Get OTP to your mobile, download key docs: Tamil Nadu CM

Chennai: In a leap in e-governance in Tamil Nadu, key documents such as birth and death certificates can soon be downloaded from a proposed "citizen's vault" using a mobile phone without the need to visit common service centres, Chief Minister K Palaniswami told the state assembly Friday. A Rs 90 crore scheme "Makkalai Thedi Arasu" (Government in pursuit of people) would be implemented for facilitating access to the documents by dialling a dedicated "people's number" created by the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency and getting an one time password (OTP), he said. Through the new system, "certificates and legal documents right from a person's birth to death will be issued from the Citizens Vault," Palaniswami said in a statement. At present, people in need for such documents visited government offices, e-seva centres and applied through dedicated government websites and mobile apps, he pointed out. Through the new initiative, people can get documents without going through the application process now being followed, he said. The people's number is expected to be made known later and it is anticipated that the documents that can be obtained may include community and birth certificates as well. The TNeGA will also create a "Blaockchain Backbone Infrastructure," at a cost of about Rs 40.80 crore for safekeeping of government data, he said. On attracting new investments, Palaniswami said "investment ambassadors," will be named by liaisoning with the Tamil diaspora, Tamil Sangams, and trade and industry bodies. For this purpose, a special wing "Yaadum Oorey," (Every place is ours) will be set up and a website will be created at a cost of Rs 60 lakh, he said. To provide proper facilitation for foreign investors, separate, special desks will be set up for Japan, South Korea, America, China, Taiwan, France, Israel and Germany. He also announced a new wing of Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance and Export Promotion Bureau will become functional with a new logo at the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi and it will carry out a host of activities to promote investments. (PTI)