The Odisha government launched a website and mobile app designed for the online payment of monthly electricity bills by panchayats. The Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, along with Rural Development Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, inaugurated the platform, which is named the Government Consumer Management System (GCMS).

The GCMS was developed collaboratively by the Energy Department, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, NIC, and Tata Power.

Officials noted that the government allocates approximately Rs 2.50 billion annually for electricity bills related to street lights, drinking water supply, and other services across the panchayats. However, issues such as delayed payments and the absence of an efficient monitoring system have resulted in arrears.