Kerala is taking a significant stride towards modernizing its local governance with a groundbreaking decision: 2.5% of all property tax collections from local bodies will now be channeled directly to the Information Kerala Mission (IKM). This strategic funding initiative aims to supercharge IKM’s relentless efforts in digitizing public services across the state.
The directive, formalized just last week, underscores the government’s commitment to digital transformation. IKM, already a trailblazer in this space, is the architect behind the innovative KSMART platform, a comprehensive digital system for service delivery that is being rolled out in local bodies statewide.
The idea for this dedicated funding stream was first proposed by IKM’s Executive Director in May. The mission highlighted a critical need for more robust financial resources to sustain and expand its ambitious digitization agenda, noting that existing allocations were proving insufficient. Interestingly, IKM also presented a compelling argument: the deployment of its KSMART platform had already led to a remarkable increase in property tax collections for local bodies, demonstrating the direct positive impact of digital infrastructure.
Recognizing the immense value and ongoing work of IKM, the government established a special committee to thoroughly evaluate the proposal. This committee concluded with a strong recommendation: an automatic deduction of 2.5% from every property tax transaction is a justifiable and efficient way to fund IKM’s vital digitization projects.
With this recommendation now officially approved by the government, IKM is set to implement the necessary software adjustments to facilitate the automatic debit system. This move promises a sustainable financial model for ongoing digital innovation, ensuring smoother and more efficient local governance for the citizens of Kerala.