3i Infotech partners with FINO for rural development through eGovernance projects across India

3i Infotech Ltd on May 09, 2007 has announced that it has partnered with Financial Information Network & Operations Ltd (FINO), to provide financial services through low cost technology enabled delivery channels, using Common Service Centres (CSCs).

The Company, as part of its eGovernance initiatives has plans for setting up CSC's and has already won CSC projects in two states. To further enhance the service levels to rural citizens, the Company is tying up with FINO, to offer the services of FINO, through CSCs. These centers are primarily set up for eGovernance services. Through this partnership, the Company and FINO will also explore possibilities of offering financial services to the population (especially rural population) in various states. At an investment of over Rs 3 lakhs per centre, the Company will man the operations of CSCs and provide FINO services using innovative Smart Card based technologies provided by FINO. Through the proposed CSCs, the services will be available to citizens across the country, beginning with over six crores citizens in Haryana and Karnataka.

The CSCs will provide Indian citizens with direct access to G2C and B2C services, thus empowering them with information at their fingertips. G2C services include Utility Bill Payment, Water Tax, Land Record Certificates, Sales Tax, VAT, e-Filing of Tax Returns, Issuance of Income Certificates, Birth Certificates, etc. Additionally, with FINO's expertise in Micro-Finance, the Company will use CSCs to provide B2C services through the CSCS including Micro Insurance, Rural Credit, Rural Banking, Agri Financing etc., thereby bringing banking and insurance related services within the reach of crores of citizens, particularly those across rural India.

Commenting on the project, Mr. Anirudh Prabhakaran, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia of the Company said, "The Government of India's CSC Project is extremely unique in its vision and aims to provide a wide range of services to the citizens, especially the rural population of India. We congratulate the Governments of participating states on visualizing such a project, using ICT for rural upliftment. We are honoured to be partnering with FINO in making available financial services to the rural masses."

Source : Equity Bulls

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