Through CSCs, people can now obtain digital health IDs, access teleconsultation facilities, and benefit from modern healthcare services without travelling long distances.
Mahaling attributed Odisha’s rapid digital transformation to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, saying the state has made remarkable progress in expanding digital infrastructure and citizen-centric services.
According to the Minister, Odisha now has more than 45,000 Common Service Centres, which have become vital access points for delivering a wide range of government services and welfare benefits.
He said CSCs have made substantial contributions to the implementation of flagship schemes by facilitating the registration of over one crore women under the Subhadra Yojana, distributing more than 1.76 crore Ayushman Bharat health cards, and enrolling over eight lakh senior citizens under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana. The centres have also supported initiatives such as e-Shram, PM Vishwakarma, crop insurance enrolment, digital literacy programmes, telemedicine services, and several social security schemes.
Describing CSCs as trusted community service hubs, Mahaling said they have become centres of healthcare, financial inclusion, and citizen empowerment, ensuring that government services reach people in remote and underserved areas with greater transparency and efficiency.
He also pointed to the economic impact of the CSC ecosystem, noting that it has generated livelihood opportunities for nearly two lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) across the country while facilitating business transactions worth around ₹12,800 crore.
The Minister further revealed that the Odisha Government has substantially enhanced financial support for CSCs, increasing incentives from ₹1 crore two years ago to ₹6.5 crore at present. He said the enhanced assistance reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening digital service delivery and expanding the reach of citizen-centric governance across the state.
Reaffirming the government’s focus on technology-driven development, Mahaling said CSCs will continue to play a central role in making public services more accessible, transparent, and inclusive, while empowering rural communities through digital connectivity.
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