Pragya Kendra Assessment Study was conducted in June 2018, supported by Azim Premji University, in the spirit of ‘hard-work-low-pay’ and ‘research for action.’ With the energy and enthusiasm of student and community volunteers, this survey was conducted across 10 districts in Jharkhand, speaking to over 400 households and 60 Pragya Kendra operators.
Pragya Kendras, or Common Service Centres in Jharkhand, are a Central Government scheme under Digital India. They are one-stop shops to provide public services at the Gram Panchayat for a fee. They are run by private individuals, called ‘Village Level Entrepreneurs’ who earn via commissions for the services delivered. The objective is to provide convenience to citizens, improve the efficiency of service delivery and spur rural entrepreneurship.
This survey sought to assess realizations of the project objectives of efficiency, convenience, entrepreneurship, governance, transparency and accountability.
Pragya Kendra Assessment Study 