The Wayanad district administration, in association with various departments, is set to launch a crackdown on unauthorised private online service centres. The first phase of the campaign, titled ‘Operation Scan’, will target centres operating without the required licences from local self-government institutions, with strict action to be initiated against them.

The campaign will be undertaken in association with the Local Self-Government department and the State IT Mission.

The State government has authorised Akshaya centres to provide online services of various government departments to the public for a fee. Officials, however, said there had been complaints that private online centres were using names and colour codes similar to those of Akshaya centres, thereby misleading the public. The government has already issued orders prohibiting private online centres from using names and colour codes similar to those of Akshaya centres.

The district administration has urged the public to report private online centres operating illegally or posing as Akshaya centres. Complaints can be lodged through the State government’s Citizen Call Centre numbers: 155300 and 0471-2335523.

District Collector D.R. Meghashree unveiled the poster of ‘Operation Scan’.