To enable hassle-free access to documents such as school certificates for renewing passports or download school textbooks free of cost, the Modi government is all set to launch a one-stop shop shortly.
Starting 1 July, the government will launch many projects under Modi's $18 billion 'Digital India' initiative, one of them being 'eBasta'.
"eBasta is an e-resource portal. The app will enable one to download e-text books, lectures and practical videos, and audio files, store them and access them on phones, tablets or computers even when internet connectivity is not available," a technical resource person working on eBasta in the department of IT told The Times of India.
"For students it will reduce the burden of physical books and easy access to structured resources created by schools," the person said.
The government is also expected to roll out a project for Aadhaar card holders called 'DigiLocker', a facility that secures and gives people easy online access to their certificates. The project is aimed at reducing usage of fake documents.
Those who have an Aadhaar number and a mobile number can sign-up for this facility on 'DigiLocker' portal and secure documents such as Class 10 & 10+2 certificates, PAN card and Voter ID card.
"These documents can be easily shared via emails. The emails will have Uniform Resource Indicator (URI) to be generated by issuer department, which has been made mandatory for e-document of the digital locker system," said a senior official in the IT department.
"Issuer is one who issues the e-documents to individuals and makes them electronically available like the CBSE, Registrar Office, Income Tax department, etc., while the 'Requester' is the institution seeking secure access to a particular e-document stored in the repository like University, Passport Office, Regional Transport Office, etc. This will ensure elimination of usage of fake certificates," the official said.
Further, the new initiative will also bring scholarship opportunities available in India under one platform and ensure smooth disbursement of scholarships.
Under the 'Digital India' initiative, the Modi government plans to lay 7,00,000 km of broadband cable connecting 2,50,000 village clusters in the next three years.
