opening doors in rural india

E-GOVERNANCE

28 | July 15, 2012 visit www.dqindia.com DATAQUEST | A CyberMedia Publication

India is a nation of villages. The rural mass in the nation comprises the core of Indian society and also represents the real India. Accord-ing to the Census Data 2011, there are 638,387 villages in India that represent more than 72% of the total population. In a participatory

democratic society, ICT can be used for good governance, enhanced democ-ratization, and citizen empowerment.

Digital governance creates better connections between citizens and government and encourages their participation in governance. The process gives a chance to open up the avenues for direct participation of women in government policy making process.

It is also very significant in rural areas where people are deprived of get-ting benefits of the different integrated development programs. The applica-tion of structural and methodological ICT might reduce the social exclusion

As the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17) accords high priority to rural development, here is an attempt to give an integrated approach of the ‘g-local’ application of modern technology and review of rural e-government projects in India

Opening Doors in Rural India

DATAQUEST | A CyberMedia Publication visit www.dqindia.com July 15, 2012 | 29

which was raised due to lack of proper and quality information serv-ices in-time.

To make successful digital govern-ance two major dimensions can be considered—application of informa-tion and technology for the betterment of administration and application of governance to the cyber society. In the age of information society, the state can utilize the e-governance to transform the government’s plans and programs and provide efficient, con-venient, and transparent services to the rural people and rural businesses sector through ICT.

The application of ICT in the rural domain also helps the community de-velopment and enhances the mobility and transparency of local self-gov-ernment. A more flexible approach extends greater sharing of power between the state, the market, and the civil society via network policy.

When e-governance applies to the agricultural sector, it refers to the use of ICTs in delivering govern-ance products and services which are of use to farmers or those work-ing in the agrarian sector. Sharing the information with the agrarian community can fulfill the com-mon needs of farmers. It helps to enhance crop productivity, efficient cattle farm management, providing for national and household level food security, and the conservation of biodiversity.

E-connection broadly depends on technology and the selection of agen-cy. On behalf of the service provider (may be public or private organiza-tions like ICT project ‘E-choupal’ in Andhra Pradesh), the agency takes the entire responsibility to offer con-nectivity in rural villages.

It should keep in mind that the designing message for e-connectiv-ity should be citizen-centric serv-ices and selection of appropriate, dependable, maintainable, and cost effective services. There is a scope to introduce the Public-Private-

Partnership model to form e-stations (kiosks) to enable private entrepre-neurs to operate the services profit-ably and sustainably.

A good e-governance model pro-vides a platform where various com-munities and special interest groups represent themselves. It builds an environment with specialized exper-tise that can help answer questions and guide them to find solutions. This is called ‘community manage-ment system’ of e-governance. The main aims of e-governance are:n To strengthen and upgrade the

present infrastructure of IT in the ministriesn To bring in transparency

in its functioning by placing the informationn To interlink the functioning of

different offices to bring about syn-ergy in the aspiration and enable ef-fective and timely decision makingn To develop a public grievances

and complaints system and elimi-nate the need of personal visits to offices by the publicn To make available forms and

information on the internet and the facility of filling the applications from remote rural areas-web enables application system

Rural DevelopmentRural e-governance can provide timely information to the citizens and have the potential to spawn innovative means of wealth genera-tion in the rural context. An earlier research confirms that transaction costs have substantially reduced by adopting automated supply chain management models for selling agriculture produce.

Other studies show that e-govern-ment projects are successful in rural India as it acts as an intermediary between government and recipi-ents, while pursuing commercially sustainable objectives.

However given the high inci-dence of poverty in rural India, e-governance implementation to cover 135 mn rural poor is an in-creasingly complex process. Another study states that success stories of e-governance in rural India are isolated cases, and says that “sum total of the Indian experience in terms of two important parameters viz villages connected and lives transformed are yet too minimal”.

There are more than 50 grassroot projects currently using modern ICT for development in India. Yet, inves-tigation undertaken of an e-govern-

Key Takeawaysn Digital governance creates better connections between citizens

and government and encourages their participation in governancen The state can utilize e-governance to provide efficient, convenient,

and transparent services to the rural people and businesses through ICTn Given the high incidence of poverty in rural India, e-governance

implementation to cover 135 mn rural poor is an increasingly complex process

n A good e-governance model provides a platform where various communities and special interest groups represent themselves. It builds an environment with specialized expertise that can help answer questions and guide them to find solutions

n The inequity of the economic condition of rural masses should not create any hindrance to access their required information, which is considered one of the basic constraints in any participatory development

n Sharing the information with the agrarian community can fulfill the common needs of farmers. It helps to enhance crop productivity, efficient cattle farm management, providing for national and household level food security, and the conservation of biodiversity

E-GOVERNANCE


ance initiative Gyandoot, shows that though it is supposedly popular, its usage is still low and that it is not effective for the poorest of poor in the rural regions.

Studies point out that exist-ing e-governance models are more technology centric, which have been aped from the west and thus do not completely assure rural devel-opment in context of developing countries like India.

Emerging studies show that many of the claims that are being made about the potential of ICT for develop-ment are not supported, and point to the possible counter-productive ef-fects of the use of ICT. These also sug-gest that some of the good governance initiatives for poverty alleviation have not translated into social good due to slack institutional mechanisms.

There are also several gaps associated with deployment of the information village projects where the larger goals of empowerment, dignity and ‘preservation of tradi-tional technologies’ are not consid-ered. In view of such limitations, it is important to propose some alternative approaches to rural e-governance projects.

Paradigm Shifts in the Public SectorThe advent of the internet, digital connectivity, the explosion and use of e-commerce and e-business mod-els in the private sector are pres-suring the public sector to rethink hierarchical, bureaucratic organiza-tional models. Customers, citizens, and businesses are faced every day with new innovative e-business and e-commerce models implemented by the private sector and made pos-sible by ICT tools and applications, and are requiring the same from governmental organizations.

Recently, the public sector has began to recognize the potential opportunities offered by ICT and e-business models to fit with citizens’

wireless device). It also enables and reinforces their participation in local community life (send an email or con-tribute to an online discussion forum).n Government to Business

(G2B): Consists of the electronic interactions between government agencies and private businesses. The opportunity for companies to conduct online transactions with government reduces red tape and simplifies regu-latory processes, therefore helping businesses to become more competi-tive and establish a web presence faster and cheaper.n Government to Gov-

ernment (G2G): Refers to the relationship between governmen-tal organizations, as for example national, regional and local govern-mental organizations, or with other foreign government organizations. Online communication and coopera-tion allows government agencies and departments to share databases, resources, pool skills and capabili-ties, enhancing the efficiency and effectivity of processes.n Government to Employees

(G2E): Refers to the relation-ship between government and its employees. G2E is an effective way to provide e-learning, bring employ-ees together and to promote knowl-edge sharing among them. It gives employees the possibility of access-ing relevant information regarding: Compensation and benefit policies, training and learning opportunities, civil rights laws, etc.

The relationships, interactions, and transactions between govern-ment and employees in fact con-stitute another large e-government block, which requires a separate and very careful handling. Many people today refer to employees as internal customers. Thus an e-gov-ernment initiative has to take into account needs and requirements of this group as well to be customer oriented and centric.

The full exploitation and imple-

The advent of the internet, digital connectivity, the explosion and use of e-commerce and e-business models in the private sector are pressuring the public sector to rethink hierarchical, bureaucratic organizational models

demands, to offer better services to citizens and to increase efficiency by streamlining internal processes. ICT is said to cause a ‘paradigm shift’ introducing ‘the age of network intelligence’, reinventing business-es, governments and individuals.

Paradigm shifts prevail in the public sector too. The traditional bureaucratic paradigm is being replaced by competitive, knowledge based economy requirements.

The E-governance WebThe target of e-government encom-passes citizens, businesses, gov-ernments (other governments and public agencies), and employees. The electronic transactions and interactions between government and each group constitute the e-government web of relationships and the respective four main blocks of e-government, that are:n Government to Citizens

(G2C): Deals with the relationship between government and citizens. G2C allows customers to access government information and services instantly, conveniently, from eve-rywhere, by use of multiple chan-nels (PC, Web TV, mobile phone or

E-GOVERNANCE


mentation of these complex webs of inter-relationships requires e-ad-ministration—for automation and computerization of administrative tasks and for realization of strategic connections among internal proc-esses, departments, and functions; e-citizens and e-services—to realize connections and interrelationships among governments and citizens and to deliver automated services; and e-society—to enable relationships and interactions beyond boundaries, among public agencies, private sec-tor, and civil community in general.

Rural E-government InitiativesComputerized Rural Informa-tion System Project (CRISP): It aimed at facilitating the Dis-trict Rural Development Agency (DRDA) in the monitoring of exercise of poverty alleviation programs through Computer based Information System. Till date, four versions of CRISP applica-tion software packages have been developed. The fourth version was renamed Rural Soft. Rural Soft 2000 allows online monitoring of processes right from the desktop of monitoring agencies at the center

and state and enables a common man to access information using a browser based interface provided by the software.

National E-Government Action Plan (2003): National E-Government Action Plan suggested a list of core policies:

#1 Overall vision, mission strat-egy approach

#2 E-governance technology ar-chitecture, framework and guidelines

#3 Human Resource Strategy#4 Policy for front-end facilita-

tion counters, kiosks, integrated service centers

#5 Policy on back-end depart-ment automation

State Wide Network Area Project (SWAN): This project aims at providing high-speed, high-connectivity network con-necting offices at block level for faster access to government services. The GDI declared it on October 27, 2004 to bring e-gov-ernance to the grassroot levels because to develop a block as the basis tier of development admin-istration, provision of reliable network, connectivity, particularly in rural areas is imperative.

Rural E-government Projects in Indian E-choupal: To protect Indian farmers from practices of agents who escalate margin costs for their ben-efit and block market information, the International Business Division of Indian Tobacco Company (ITC-IBD) came out with an e-govern-ment initiative called e-choupal (which means a village meeting place). E-choupal is useful not only to the agricultural products but also for selling home appliances and consumer goods. Each e-choupal is equipped with a PC, internet connection, printer and Uninter-rupted Power Supplies (UPS). There are 6,500 e-choupals today. ITC is adding 7 new e-choupals a day and plans to scale up to 20,000 e-chou-pals by 2012 covering 100,000 vil-lages in 15 states, servicing 15 mn farmers. Transactions through these e-choupals may rise to about $2.5 bn by 2010.n Drishtee: Drishtee is a rural

model of distribution and promo-tional network for consumer goods and basic services. Information is provided to the users in the form of services via internet. Drishtee made a presence in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. A village entrepreneur is trained to handle the software. The hardware includes a web server, a district server, kiosks, and dial-ups. The database of the kiosk gets updated whenever the kiosk gets connected to the district server or the web server. Soochanala-yas or centers have been established to cater to 25-30 surrounding villages and buildings of Gram Panchayats.n Akashganga: Akashganga

uses ICT to facilitate rural milk producers by integrating all the operations of the rural cooperative society right from milk procure-ment to accounting. First pilot model of Dairy Information System Kiosk (DISK) is currently under implementation at Uttarsanda Dairy

DATAQUEST | A CyberMedia Publication visit www.dqindia.com July 15, 2012 | 33

Cooperative Society in Gujarat. One operator is required for filling of cans and another for measuring fat content and updating the PC. The infrastructure used to carry out these operations includes weighing balance, microprocessor, printer, milk analyzers and a display.n Gyandoot: Gyandoot has

been established as community-owned, technologically innovative and sustainable information kiosks in a poverty-stricken, tribal-domi-nated rural area of the state of Mad-hya Pradesh. Information kiosks have dial-up connectivity. The server hub is housed in the compu-ter room in the district panchayat. Kiosks have been established in the village panchayat buildings. The en-tire network of 31 kiosks cover 311 panchayats (village committees), over 600 villages, and a population of around half a million (ie, about 50% of the entire district).n Jagriti E-Sewa: The empha-

sis of Jagriti is deployment of ap-propriate, affordable, scalable and sustainable technologies available in the developing countries. The system works on LINUX, which is a ‘License-Free’ operating system. The whole system can be adapted to any language in the least time. The kiosks are located in villages where there is a sizeable flow of public on a regular basis. Each kiosk is set up to serve about 25,000-30,000 peo-ple and is owned and operated by a ‘Kiosk Franchisee’ who is typically an educated youth or an ex-service-man. It is ensured that the kiosk generates adequate revenue streams so as to justify its operations.n Rural Access to Serv-

ices through Internet (RASI): Sustainable Access in Rural India (SARI), now renamed as RASI, pro-vides internet and voice connectiv-ity to the villages of Madurai district in Tamil Nadu. The project has 100 internet kiosks in more than 100 villages. Current network technology

is based on the CorDECT that was jointly developed by the TeNet group at IIT Madras, Analog Devices Inc. and Midas at Chennai. A CorDECT access center is located roughly 25 km from the kiosks. Internet facility is provided with the help of Wireless Local Loop (WLL). Each kiosk is connected to the website contain-ing information relating to revenue, registration, rural development, education, health, agriculture and animal husbandry. The major source of income for the operators has been computer education for children.n Tata Kisan Kendra (TKK):

Tata Chemicals came out with TKK to help farmers in states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. The TKK tracks key parameters relevant to farmers, such as soil, ground water, and weather on a real-time basis with the help of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Satellite image processing can help detect unproductive farming practices, track the progress of insect attacks across states, get crop estimates or update maps. Currently there are 11 main kiosks and around 300 fran-chisee TKKs and is looking to set up 40 more kiosks and 800 franchisees to serve 48,000 villages.n LokMitra: LokMitra project

was developed by the National In-formatics Center (NIC) in Himachal Pradesh, in order to provide easy ac-cess at remote areas and to redress complaints. The LokMitra Intranet in Hamirpur district consists of 2 Pentium III based servers, with 4 Pentium III-based client systems. The servers and the clients are con-nected on a LAN. The client systems are used by the officials from con-cerned departments for answering the complaints and queries received and for updating with information. The LokMitra software interface is web-enabled and user-friendly.n N-Logue: N-Logue Communi-

cations provides telecom and internet services in small towns and rural ar-

eas of India. For operational purposes N-Logue divides the country into service areas corresponding approxi-mately to a taluka (Tehsil). Eighty-five percent of taluka headquarters in India have optical fiber today which acts as the backbone for telecom and internet connectivity. N-Logue ties up with a number of content provid-ers such as state government, rural development ministry, agricultural ministry and fertiliser/pesticide manufacturers. N-Logue employs WLL technology as the basis for its village-level communications.n Bellandur Project: Bel-

landur Project is a gram panchayat e-government solution. Working closely with the panchayat members and village residents, the software was designed to suit the needs of panchayat administration. Bellandur Rational Unified Process (RUP), a set of software engineering tools, enables a phased and iterative ap-proach to e-government. n Kisan Call Centers: Mainly

respond to the issues raised by farmers instantly in the local language on a continuous basis. The department of agriculture & cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture launched this scheme during April 2002 with a view to leverage the extensive telecom infrastructure in the country to deliver the extension services to the farming community. But there is a need to improve the awareness among farmers on KCCs, particularly the cost-free services through toll-free telephone so as to benefit needy farmers. Therefore Ministry of Agriculture has devel-oped a plan to strengthen the com-munications of KCC, the agriculture and line departments. n

ArpitA ShArmAThe author is a doctoral research scholar

[email protected](This is the first of a 3-part series)

Documents

opening doors in rural india