Guangdong builds 'digital govt' to improve public livelihood services

To provide better public livelihood services, South China's Guangdong province took the lead in the country to launch the "digital government" reform on May 21.

The province launched its phased achievements of the special reform -- the Yueshengshi applet and Yueshengshi WeChat Public Account. The two platforms enable the local residents to get all livelihood services done online in a much more efficient way after they pass a procedure of ID verification.

By using the applet on WeChat, users are capable of getting a total of 142 services including driver's license application, birth certificate application, and services concerning social insurance and housing provident fund.

The applet also offers special-designed features for the disabled as they can get nine basic services including those related to living allowances, taxation and application for a new disability certificate. Earlier, they were required to personally go to government departments multiple times to get these services done, but now they only have to go to the hospital once and finish all the rest procedures online.

The platforms also offer special codes for taking buses, buying medicine in the drug store, and even help solve labor disputes.

According to Ren Lufeng, deputy secretary general of Guangdong provincial government and director of Guangdong Information Center, the platforms aim to bring more convenient services to the public and make people have a greater sense of accomplishment. With more of such services on the way for local residents, businessmen and investors across the province will also benefit from them in the future.