File photo of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Now,officials will be held responsible if they fail to deliver services to citizens in stipulated time.This will help us serve the last man. Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) October 2, 2015

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched 46 government services that will go completely online for Maharashtrians across the country.With this, citizens will be able to get certificates like a domicile certificate or a caste certificate online, instead of standing in queues and meeting officers to get their job done. Officials who are responsible for delay will be identified and penalised."This is a promise we made to the people of Maharashtra when we assumed power in the state almost a year ago. It is being fulfilled and as we go along the scope will be expanded," the Chief Minister said.The government has notified 224 services from various departments under "Right To Service Initiative", out of which 46 were launched online today on "Aaple Sarkar', an online portal which the public can access. For those places where the internet does not reach, the website can accessed through government run centres that are being set up in every district. However, the existing method for these services will continue till the time the time the state reaches 100 per cent digital literacy.The government has also promised to look into simplification of forms. Chief Secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said, "Look at Saral. It means simple but it is hardly that. Some forms like the domicile form ask: 'When did your parents come here? Why did they stay here? What were they doing? Why did they not go back?' We need to simplify forms and make them bilingual."The portal also has a way to appeal against requests that are rejected. But critics say the appeal process is so tedious that it will be the same as earlier. RTI Activist Anil Galgali says, "The appeal function should be made simpler so that people can actually question the role of errant officials."The launch is also a move towards Digital India, a move the Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed during his visit to Silicon Valley earlier this week. Mr Fadnavis says it is his aim to create a Digital Maharashtra ahead of any other state.