The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced a monthly stipend of Rs 5,500 for village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs) operating multipurpose 'Khidmat (service)' centres in the state.

"Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed a monthly stipend of Rs 5,500 for each Khidmat centre established in the state, which is a major relief for the 700 youth operating these centres as VLEs," an official spokesman said.

Omar gave a directive to this effect yesterday, the spokesman said.

Under the new framework, monthly financial assistance of Rs 5,500 will be given to the VLEs.

While Rs 3,000 will be direct financial assistance as a means of hand-holding support, the balance Rs 2,500 will be paid toward the adjustment of loans given by J&K Bank for infrastructure development at these centres, he said.

The announcement follows the recommendations of the core committee set up for the purpose by the Chief Minister. The Khidmat centres are mandated to provide government-to-citizen (G2C) and business-to-citizen (B2C) services at the village level.

Upon achieving full functionality, the centres will also provide online services like air and railway ticketing, internet surfing, financial services, examination and result notifications and e-learning at affordable charges.

These centres will also provide many offline services like desktop publishing (DTP), digital photography, scanning and CD writing, JK Bank loan documentation, payment of mobile bills and recharges for pre-paid users.

The scheme is an important component of the National e-Governance Programme (NeGP), the spokesman said.

He said the scheme envisages the creation of service centres at the village level for delivery of identified government and private services through the electronic medium.