Removal of Private SCAs

Exit of SCAs RamInfo, HCL, CMS, Sreeven

As franshisees of RamInfo, HCL, Sreeven, CMS, TSOnline(CSC) faced difficuties due to issues like non payment of commissions in time, allotment of new centers illegally without permission from ESD, transfer or sale of franchise login to unauthorized third parties againt ESD Rules, etc by their SCAs, Telangana MeeSeva Federation has brought those issues before the Commissioner, ESD(MeeSeva), and convinced the government for takeover of meeseva franchise centers working under those SCAs, i.e, RamInfo, HCL, Sreeven, CMS, TSOnline(CSC) by then Telangana State Technology Services (TSTS), now TGTS, which is owned by the Government of Telangana.

Making Private SCAs to return Commissions & Security Deposit dues during the SCA takeover process

by RamInfo, HCL, CMS, Sreeven

With the kind intervention of the Commissioner, ESD (MeeSeva), Sri G.T. Venkateshwar Rao, the Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF) successfully worked to resolve a significant issue during the SCA takeover process of franchise centers. Specifically, the Federation played a pivotal role in ensuring that the companies involved in the takeover—RamInfo, HCL, Sreeven, and CMS SCAs—returned the security deposits and cleared the long-pending dues that were owed to the franchisees.

These dues were a critical concern for the franchise owners, who had faced financial difficulties due to the delays and complications in the transition process. Through the efforts of TGMF, with the support of Sri G.T. Venkateshwar Rao, these issues were addressed, ensuring that the franchisees were compensated for the security deposits and pending payments that had been withheld during the takeover.

This intervention not only helped restore the financial stability of the affected franchisees but also improved trust and cooperation between the franchise owners and the authorities, enhancing the overall functioning of the MeeSeva service delivery system in Telangana.

Name Change & Address Change Issues

During Franchise takeover process by TSTS SCA

During the takeover process of MeeSeva franchise centers from RamInfo, Sreeven, HCL, CMS, and TSOnline (CSC) under the TSTS SCA in 2016, several challenges arose, particularly concerning the transfer of ownership and change in address of the MeeSeva centers. These issues were flagged by then TSTS (now TGTS) as being in violation of the ESD (Electronic Services Delivery) Rules, 2011, leading to objections against the takeover of these franchises. As a result, the owners of these franchises faced significant mental and financial distress due to the delays and complications in the process.

To address these challenges, the Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF) played a pivotal role. The Federation worked tirelessly to resolve the issues by convincing the government to allow the takeover of MeeSeva franchise centers even with name change and address change issues, under a one-time settlement. This decision provided much-needed relief to franchisees, as it allowed the transfer of ownership and changes to center addresses, which had previously been blocked due to the ESD Rules.

Furthermore, the Federation pushed for the establishment of provisions under which ownership changes or address modifications could be carried out under special conditions. This provision was crucial in ensuring that the franchisees who had already made investments and were impacted by the earlier issues could continue their operations without further hindrances.

Through these efforts, the TGMF not only helped franchisees navigate the challenges but also facilitated smoother processes for future franchise takeovers and ownership transfers in the MeeSeva network. This intervention significantly reduced the financial and mental strain on the affected franchise owners, ensuring a more stable and effective MeeSeva service delivery system in Telangana.

Increase in Franchisee Commissions & Addition of Scanning Charges for MeeSeva services in 2017

For the first time since launch in 2011

Despite several representations from various associations (prior to the formation of TGMF), the commissions for services provided by MeeSeva franchisees had not been increased since the launch of the platform in 2011.

Post the formation of the Telangana MeeSeva Federation (formerly known as the Telangana MeeSeva Franchise Owners Welfare Association or TMFOWA), several detailed representations were submitted to the Chief Minister, Minister, Secretary of the ITE&C Department, and Commissioner of ESD (MeeSeva), Government of Telangana. These representations aimed to address the issue of enhancing commissions for MeeSeva services, taking into account factors such as time, manpower, infrastructure maintenance, and the operational expenses of the centers.

As a result of these efforts, commissions for MeeSeva franchisees were increased for the first time since the platform's launch in 2011. Additionally, acknowledging that many services require document scanning, which places a significant burden on franchisees, the government approved the proposal to allow franchisees to collect scanning charges. The decision allows franchisees to charge Rs. 2 per page for scanning services, applicable after the first five pages. This move is intended to ease the financial strain on franchisees due to the increased workload.

Despite the increase in commissions, TGMF has pointed out that the adjustment was nominal and did not adequately consider the operational and maintenance expenses involved in delivering MeeSeva services. As a result, TGMF has been continuously requesting the government to further enhance the commissions, taking into account the significant overheads related to the maintenance of infrastructure, manpower, and other operational costs that franchisees incur while providing these services.

The Federation aims to ensure that the commission structure reflects the true costs of running MeeSeva centers, which would help franchisees maintain financial sustainability and continue delivering quality services to citizens.

Reduction of Security Deposit Amount and Complete Waive off of Annual Maintenance Charges

For MeeSeva Franchise Appointment and Renewals

After the appointment of TSTS, it was decided to collect a Security Deposit of Rs 20,000 from both Rural and Urban franchisees, along with Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) of Rs 10,000 for Urban franchisees and Rs 7,500 for Rural franchisees. These revised charges were a significant increase from the previous amounts, placing a financial burden on the franchisees.

In response to this change, the Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF) submitted a request on 23-05-2017 to reduce the Security Deposit to Rs 10,000 and to remove the AMC charges entirely, as the new charges were deemed to be too high for the franchisees, who were already facing financial constraints.

Following the request made by the Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF), the authorities have reduced the Security Deposit and Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) Rs 10,000/- and Rs 5,000/- respectively for both Rural and Urban Franchisees.

After continued persuasions and efforts by the Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF) regarding the complete waiver of Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC), the Government of Telangana has finally agreed to waive off the AMC charges for MeeSeva franchise renewals.

This is a significant development, as it removes the financial burden of AMC fees for both Rural and Urban franchisees, making it easier for them to continue their operations without the added cost.

This decision is a positive outcome for franchisees, and it reflects the government's responsiveness to the concerns raised by the Federation and the franchisee community. It is expected to bring relief to many franchisees who were struggling with the earlier AMC fees.

Physical Copy Submission Issue

Insistence by Tahsildars / MROs

Despite being in direct violation of the principles of eGovernance and the ESD Rules, 2011, certain Tahsildars in Telangana continued to threaten and insist that MeeSeva franchisees submit physical copies of all applications at their respective mandal offices. If franchisees did not comply, applications would be rejected, leading to significant difficulties for both franchisees and citizens. This caused unnecessary delays, operational disruptions, and financial strain on the franchisees, as well as inconvenience for the citizens dependent on these services.

Even after the Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF) submitted several representations to the ESD(MeeSeva) and the CCLA Department, the issue remained unresolved, and the Tahsildars persisted in their demands for physical copies. This continued insistence created a bottleneck in the smooth functioning of MeeSeva services.

In response to this, the TGMF took decisive action by approaching the Hon'ble High Court of Telangana. Through its efforts, the Federation was successful in obtaining a court order, which directed all Tahsildars in Telangana to cease insisting on the submission of physical copies of MeeSeva applications, either by the franchisees or the citizens.

This court order reinforced the importance of digital submissions in line with the eGovernance principles and ensured that the MeeSeva system could continue to operate efficiently and without unnecessary bureaucratic hindrances. The decision was a major victory for both the MeeSeva franchisees and the citizens, ensuring that digital service delivery remained the standard and that franchisees were no longer burdened with unnecessary physical documentation requirements.

Launch of Financial Support Scheme of Rs 5 Lakhs to Nominees / Family Members of Deceased MeeSeva Franchisees

Provided by the Government of Telangana

The Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF) has highlighted the financial challenges faced by MeeSeva franchisees, whose income is often modest and insufficient to afford private insurance plans or save for future security.

Recognizing this, in November 2018, the Federation has requested the government to consider the establishment of a MeeSeva Franchise Welfare Board, where a small deduction from each transaction processed by the franchisees would contribute towards funding social welfare schemes such as health insurance, life insurance, and other essential benefits for the franchisees.

Taking into account the operational and maintenance difficulties of a Welfare Board and the ongoing efforts by various stakeholders, the Government of Telangana has agreed to provide death insurance coverage for MeeSeva franchisees, with an amount of Rs 5 Lakhs. This is a crucial step in providing financial security to the franchisees, offering them protection in case of an unfortunate demise.

While this agreement addresses the immediate concern of life insurance, the TGMF continues to advocate for the expansion of welfare measures, including health insurance and other social security benefits, to further support the welfare and well-being of MeeSeva franchisees.

Restricting Sanction of New MeeSeva Centers

Modifications to ESD Rules, 2011, (yet to be notified) corresponding to Santion of New MeeSeva Centers

The Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF) is addressing the significant decline in income faced by MeeSeva franchisees, which has been attributed to the growing availability of MeeSeva services through various online and mobile platforms. With services now more accessible digitally, the footfall at physical MeeSeva centers has decreased, impacting their revenue.

In response to this situation, the Telangana Government's MeeSeva Franchisee (TGMF) has been urging the government to halt the issuance of new MeeSeva centers without first considering the viability of the existing ones arguing that if new centers are launched without addressing this concern, it could result in intense competition, ultimately leading to the closure of both existing and new centers.

Despite clear instructions from the Principal Secretary of the ITE&C Department to prioritize the viability of existing MeeSeva centers over population-based criteria, some District Authorities had issued notifications for the sanctioning of new centers based solely on population. This disregard for the viability of both existing and new centers has caused significant concern among the MeeSeva franchisees.

To address the ongoing concerns regarding the sanctioning of new MeeSeva centers, the Telangana MeeSeva Federation (TGMF) has requested amendments to the guidelines that govern the issuance of new centers. Specifically, they have called for modifications to the distance and population criteria, which currently guide the establishment of new centers. The Federation believes that these amendments will help ensure that new centers are sanctioned only in areas where they are truly needed and will not jeopardize the viability of existing centers.

In response to this request, the Commissioner of the ESD (MeeSeva) has proposed some modifications to the ESD Rules, 2011, which were then approved by the government. However, despite the approval of these changes, the modified rules have yet to be officially notified. Until the updated ESD Rules are notified, the existing guidelines, which rely heavily on population as a key factor in determining where new centers are established, continue to be in effect.

The delay in the notification of the modified rules has left some district authorities continuing to issue new center notifications based solely on population, rather than considering the economic viability of existing centers. The TGMF is awaiting the official notification of the modified rules to ensure a more balanced and sustainable approach to the expansion of the MeeSeva network.

Addition of New Services into MeeSeva Platform useful for both Franchisees and Citizens

Efforts to increase the income of MeeSeva Franchisees

The panel members of TGMF have been diligently working to persuade the government to expand the range of services available on the MeeSeva Platform. This expansion is aimed at benefiting both franchisees, by providing opportunities for increased income, and citizens, by offering easier, more convenient, and faster access to a variety of services.

Some of these are:

•  BR Ambedkar Open University Services
•  Osmania University Revaluation Fee Payment Services
•  Anywhere Certificate Print Service
•  Revenue Department - Reissuance of Caste/Income Certificates
•  Revenue Department - Local Candidate Certificate Issued by MRO
•  Revenue Department - Gap Certificate Issued by MRO
•  Revenue Department - Minority Certificate Issued by MRO
•  Revenue Department - Creamy Layer and Non-Creamy Layer Certificates
•  Revenue Department - FSC and Senior Citizen Aarogyasri Health Card eKYC service
•  Revenue Department - Senior Citizens Maintenance Cases Monitoring System
•  Forest Department - Sawmill/Timber Depot Fresh License and Renewal
•  Forest Department - Compensation for Human Kill/Cattle Kill by Wild Animals

There are several other services related to agricultural land such as ROR 1B, Pahani, and others, that the concerned departments have already agreed to integrate into the MeeSeva platform. However, these services are yet to be integrated. Once incorporated, they will further enhance the range of services available on MeeSeva.

TGMF has been actively requesting the government to include services from all government departments on the MeeSeva platform. In response, the Commissioner of ESD (MeeSeva) has proposed amendments to the ESD Rules, which involve adding the necessary clauses to accommodate the integration of these services. However, the modified ESD Rules are still pending notification. Once these rules are officially amended and notified, they will enable the seamless addition of services from all departments, enhancing the platform's utility and accessibility for both citizens and franchisees.