This course discusses the role of technology and electronic communication in development communication. It notes that over the last two decades, the communication landscape has changed significantly due to technological developments like the internet and computers. Electronic governance, or e-governance, aims to use online services and information technology to simplify service delivery for citizens. Some benefits of e-governance include reduced costs, improved access and convenience of services for citizens, and increased transparency of government operations. Several Indian states have implemented successful e-governance projects focused on services like land records, bill payments, and certificates.

1. Course Name: Development Communication

2.  The communication landscape in the country has been
undergoing major changes largely due to technological
developments during the last two decades. We generally
use the term cyber which means connected with electronic
communication networks, especially the Internet Use of
computers has revolutionized the process of collection and
dissemination of information. Internet is widely used by
corporate houses, educational organizations, inter-
governmental organizations, non-governmental
organizations and voluntary bodies.
The new technology, in fact is being increasingly used for
governance (Electronic governance) and during
emergencies.

3.  At the most basic level, it's about putting
services online and making it easier for
people to access them. On a broader
definition, it involves an effort by the
government to lead society from an industrial
to an information age.

4.  e-Governance sees the people in government,
business and citizens working together for
the benefit of all. If properly implemented,
the benefits of e-Governance are enormous.
Some of its obvious benefits are:

5.  e-Governance targets to use a government-
wide electronic information infrastructure to
simplify service delivery, reduce duplication,
and improve the level and speed of service to
clients at a lower cost. It recommends
creating, managing, and prudently sharing
information electronically among the various
government departments and the different
services offered by them.

6.  Different types of services offered by
different government departments like
collecting taxes, granting licenses,
administering regulations, paying grants and
benefits, can be availed at one place.

7.  Provision of fully interactive on-line services by e-
Governance gives public access to government services
with quicker responses at convenient times. This on-line
accessibility of stored information from remote locations
allows government officials to serve any citizen from a
government office located in any part of the state or
country.
Anywhere, Anytime Information: Delivery of services may
require interaction between government officials and
citizens, but delivery of public-domain information to
citizens can be done without any such interaction. Citizens
can obtain information related to government processes
and procedures through an on-line system without
interacting with any government official. There is no
pressure on individuals to physically visit a Government
Office.

8.  e-Governance will significantly contribute to
improved overall productivity of both the
government officials and the citizens, as it
ensures faster interaction among them by
electronic mail instead of moving paper files and
letters, and in streamlining the workflow of
internal government administrative processes.
On the other hand, improved productivity of
citizens results because of the facility of anytime,
anywhere services and information.

9.  The integrated information base of e-
Governance helps planners and decision
makers to perform extensive analysis of
stored data to provide answers to the queries
of the administrative cadre. This facilitates
taking well informed policy decisions for
citizen. This in turn helps them to formulate
more effective strategies and policies for
citizen facilitation.

10.  E-Governance uses the integrated
information approach for keeping all
information at one place in electronic form.
Thus, keeping the information secure against
theft or leakage. Proper backup mechanisms
also help in protecting the valuable
information from getting lost due to natural
calamities such as fires, earthquakes, and
floods.

11.  BHOOMI of Karnataka: The first e-governance project of on Land
Records Computerization System.
WARANA of Maharashtra: ‘Wired Village’ concept at Warana
cooperative complex in Kolhapur and Sangli districts in
Maharashtra.
RASI (Rural Access to Services through Internet) of Tamil Nadu:
Rural IT infrastructure in Tamil Nadu.
E-SEVA of Andhra Pradesh: Provides services relating to payment
of Utility Bills, Certificates, Permits / licenses, reservation etc.
CARD of A.P: System of registration through electronic delivery
of all the registration services.
Tax Administration: Better, faster, easier: In order to ensure that
tax administration, including that of VAT, is faster and easier,
the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers has
flagged off an initiative called the National Tax Information
Exchange System (TINXSYS) project across the country.
IT for Railways: Railway Reservation Systems and online delivery
of tickets.

12.  Community centres with IT: The Government of
India has set up Community Information Centres
(CICs) in the North East and Sikkim. These CICs
provide broadband Internet access at each
block.They provide services such as birth and
death registration, and act as e-Suvidha service
facilitation centres for marriage and SC/ST
certificates. They also provide information about
agricultural prices and related matters, and
educational and employment opportunities.

13.  Connecting the cops: The Kolkata Police has built
a WAN that connects the police headquarters and
important bureaus with more than 400 police
stations across the state of West Bengal. This
network is in its final stage of implementation.
The older special messenger system has been
abolished, and all information is sent over the
new network.
 Sukhmani: The government of Punjab
commissioned a project called Sukhmani as the
citizen gateway for over 120 services provided by
the government.

14.  E-Governance is also referred to as SMART Governance
because it aims at using IT to the processes of
Government functioning to bring about Simple, Moral,
Accountable, Responsive and Transparent Governance.
Emergencies: During/after natural disasters, it is difficult
to install radio communication stations for establishing
contacts with the outside world. However, much easier to
communicate through cyber media.
During the 2001, Bhuj (Gujrat) earthquake, cyber media
played an important role in establishing contact, treatment
of the injured and other relief and rehabilitation
operations

15.  http://mscsrtmu.blogspot.com/2016/02/role
-of-cyber-media-in-development.html