The COVID pandemic locked people at home, but it has not stopped the Digital cemetery project. On its halfway, the project already has the significant progress: digitalization is finished in Iecava and reached the 76 perc. of completion in Biržai. The process also successfully goes on in Nereta and Rundale. Latvian partners also have bought the computers and GPS for administrational service providers. Of course, it is a pity that there is no possibility to meet for the exchange of experience – Iecava already has the valuable experience and it no doubt would be useful for all partners. However, there is always the other day and Digital Cemetery team is optimistic – we do believe soon we will be able to meet again and the project activities will be implemented.

The project aims to simplify the administrative procedures, related to issuing permits for burial. At the moment this procedure is cost-inefficient, slow, inconvenient and time consuming. 140 cemeteries will be digitalized: digital databases and maps of cemeteries will be created, 14 laptops for the work with digital cemetery data base and maps will be purchased. After trainings and experience exchange among project partners, capacity of administrational service providers will be improved  and informational campaigns to inform inhabitants about new possibilities of cemetery managements, issue of permits for burial and digital cemetery maps will be organized in Biržai, Rundāle, Iecava and Nereta municipalities. This will make cemetery management more effective, as getting permission for burial in family graves, allocation of new graves, permits for reconstruction of graves, and identification of persons buried in the cemetery of close relatives will be faster and more simple. Project will result in more accessible and efficient local administrative services in Biržai, Rundāle, Iecava and Nereta municipalities.

Results to be achieved in the project:

• 140 cemeteries digitalized in LT and LV;
• 15 pieces of equipment purchased for administrational service providers in LT and LV;
• 1 fence established in Iecava (LV);
• 2 specialized trainings for administrational service providers organized in LT and LV;
• 2 exchange of experience events for local administrational service providers in organized in LT and LV.

Overal Project budget: 485 054,92 EUR (including ERDF co-finance 412 296,66 EUR).

This <document/publication/article>information has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this <document/publication/article>information are the sole responsibility of Biržai district municiality administration and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.