The advent of IT as a highly leveraged tool for delivery of services in the public and the private sector has by now been universally recognized. This has redefined the fundamentals and has the potential to change the institutions as well as the mechanism of delivery of services forever. It is in this context that the issues of SMART (Simplification, Morality, Accountability, Responsiveness, and Transparency) governance needs to be analyzed. “Governments are needed to provide services and e-governance will make it possible to give prompt, honest and visible service.” - Kiran Bedi."Government of wisdom is a consortium of eminent people who have contributed to the society with their abnegation and have come together to one single platform with an aim of counseling the government to govern efficiently".
The paper presents the various relevant aspects of Electronic Governance. It discusses in brief the relevance and scope of Cyber law in Indian context. Government of India and several state government have been quickly making provisions for e-governance in the country. Today most of the state governments have a degree of departmental computerization; many have basic information websites, and even IT secretaries. And state IT policies. The state governments are competing with one another to bring in transformation in governance through the IT.
Almost all the states have an IT policy, which not only intends to facilitate investments in Keeping in line with other countries India has also passed its first cyber law. The IT act 2000, aims to provide the legal backbone for enabling e-commerce in the country.
E-governance promises a plethora of benefits to citizens by accelerating and automating government-citizen interface and bringing about transparency in government functioning. Several states are using IT to revamp everything from payment of taxes, issuing of licenses, power distribution and even examination procedures. But these are yet only individual state government initiatives. Will it become a mass movement and have impact on the average citizen? Yes definitely. This will enable a healthy citizen-
Government interface. But this calls for a change in the mindset of bureaucracy.
E-Governance and the Citizens
E-Governance has two dimensions. The first is the application of Information Technology for the improvement of Administration. Second is application of Governance to the emerging Cyber Society. Even though, the concept of E-Governance is, in principle applicable to all types of Governance including Corporate Governance, the present discussion is focused on traditional responsibilities of a politically elected body (Government) entrusted with the administration of a society (Citizens). This system of Governance consists of the Ministry and the Parliamentary or State Legislative systems, down to the elected representatives of the Village Panchayat (in India). It also includes the implementation machinery consisting of the officials and any other organizations involved in the delivery of collective state administered services to the Citizens. The essence of EG is the Communication between the "Governing" and the "Governed" and the test of “Good Governance" is a "Harmoniously Living Society”. The system of EG is supported by five major pillars viz.;
1.Computers
2.Connectivity
3.Content
4.Consumers
5.Confidence Building
Here “Confidence Building ” refers to such of those measures that helps the citizens develop a confidence in the E-governance and encourages them to take to the E-Transformation. It is in this context that “Law” has a part to play along with “Education".
The Cyber Society
One of the key features in E-governance is to recognize that it includes an attempt to govern the component of the society, which is accessible through the "Cyber System". It therefore covers the "Cyber Society" within the "General Society". At the same time E-Governance also attempts to regulate the Cyber Society itself, because the Government controls the person and property of a Citizen. Most of the Conflicts and Issues in E-Governance arise because of the inability to accept the existence of two different societies with overlapping jurisdiction.
While one of the pre-requisites of a functional EG is to ensure a deep penetration of EG at least beyond a minimum acceptable critical level, at any point of time it has to deal with a mixed society, which consists of –
1.The "Cyber Society”
2."Non Cyber Society”
3.Adhoc Users of the EG system
who have not evolved into the “Cyber Society"
The "Cyber Society" consists of those who have adopted the "Cyber Usage" to a substantial extent. They have a culture of their own. They own Cyber property and participate in E-Commerce. This Cyber Society has its own "Boundaries" even though they are not bound by the boundaries of the geographical world. Such boundaries may be defined by various technology parameters. One example of such a boundary can be "Digital Identity". Similarly, a gaming zone that requires a minimum of 128 MB RAM can be considered bound by the minimum hardware barrier.
The members of the Cyber Society namely the Netizens have their "Rights" such as the "Right to Exist in Peace", "Right to Freedom of Speech", "Right to enter into legally enforceable Digital Contracts", "Right to own and maintain Cyber Properties"," Right to carry on Online Business or Professional Practice" etc. The State may have the right to "Taxation" provided it is providing any "Community Services" such as "Cyber Policing", "Cyber Judiciary", etc.
One of the practical challenges in EG is to ensure that the "Cyber Laws" not only satisfy the requirements of the "Cyber Society", but also are acceptable to the "Non Cyber Society" with which it interacts as well as the "Occasional members of the Cyber Society". In a country like India, where the Netizen population is only around 2 Million now (expected to reach 20 Million in the next two years), while the Citizen population is over 1 Billion, the need of managing the "Digital Divide" and its consequences are also important factors in EG. The Cyber Laws have to therefore manage these "Inter Society" issues to the Satisfaction of both the societies.
Cyber laws and EG
The Cyber Laws in the Indian Context came into focus with the Information Technology Bill-1999, which has since been passed as Information Technology Act-2000 (ITA-2000). This was the first comprehensive codification of Laws in India directly enacted for the regulation of the Cyber world. The ITA-2000 was a big step in the direction of introducing Cyber Laws for India. First of all, it provides a legal recognition for Electronic Documents and Digital Signatures as equivalent to the "Written" or "Typed" or "Printed" counterparts. (Subject to a few exceptions). It also sets the framework of procedure and standards for Digital Signatures. It also defines actions that are considered "Cyber Crimes" and suggests punitive measures. Besides, ITA –2000 has also defined the judicial system for trying and awarding punishments for Cyber Crimes.
In addition to the above, in the field of "Government-To-Citizen"(G2C) relation management, the following three sections of the ITA-2000 directly address the requirements of G2C (Government to Citizen) relationship management.
(Sec. 6) Use of Electronic Records and Digital Signatures in Government and its agencies.
(Sec. 7) Retention of Electronic Records
(Sec. 8) Publication of rules, regulation, etc, in Electronic Gazette
The above provisions provide a good framework for the Government departments to adopt E-Governance practices if they desire.
In addition, several aspects of Cyber Laws are being additionally introduced through Telecom Regulatory guidelines, the proposed Communication Bill etc., The impact of these "Back door laws" needs to be assessed carefully for their impact on the Cyber Society.
E-GOVERNANCE AND ICT'S STATUS IN DIFFERENT STATES OF INDIA
The interactive nature of the medium and its ability to make available statistics and figures were exploited fully by websites. Thus e-governance has become an integral part of democracy.
From October 18, 2000, transactions on the Internet have got legal validity in India, as the Information Technology Act, 2000, has come into effect. This has ushered in the era of digital signatures. It allows people, at least on paper, to conduct business with the Government without leaving the comfort of their homes and facing the discomfort of overbearing officials. For instance, in the future, it will allow Net-enabled people to pay their bills for utilities such as telephone, water and electricity on the Web. The framework may be in place but the procedures are not.
The Internet has broken geographical and cultural barriers. It is vital for citizens to receive the services they need when required at the minimum cost to the individuals. A government should be able to handle information quickly and efficiently; be it monitoring project status or reaching out to the people.
E-governance entails the process used to provide services to the public, while e-government is the tool to accomplish e-governance. The process should be a collective, collaborative effort to create an e-governance clearinghouse, electronically available, that will provide the public with a single place to retrieve information about e-governance activities in programmes, projects, training and education; policies and legislation; various initiatives and trends; and a directory of contacts and a telephone directory.
Ownership of personal medical information on the Internet can be given so that it could be easily transferred to various doctors and help the patient make more intelligent decisions about health care. The World Wide Web site would be so secure that even the operators of the site could not get to the information. If an environment trustworthy of the user is created, he/she will be more inclined to maintain a complete health record.
From October 18, 2000, transactions on the Internet have got legal validity in India, as the Information Technology Act, 2000, has come into effect. This has ushered in the era of digital signatures. It allows people, at least on paper, to conduct business with the Government without leaving the comfort of their homes and facing the discomfort of overbearing officials. For instance, in the future, it will allow Net-enabled people to pay their bills for utilities such as telephone, water and electricity on the Web. The framework may be in place but the procedures are not.
The Internet has broken geographical and cultural barriers. It is vital for citizens to receive the services they need when required at the minimum cost to the individuals. A government should be able to handle information quickly and efficiently; be it monitoring project status or reaching out to the people.
E-governance entails the process used to provide services to the public, while e-government is the tool to accomplish e-governance. The process should be a collective, collaborative effort to create an e-governance clearinghouse, electronically available, that will provide the public with a single place to retrieve information about e-governance activities in programmes, projects, training and education; policies and legislation; various initiatives and trends; and a directory of contacts and a telephone directory.
Ownership of personal medical information on the Internet can be given so that it could be easily transferred to various doctors and help the patient make more intelligent decisions about health care. The World Wide Web site would be so secure that even the operators of the site could not get to the information. If an environment trustworthy of the user is created, he/she will be more inclined to maintain a complete health record.
ICTs for E-governance
The new information and communication technologies (ICTs) have made significant contribution to achieve the goals of good governance in the developed countries. It has made the governance process more efficient and effective in bringing the citizens together to form the e-societies. With the emergence of pro-active Knowledge Societies, the Governments have no choice but to constantly improvise to bring in greater efficiency, accountability, responsiveness and transparency in their functioning.
The use of ICT for e-governance is principally characterized by innovation in computerized networking from Intranets to Internet – creating a wealth of new digital connections:
Connections within government – permitting 'joined-up thinking'.
Connections between government and NGOs/citizens – strengthening accountability.
Connections between government and business/citizen - transforming service delivery.
Connections within and between NGOs – supporting learning and concerted action.
Connections within and between communities – building social and economic development.
Merely putting computers in a government office won't help. We need to win the confidence of people (who are going to man them). Because over time people ingrain ways of living, thinking and working.
Planning and budgeting of governments should get more accurate, and monitoring should be more precise compared to what it currently is.
(1) Andhra Pradesh had computerized land records in sub-registrar's offices to lower corruption levels.
(2) The Delhi Corporation was now using software to collect property taxes more efficiently.
(3) Tamil Nadu has begun putting out its public exam results on the web to avoid students getting inconvenienced by a teachers' strike.
The Government is identifying areas, which require introduction of IT in the overall functional framework of the Government. Towards this end, IT literacy and training will be encouraged within the Government along with the suitable infrastructure. For a better citizen interface the following will be emphasized for computerization, viz., vehicle registration, land records, birth and death registrations, employment exchanges, payment of excise duty, sales tax and local tax, electronic bill payment of water and electricity, computerization of health records, relevant education through internet, work of Police and Police Stations, Criminal Justice etc. Government Departments and organizations will have E-mail communication. All important Government Policies, Acts, Rules, Regulations, Notifications which have a direct bearing on the members of the public would be made available through internet or other suitable networks.
Progressively network the information bases of all departments and field Offices into an appropriate Management Information System for the Government.
Indian language based systems are crucial for impact of IT at the grass roots level.
E-Governance will eventually provide an integrated government services through a single window by re-engineering of Government processes.
The use of ICT for e-governance is principally characterized by innovation in computerized networking from Intranets to Internet – creating a wealth of new digital connections:
Connections within government – permitting 'joined-up thinking'.
Connections between government and NGOs/citizens – strengthening accountability.
Connections between government and business/citizen - transforming service delivery.
Connections within and between NGOs – supporting learning and concerted action.
Connections within and between communities – building social and economic development.
Merely putting computers in a government office won't help. We need to win the confidence of people (who are going to man them). Because over time people ingrain ways of living, thinking and working.
Planning and budgeting of governments should get more accurate, and monitoring should be more precise compared to what it currently is.
(1) Andhra Pradesh had computerized land records in sub-registrar's offices to lower corruption levels.
(2) The Delhi Corporation was now using software to collect property taxes more efficiently.
(3) Tamil Nadu has begun putting out its public exam results on the web to avoid students getting inconvenienced by a teachers' strike.
The Government is identifying areas, which require introduction of IT in the overall functional framework of the Government. Towards this end, IT literacy and training will be encouraged within the Government along with the suitable infrastructure. For a better citizen interface the following will be emphasized for computerization, viz., vehicle registration, land records, birth and death registrations, employment exchanges, payment of excise duty, sales tax and local tax, electronic bill payment of water and electricity, computerization of health records, relevant education through internet, work of Police and Police Stations, Criminal Justice etc. Government Departments and organizations will have E-mail communication. All important Government Policies, Acts, Rules, Regulations, Notifications which have a direct bearing on the members of the public would be made available through internet or other suitable networks.
Progressively network the information bases of all departments and field Offices into an appropriate Management Information System for the Government.
Indian language based systems are crucial for impact of IT at the grass roots level.
E-Governance will eventually provide an integrated government services through a single window by re-engineering of Government processes.
IT centre for e-governance setup
Keeping in line with the increased thrust on e-governance, the Union Ministry of Information Technology has set up a centre focusing on e-governance solutions and services, showcasing applications by various IT majors such as CMC, Microsoft and Oracle. The centre for e-governance, aimed at providing transparency and facilitating speedy dissemination of information to all citizens.
The centre would offer services such as technical consultation, proof of concept and thematic presentations, besides creating awareness among decision-makers at the central and state levels and helping them in defining and implementing process and policy changes.
The centre would showcase applications by C-DAC, CMC, NIC, Microsoft, Oracle and IQ Virtuals to start with.
The centre has also drawn up a calendar of events for its various activities including seminars on effective electronic governance in the network age, e-governance technologies, showcasing State initiatives and success stories, seminars on out sourcing services and governance models.
The centre would offer services such as technical consultation, proof of concept and thematic presentations, besides creating awareness among decision-makers at the central and state levels and helping them in defining and implementing process and policy changes.
The centre would showcase applications by C-DAC, CMC, NIC, Microsoft, Oracle and IQ Virtuals to start with.
The centre has also drawn up a calendar of events for its various activities including seminars on effective electronic governance in the network age, e-governance technologies, showcasing State initiatives and success stories, seminars on out sourcing services and governance models.
Kerala embarks on e-governance
THE Government of Kerala has launched a project titled PEARL (Package for Effective Administration of Registration Laws) for computerization of the Registration Department in the State.
The PEARL project is an expanded version of a similar project called CARD (Computerization of the Registration Department) implemented in Andhra Pradesh.
The State Government had prepared a list of departments having a high-level of public interface for priority IT implementation as part of an endeavor to modernize governance through deployment of IT. The Registration Department was one on the list.
In the first phase, the PEARL project envisages computerization of 14 offices of the Sub-Registrar, one in each district in the State. The total cost of the first phase is Rs. 1.31 crores. .
In subsequent phases, the project is expected to be extended to all the remaining Sub-Registrar offices in the State over a period of the next one-year.
The main feature of the project is that it seeks to replace the existing registration system by online-based processing. To facilitate this, every Sub-Registry will have a local area network with adequate terminals for customer servicing. The project is being jointly implemented by the Department of IT and the Department of Registration with technical assistance from the NIC.
The project envisages the following major benefits to citizens: -
a) Presently, the time taken for registration of documents is one to two weeks. Under the revised system, this can be cut down to less than an hour. This ensures that registration procedures are completed on the day of actual registration and that the documents are returned to the parties the same day.
b) Encumbrance certificates can be issued within 10 minutes under the new system, as against the wait of up to a week as is the case now. Certified copies of various documents can be issued within minimum time as the maintenance and filing of documents are being done electronically. Data warehousing and retrieval systems are an integral component of the package.
c) Computerised print-outs of the documents obviate the need for lengthy and time-consuming preparation of handwritten documents. The entire process of document writing and registration is substantially simplified, as document writers are no longer required to prepare filing sheets in the new computerised system.
Moreover, the implementation of the project would pave the way for transparency in the department and enable more effective monitoring. It is also expected that this project would enhance revenue collection in the State and would lead to an improved, efficient and user-friendly administrative system.
The PEARL project is an expanded version of a similar project called CARD (Computerization of the Registration Department) implemented in Andhra Pradesh.
The State Government had prepared a list of departments having a high-level of public interface for priority IT implementation as part of an endeavor to modernize governance through deployment of IT. The Registration Department was one on the list.
In the first phase, the PEARL project envisages computerization of 14 offices of the Sub-Registrar, one in each district in the State. The total cost of the first phase is Rs. 1.31 crores. .
In subsequent phases, the project is expected to be extended to all the remaining Sub-Registrar offices in the State over a period of the next one-year.
The main feature of the project is that it seeks to replace the existing registration system by online-based processing. To facilitate this, every Sub-Registry will have a local area network with adequate terminals for customer servicing. The project is being jointly implemented by the Department of IT and the Department of Registration with technical assistance from the NIC.
The project envisages the following major benefits to citizens: -
a) Presently, the time taken for registration of documents is one to two weeks. Under the revised system, this can be cut down to less than an hour. This ensures that registration procedures are completed on the day of actual registration and that the documents are returned to the parties the same day.
b) Encumbrance certificates can be issued within 10 minutes under the new system, as against the wait of up to a week as is the case now. Certified copies of various documents can be issued within minimum time as the maintenance and filing of documents are being done electronically. Data warehousing and retrieval systems are an integral component of the package.
c) Computerised print-outs of the documents obviate the need for lengthy and time-consuming preparation of handwritten documents. The entire process of document writing and registration is substantially simplified, as document writers are no longer required to prepare filing sheets in the new computerised system.
Moreover, the implementation of the project would pave the way for transparency in the department and enable more effective monitoring. It is also expected that this project would enhance revenue collection in the State and would lead to an improved, efficient and user-friendly administrative system.
Rajasthan goes electronic
Rajasthan has kicked off an ambitious e-governance programme to link its villages, towns and cities through the Internet. The programme has received a boost with the two-day visit of President Bill Clinton to the desert state. The project is part of the government's "vision of e-governance using information technology to provide a transparent and more responsive service-delivery system.
The 9,000 villages will have the latest computers free that will store all relevant information regarding the state government, its departments and all necessary application forms such as those for ration card and electricity connection. "They can take a print out of these application forms and send it. The government has already changed its rules to make these application forms legal,"
The computer would also have almost every information needed on the government and its services -- from how to apply for government assistance to immunisiation needed for children. All of it is in Hindi.
While they could earn some money out of it, the fact that ordinary or illiterate people are mastering computer operations could actually spin off yet another social revolution. Thousands of men and women, well past their twenties and mostly illiterate, could take to computers.
Already, some villages in the state have effectively deployed computers to boost their activities. At Nayala, the local dairy co-operative society that women run already has a computerised milk testing facility. Every member of the dairy also has a smart card, and computerised system of recording everything from the cost of milk to the fat content. With that kind of precedent at the lowest levels, the State Government should have no difficulty in meetings its objectives.
The 9,000 villages will have the latest computers free that will store all relevant information regarding the state government, its departments and all necessary application forms such as those for ration card and electricity connection. "They can take a print out of these application forms and send it. The government has already changed its rules to make these application forms legal,"
The computer would also have almost every information needed on the government and its services -- from how to apply for government assistance to immunisiation needed for children. All of it is in Hindi.
While they could earn some money out of it, the fact that ordinary or illiterate people are mastering computer operations could actually spin off yet another social revolution. Thousands of men and women, well past their twenties and mostly illiterate, could take to computers.
Already, some villages in the state have effectively deployed computers to boost their activities. At Nayala, the local dairy co-operative society that women run already has a computerised milk testing facility. Every member of the dairy also has a smart card, and computerised system of recording everything from the cost of milk to the fat content. With that kind of precedent at the lowest levels, the State Government should have no difficulty in meetings its objectives.
PRE-CONDITIONS OF EG
To replace traditional governance by e-governance, traditional set of rules and regulations need to be replaced by a new set of cyber laws. Additionally, e-commerce requires good consideration. All the methodologies and modalities of electronic transaction have to be worked out, so that nothing goes unaccounted. The overall objective of cyber laws should be to provide a self-contained, simple and enforceable set of rules, which facilitate e-transactions. Another aspect is simplification of procedures, rationalization of various administrative processes, restructuring of government. Mindset of bureaucrats would have to precede the efforts of e-governance, else it will merely be computerization of traditional manual activities. This would also mean de-layering or re-layering of decision-making levels, leading to re-engineering and appropriate sizing of the decision-making as well as dealing machineries. [3]
Use of Indian Languages
Good governance is always delivered in local human conditions, with language being one of them. Language is crucial in implementing information technology (IT) in the process of governance. Local level database is maintained in local languages and the same has to be incorporated in desired interfaces available.
· Relative success of "one-way" transactions on-line (e.g. information dissemination) with respect to the greater challenge of "interactive" on-line transactions between government and citizens (e.g. consultation and services);
· There is a big difference in the degree of e-mail and web access of public servant at work. Some countries equip their public sector employees with PCs, but limit their access to the web. Using IT to strengthen their connections with citizens at the present time.
While many of the specific challenges of IT use are entirely novel, in developing an appropriate framework for the evaluation of on-line government services, the principles established for traditional service delivery may still prove valuable.
A cornerstone of this possible renaissance in governance is online voting.
Security and privacy, two major concerns, would be achieved through either encryption such as digital certificates or some form of biometric identification. Though the infrastructure for such a system would be costly, it could pay for itself by giving governments the means to offer taxpayers other services in a secure environment.
In India, the Information Technology Act, 2000 has come into effect, ushering in the era of digital signatures. At least on paper, the citizens can conduct business with the government without leaving the comfort of their homes.
E-governance is capable not only for speeding up transactions but also allowing transparent functioning. When it is said that e-commerce has shifted thrust from a company-driven market to a customer-driven one, so should it happen in e-governance.
Web sites can host a large collection of data that would never appear in the print due to cost factor. On the Internet, the 'information hole' is nearly infinite, and the publisher need not have to worry about the 'shrinking information hole'. The only requirement is that the matter needs to be properly split and links given to subheads so as to be user-friendly. The Internet gives the user the option of accessing the material of his/her choice. Web sites, with their voluminous stuff catering to diverse interests, have helped empowering people and also curtailing opinion-making tyranny.
Use of Indian Languages
Good governance is always delivered in local human conditions, with language being one of them. Language is crucial in implementing information technology (IT) in the process of governance. Local level database is maintained in local languages and the same has to be incorporated in desired interfaces available.
· Relative success of "one-way" transactions on-line (e.g. information dissemination) with respect to the greater challenge of "interactive" on-line transactions between government and citizens (e.g. consultation and services);
· There is a big difference in the degree of e-mail and web access of public servant at work. Some countries equip their public sector employees with PCs, but limit their access to the web. Using IT to strengthen their connections with citizens at the present time.
While many of the specific challenges of IT use are entirely novel, in developing an appropriate framework for the evaluation of on-line government services, the principles established for traditional service delivery may still prove valuable.
A cornerstone of this possible renaissance in governance is online voting.
Security and privacy, two major concerns, would be achieved through either encryption such as digital certificates or some form of biometric identification. Though the infrastructure for such a system would be costly, it could pay for itself by giving governments the means to offer taxpayers other services in a secure environment.
In India, the Information Technology Act, 2000 has come into effect, ushering in the era of digital signatures. At least on paper, the citizens can conduct business with the government without leaving the comfort of their homes.
E-governance is capable not only for speeding up transactions but also allowing transparent functioning. When it is said that e-commerce has shifted thrust from a company-driven market to a customer-driven one, so should it happen in e-governance.
Web sites can host a large collection of data that would never appear in the print due to cost factor. On the Internet, the 'information hole' is nearly infinite, and the publisher need not have to worry about the 'shrinking information hole'. The only requirement is that the matter needs to be properly split and links given to subheads so as to be user-friendly. The Internet gives the user the option of accessing the material of his/her choice. Web sites, with their voluminous stuff catering to diverse interests, have helped empowering people and also curtailing opinion-making tyranny.
Openness in governance
E-governance has two aspects: (i) an easy interface among government departments, and (ii) openness in governance. Of course, several states in India have attempted the former, but little has been done to use IT for ushering in openness in governance. This democratic aspect is conveniently given a goby.
The present e-governance dishes out information just one-way about government policies with a lot of statistics. The recipient of information is not allowed to have a participatory role. Even the material provided is of outdated stuff clouded with bureaucratic jargons.
The right to information ushered in through e-governance also calls for prior decentralization in power structure and decision-making. The Internet is an open medium with four major features: e-mail, Web site, search engines and MUD (multi-user domain). All these features should be optimally used for a participatory decision-making. The governance will be put through a high level of scrutiny by the transparency resulting out of the interactions.
The present e-governance dishes out information just one-way about government policies with a lot of statistics. The recipient of information is not allowed to have a participatory role. Even the material provided is of outdated stuff clouded with bureaucratic jargons.
The right to information ushered in through e-governance also calls for prior decentralization in power structure and decision-making. The Internet is an open medium with four major features: e-mail, Web site, search engines and MUD (multi-user domain). All these features should be optimally used for a participatory decision-making. The governance will be put through a high level of scrutiny by the transparency resulting out of the interactions.
Focal Domains for e-Governance Initiatives
Implementation
e-Governance should be implemented as a three-tiered entity. The lowest tier, or the infrastructure, consists of servers, clients and data network. The clients can be desktop clients, mobile clients and, in future, set-top boxes. Wireless, telephone and dedicated data-network connectivity has to be considered for the network. The top tier consists of diverse e-Governance solutions and services created from a large set of applications developed independently by different vendors.
Connecting these two tiers is a vital middle tier, the e-Governance framework or middleware. The middleware offers:
1. Software components to develop robust applications.
2. Access to essential data.
3. Integration of applications. Many solutions desirable to e-Govt users will require simultaneous use of multiple applications or services, perhaps managed by different government departments and developed by different application developers. For example, income tax processing for a user may require access to the sales-tax records of his business and that of his suppliers. The e-Governance middleware will offer tools and services to integrate applications and processes defined by these applications to create solutions and processes that span the applications.
The list of software components listed in point one above is not exhaustive. It is best to add new software components to the middleware over time to support new applications or features in new releases of existing applications. To allow these new components to be written by diverse software vendors, the e-Governance framework should be based on open platforms and standards compliant components.
e-Governance should be implemented as a three-tiered entity. The lowest tier, or the infrastructure, consists of servers, clients and data network. The clients can be desktop clients, mobile clients and, in future, set-top boxes. Wireless, telephone and dedicated data-network connectivity has to be considered for the network. The top tier consists of diverse e-Governance solutions and services created from a large set of applications developed independently by different vendors.
Connecting these two tiers is a vital middle tier, the e-Governance framework or middleware. The middleware offers:
1. Software components to develop robust applications.
2. Access to essential data.
3. Integration of applications. Many solutions desirable to e-Govt users will require simultaneous use of multiple applications or services, perhaps managed by different government departments and developed by different application developers. For example, income tax processing for a user may require access to the sales-tax records of his business and that of his suppliers. The e-Governance middleware will offer tools and services to integrate applications and processes defined by these applications to create solutions and processes that span the applications.
The list of software components listed in point one above is not exhaustive. It is best to add new software components to the middleware over time to support new applications or features in new releases of existing applications. To allow these new components to be written by diverse software vendors, the e-Governance framework should be based on open platforms and standards compliant components.
Advantages of E-Governance
E-governance allows truly & directs participation of citizens to communicate with government in policy and decision-making, and citizens to communicate with each other, which help to reflect their veridical needs and welfare.
There are direct and objective benefits the ICT can bring. For example, use of ICT by government can bring benefits both internally and externally:
Internally, providing benefits such as better staff motivation or greater political control or an improved public image.
Externally, by delivering cheaper, better services to those who depend on government. Indirectly by demonstrating the benefits of ICT to the wider population; by catalyzing the local IT industry; and by encouraging foreign investment.
At root, e-governance has the power of ICT, which provide three basic change potentials for good governance:
Automation
Information Processing
Transformation.
There are direct and objective benefits the ICT can bring. For example, use of ICT by government can bring benefits both internally and externally:
Internally, providing benefits such as better staff motivation or greater political control or an improved public image.
Externally, by delivering cheaper, better services to those who depend on government. Indirectly by demonstrating the benefits of ICT to the wider population; by catalyzing the local IT industry; and by encouraging foreign investment.
At root, e-governance has the power of ICT, which provide three basic change potentials for good governance:
Automation
Information Processing
Transformation.
Efficiency gains:
Governance that is cheaper - producing the same outputs at lower total cost.
Governance that does more - producing more outputs at the same total cost and time.
Governance that is quicker - producing the same outputs at the same total cost in less time.
Governance that does more - producing more outputs at the same total cost and time.
Governance that is quicker - producing the same outputs at the same total cost in less time.
Effectiveness gains:
Governance that works better - producing outputs with higher quality standards.
Governance that is innovative - producing new outputs.
Governance that is innovative - producing new outputs.
E-governance will support on:
Poverty Alleviation
Sustainable Development
Cut costs
Speed up decision-making and service delivery
Enhance Capacity of authorities / Customers
Procedures became Simple
Connectivity is increased
Increased Interaction between Government, Business and Citizens
Transparency and Accountability
Global Advocacy and Communication
Changing Lifestyles and Political Sensibilities
Enable innovative approaches
Sustainable Development
Cut costs
Speed up decision-making and service delivery
Enhance Capacity of authorities / Customers
Procedures became Simple
Connectivity is increased
Increased Interaction between Government, Business and Citizens
Transparency and Accountability
Global Advocacy and Communication
Changing Lifestyles and Political Sensibilities
Enable innovative approaches
Anomalies
The Central Government is yet to talk of e-governance at the highest level. There are small initiatives such as applying for jobs online and online procurement, but nothing major. Worse, there is nobody taking ownership for e-governance from the government of India. According to sources at the Ministry of Information Technology (MIT), it is not surprising because seriously implementing e-governance calls for restructuring procedures as well as doing away with the existing system.
At the most fundamental level, e-governance would mean facilitating citizen-government interface by making it not just efficient but transparent as well. Now, such a definition is yet to find its way among the formal statements issued by the Government of India.
There is considerable enthusiasm at the individual department level driven by forward-looking individuals. But a cohesive movement is lacking. MIT is talking in terms of broad open standards, which can be followed by different states.
The Central Government would like the states to create the right environment for IT. The importance of the IT industry is gradually being recognized by state governments. Not all of them had recognized this so far.
In most contemporary democracies that political culture consists of an overlapping set of assumptions shaped by many different aspects of a society's history, culture, language and political orientation. By increasing possibilities for greater participation in the context of 'informational politics', new technologies are serving to weaken the processes for a more reflective and constructive deliberation that might already exist outside that context. New technologies can increase opportunities for participation.
They are given information about the issue and the power to call experts or witnesses and are then polled at the end of this period. The advantages of the deliberative polling technique would seem to be that not only are the results of 'snapshot polls' and 'deliberative polls' markedly different - showing perhaps that deliberation does indeed alter decisions - but that individuals who take part in such deliberative polls are strongly engaged by the experience and energized in their democratic commitments for the future.
At the most fundamental level, e-governance would mean facilitating citizen-government interface by making it not just efficient but transparent as well. Now, such a definition is yet to find its way among the formal statements issued by the Government of India.
There is considerable enthusiasm at the individual department level driven by forward-looking individuals. But a cohesive movement is lacking. MIT is talking in terms of broad open standards, which can be followed by different states.
The Central Government would like the states to create the right environment for IT. The importance of the IT industry is gradually being recognized by state governments. Not all of them had recognized this so far.
In most contemporary democracies that political culture consists of an overlapping set of assumptions shaped by many different aspects of a society's history, culture, language and political orientation. By increasing possibilities for greater participation in the context of 'informational politics', new technologies are serving to weaken the processes for a more reflective and constructive deliberation that might already exist outside that context. New technologies can increase opportunities for participation.
They are given information about the issue and the power to call experts or witnesses and are then polled at the end of this period. The advantages of the deliberative polling technique would seem to be that not only are the results of 'snapshot polls' and 'deliberative polls' markedly different - showing perhaps that deliberation does indeed alter decisions - but that individuals who take part in such deliberative polls are strongly engaged by the experience and energized in their democratic commitments for the future.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING E-GOVERNANCE IN INDIA
For e-governance to reach masses in rural or remote areas, it has to be cheap intelligible-governance is to be used for human and economic development in the rural remote areas. This would require applications as well as finance. E-governance infrastructure should be available at an affordable cost and the benefits of e-governance should be communicated to the masses in the languages, which they understand. The cost of usage, and reliability of access are also important issues to be dealt with.In India, Internet presentation is very low. There is a lack of high-speed Internet backbone. Most of the people are still unaware of the latest trends in information Communication Technologies.
Illiteracy is also a major hurdle in the development of rural areas. E-governance should change the attitude and psychology of the people by educating them. India can have mass PC and Internet use only if we have useful content for the masses. It may take us long to give physical connectivity by way of roads; but we can connect all the villages electronically within five years; the latter is far cheaper.
Now :
There is no doubt that e-governance has emerged as vehicle of rapid transformation in every society.
E-governance acts as a tool for providing effective linkages between the citizens and the government. By the conversation between citizens and government, it brings the citizens and the government closer to each other.
States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra have initiated step for advancement ground application of information technology .The establishment of necessary information network infrastructure plan has been carried out for governance, high quality education and other sector.
E-governance has to go hand in hand with all the other welfare measures adopted by the government. Whatever approach it adopts, in the end what finally measures the success of any policy is its benefit to citizens. If the government is not able to improve the life of the common man, there is no point implementing any amount of IT. And more than infrastructure, it would need cultural re-orientation or a change in the mindset of the bureaucracy. The “Year of e-governance” calls for a more committed approach; else, the government’s ambitious e-agenda may remain a pipe dream.
E-governance acts as a tool for providing effective linkages between the citizens and the government. By the conversation between citizens and government, it brings the citizens and the government closer to each other.
States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra have initiated step for advancement ground application of information technology .The establishment of necessary information network infrastructure plan has been carried out for governance, high quality education and other sector.
E-governance has to go hand in hand with all the other welfare measures adopted by the government. Whatever approach it adopts, in the end what finally measures the success of any policy is its benefit to citizens. If the government is not able to improve the life of the common man, there is no point implementing any amount of IT. And more than infrastructure, it would need cultural re-orientation or a change in the mindset of the bureaucracy. The “Year of e-governance” calls for a more committed approach; else, the government’s ambitious e-agenda may remain a pipe dream.
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