E governance in India

What is e governance?

The “e” in e-Governance stands for ‘electronic’. Thus, e-Governance is basically associated with carrying out the functions and achieving the results of governance through the utilization of what has today come to be known as ICT (Information and communications Technology).

Why e-governance?

The reason why countries around the world are increasingly opting for ‘e-Governance’ is that governance has become more complex and varied in the last few decades and more importantly, citizens’ expectations from government have increased manifold.

IcT facilitates efficient storing and retrieval of data, instantaneous transmission of information, processing information and data faster than the earlier manual

systems, speeding up governmental processes, taking decisions

expeditiously and judiciously, increasing transparency and enforcing accountability. It also helps in increasing the reach of government – both

geographically and demographically

SMART governance

Electronic Governance is the application of Information Technology to the processes of Government functioning in order to bring about Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) Governance.

Electronic governance also involves transformation from being a passive information and service provider to active citizen involvement. However, evolution of E-governance is a highly complex process requiring provision of hardware, networking, software and re-engineering of the procedures for examination of cases and decision-making.

Dimensions

Electronic governance involves transformation from being a passive information and service provider to active citizen involvement. Its dimensions could include the following: Single source of information for citizen Equality and ease of access Optimising resources of multiple organisations Intergovernmental participation Public networks Involving various stake-holders Stimulating debates Exchanging views and information Increasing participation by citizens in decision making Public information feedback

Pre-requisites

Some of the important pre-requisites for successful e-governance are:

Large-scale computerization Capability of Use of local languages in the IT systems Changing the mindset of government functionaries • Creation of Adequate and appropriate Infrastructure Standardisation in data encoding, application logic, user

interfaces, etc Knowledge Networking for better governance Creation of Public Key Infrastructure and Certification

Authorities

E- gov in India

At present, the picture of e-Governance in this country presents a wide variation in the level of computerization and the use of IT enable applications within and outside the Government.

In spite of sustained efforts, the entire Government machinery, specially in the States has not yet become fully available for the use of computerization and other IT applications. Some of the State Governments like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh etc. have advanced whereas some others have lagged behind for various reasons.

Rajasthan

Vikas Darpan (mirror of development) of Rajasthan envisages GIS-based planning and decision support system. Andhra Pradesh has also introduced APSWAN (Andhra Pradesh State Wide Area Network), a state-wide network for voice, data and video communication, which is the basic information highway for improving government-citizen and government-industry interface

Andhra & Gujarat

The Secretariat Knowledge Information Management System (SKIMS) of Andhra Pradesh efficiently manages information in the Secretariat.

The Disaster Management System in Gujarat maintains communication during natural disasters. VIDYUTNET, india’s first VSAT-based communication network supports real-time data application for power generation.

Kerala

Kerala has introduced the RD Net project (Information Keral Mission) to connect all the 152 block offices in the state with a view to transform local bodies into genuine institutions of self-governance.

In Kerala again, Office of Controller of Entrance Examinations has been automated to bring about transparency in allocation of colleges to successful students.

Other uses

In terms of delivery of public services, several states – such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu- provide online registration of property transactions.

Some of the other areas addressed for use of IT are: registration of vehicles and issue of driving licenses (e.g. Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu), land records (e.g. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu), and single-window/one-stop delivery of public services (e.g. Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu).

Other successful ventures

Gyandoot (Madhya Pradesh)Warana (Maharashtra)WEBEL (West-Bengal)

Watchwords

ICT Information society Digital Divide HypermedialityConvergenceMultimedia

What is ICT?

Information and communications technology (ICT) is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role ofunified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.

ICT & E gov

On 21 December 2001, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to discuss on information society opportunities and challenges.

According to this resolution, the General Assembly related the Summit to the United Nations Millennium Declarationto implement ICT to facilitate achieving Millennium Development Goals. It also emphasize on the multistakeholder approach to use all stakeholders including civil society and private sector beside the governments. 

Information society

It is a society where the creation, distribution, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity. The aim of the information society is to gain competitive advantage internationally, through using information technology (IT) in a creative and productive way.

The knowledge economy is its economic counterpart, whereby wealth is created through the economic exploitation of understanding. People who have the means to partake in this form of society are sometimes called digital citizens. This is one of many dozen labels that have been identified to suggest that humans are entering a new phase of society.

What does Digital Divide mean?

Definition - The digital divide refers to the difference between people who have easy access to the Internet and those who do not. A lack of access is believed to be a disadvantage to those on the disadvantaged side of the digital divide because of the huge knowledge base that can only be found online.

The digital divide appears in a number of different contexts, including:

Differences between rural and urban Internet access Socioeconomic differences between people of different races,

income and education that affects their ability to access the Internet Differences between developed, developing and emerging nations

in terms of the availability of Internet

Digital Divide in India

Population 1.24 billion2011 GNI per capita USD 3,620Internet penetration 12.6%(March 2013)Woman’s Internet penetration 8.4%Men’s Internet penetration 11.6%Internet gender gap (weighted) 27.4%

Growth expected

The number of users accessing the web on their mobile handsets in India is expected to reach 155 million by March this year, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

Hypermediality

Hypermedia is used as a logical extension of the term hypertext in which graphics, audio, video, plain text and hyperlinks intertwine to create a generally non-linear medium of information. This contrasts with the broader term multimedia, which may be used to describe non-interactive linear presentations as well as hypermedia. It is also related to the field of electronic literature. The term was first used in a 1965 article by Ted Nelson.[1]

The World Wide Web is a classic example of hypermedia, whereas a non-interactive cinema presentation is an example of standard multimedia due to the absence of hyperlinks.

The first hypermedia work was, arguably, the Aspen Movie Map. Atkinson's HyperCard popularized hypermedia writing, while a variety of literary hypertext and hypertext works, fiction and nonfiction, demonstrated the promise of links. Most modern hypermedia is delivered via electronic pages from a variety of systems including media players, web browsers, and stand-alone applications (i. e., software that does not require network access). Audio hypermedia is emerging with voice command devices and voice browsin

Convergence

Convergence of carriage: Maximum convergence is expected in the area of access network (telecommunication including data communication) or local delivery services (broadcasting) as technology now permits the use of the network for carrying broadcasting signals.

Convergence of Content: Content Convergence focuses on fully developing Web content into an integrated on-line experience that enhances the value of the printed and on-line products to both readers and advertisers. Creation of content that is

useful, interesting and empowers the user calls for the resolution of contradictory interests.

Convergence of Terminal: Technology and industry are moving towards achieving the

ultimate aim of Global coverage to provide anywhere and at any time communication of voice data and images.

3 G

3G, short for third Generation, is the third generation of mobile telecommunications technology.3G telecommunication networks support services that provide an information transfer rate of at least 200 kbit/s. 3G finds application in wireless voice telephony, mobile Internet access, fixed wireless Internet access, video calls and mobile TV.

This is a set of standards used for mobile devices and mobile telecommunication use services and networks that comply with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G finds application in wireless voice telephony, mobile Internet access, fixed wireless Internet access, video calls and mobile TV.