FRIENDS is a significant e-governance initiative by the Government of Kerala. It was established as a single-window facility where citizens could make various government-related transactions and payments easily and conveniently, avoiding the need to visit multiple departments or wait in long queues.
Key functions and features:
Single-Window Remittance: It allows citizens to pay utility bills (electricity, water), various taxes (revenue, motor vehicle), university fees, and other financial dues to multiple government departments and agencies under one roof.
Convenience: The centers, known as FRIENDS Janasevana Kendrams, are operational in district headquarters and utilize a token management system to minimize waiting time.
Front-End First Approach: The project successfully provided computerized service delivery to citizens even before the complete back-end computerization of all participating government departments was finished.
The project aimed to enhance citizen services by leveraging Information Technology, making government transactions more transparent, efficient, and accessible.
