eGovernance involves employing information and communication technology in governance. It aims to provide efficient, convenient and transparent government services to citizens and businesses. The National eGovernance Plan in India aims to lay the foundation for long-term eGovernance growth by implementing core infrastructure, common service centers, and mission mode projects at central and state levels. Key challenges include organizational changes needed, information security and transparency, interdepartmental collaboration, and resistance to changes in work culture. Strong laws and statutory backing are also needed to address privacy, data retention and other legal issues that arise from eGovernance.

1. eGovernance
Explained
Mukund Nadgowda
YASHADA

2. eGovernance
“Employing
Information
and
Communication
Technology
in Governance”

3. WH
3
Just possessing Information & Communication
Technology (ICT)Tools is not enough.
It may make your life more complex
unless you are clear about
Why, when, where & how to use these
powers to get what we want in the
simplified way.

4. Our Transformations
First Wave
-
Agriculture Revolution
Second Wave
-
Industrial Revolution
Third Wave
Information Revolution, which in turn triggered
the concept of eGovernance

5. SMART Governance Characteristics
A Governance body having characteristics like :





Simple
Moral
Accountable
Responsive
Transparent
SMART Governance with focus around citizens, and
prefixed with “e” (usage of ICT tools to achieve desired
objectives ) is e-Governance.

6. Various Stake Holders in e-Governance
It is application of Information & Communication Technology(ICT) for interaction
between :
1. G2C, C2G-Government & citizens 2. G2B, B2G - Government & Business
3. G2G - Inter / Intra Government
4. G2E Management & employees

7. e-Governance Mission
Partnership between various stake holders with objectives as follows :
e - Citizen
: To receive govt. services, access them on line
24x7x365 days , and participate in
governance process
e - Business
: To access Govt. services, for faster economic
development, and participation in value
addition to govt. services
e – Employees : For better communication / understanding,
Increased productivity, participation in
strategic planning
e – Government : To Increase productivity / efficiency, build
good relationships with others for good
governance.

8. Citizen Centric e-Governance
When the focus of Government services is to facilitate
citizens to have access to information :
-
-
In the format convenient to them
at the place of their choice
Transparency about the decision making processes
Simplification of procedures of information access
To minimize the total processing time for requested
actions
An example
Technology should facilitate citizen to make payments of utility
bills (electricity bill, telephone bill or water bill) at one place
or automate the payment through bank. It should further
facilitate the citizens to interact with the concerned agencies for
queries / clarifications / adjustments etc.
( Aim should be to provide Single window service 24 X 7 X 365 )

9. e-Governance is a Process
An Illustration :
Development of Computerised Databases
and Dissemination of Information through normal
channels or Web technology is e-Government
Enforcement of laws for timely delivery of
services to citizens, Business and other
Govt.offices
through Internet or Intranet is eGovernance

10. E-Governance Applications
Few examples, where citizens interface with Government :
•
•
•
•
Delivery of Products (BSNL Directory distribution)
Delivery of Services (Hospital, Police, Post)
Delivery of Information (Govt. schemes, RTI matter)
Online Transactions (Applying for Driving License)

11. Practical benefits of e-Governance
• Simpler documentation
• Faster responses
• Simpler procurement
• Greater reach of services
• Accelerating education
• Public participation
• Simplified transactions
• Simplified interactions

12. Potential e-Governance Application areas
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Citizen Services
Employment
Bridging the Digital Divide
Revenue
Postal
Health
Education
Justice
Trade
Public Grievances
Human Rights
etc…

13. Evolutionary Stages in eGovernance
• Use of email, internal networking
• Intranet setup for internal activities
• Allowing public access
• Enabling 2-way communication
• Enabling online transactions by Citizens
• Enriching digital democracy
• Integrating with other applications / SSO

14. e-Governance : Challenges
The key challenges with
e-Governance are not the
TECHNOLOGY issues
but, they are the
ORGANIZATIONAL issues
Let us look into these challenges

15. e-Governance : Challenges
•
Realistic Needs Analysis
•
Redefining rules and procedures for
data collection, processing, storage,
dissemination, and decision making

16. e-Governance : Challenges
•
Information transparency / security
( Is it practical to have 100 % transparency ? )
•
Interdepartmental
collaboration
for
information sharing ( Horizontal & Vertical)
(How to change mind sets to employees to
come out of possessive nature ? )
•
Security and Legal Issues
( Who should be responsible for correctness of
the information having
multiple updation
/access rights?)

17. e-Governance : Challenges
Infrastructure
(Just acquiring computers is not enough.
People should be aware of their potential and
should acquire skill of using them optimally… )

Tendency to resist the change in
work culture
(Using a computer instead of type writer and
using email, instead of telephone can not be
treated as change in work culture. Some thing
more is required, What is that challenge?)

18. Challenges specific to Indian scenario
• Problem of priority (There are other important issues…)
• Infrastructure (lack or unavailability thereof)
• Diversity (Different languages and regions)
• Over powering (IT expert sector)
• Low quality of input (hence…)
• Low quality of output ( Garbage in / garbage out)

19. Words of Caution
Technology helps to reach the un-reached,
but it can make the things worse through
digital divide.
There is the fear of emergence of an elite
group who only may be the ultimate
beneficiaries of successful technology
application

20. Where do we stand ?
• In Countries such as USA, Singapore, Norway,
•
•
Sweden, online Govt. services are high.
In Britain, New Zealand, South Korea even the
general usage of internet is less when
compared.
Internet usage in India too growing and many
state governments are going online.

21. What is lacking ?
We have been doing computerization
NOT e-Governance!
We need to adopt a holistic approach!

22. What is e-government ?
It is the
transformation of government
to provide
Efficient
Convenient &
Transparent
Services
to
the Citizens & Businesses
through
Information & Communication Technologies

23. What is NOT e-Government ?
e-Government is not about ‘e’
but about government !
e-Government is not about computers
but about citizens !
e-Government is not about translating processes
but about transforming processes !

24. Minimum Agenda for
e-Governance
•
Intranet Infrastructure ( LAN, PC, Software Tools,
Portal /Vortal )
•
IT Empowerment of Officers/
Officials
•
IT enabled Services - intra and inter Departments (G2G,
G2B)
•
IT enabled delivery of services for masses - Public
Information & Facilitation (G2C)
•
IT Vision for the Sectoral Development

25. e-Governance Systems Development Steps
1.
2.
3.
4.
Have a clear vision and prepare action plan.
Choose projects that fit in action plan, if you
can’t, make them fit in.
Large e-Governance systems have to be divided
into manageable logical modules, each with a
goal that supports overall objective of eGovernance. ICT provides solution for plugging
such components to a great extent, even if the
modules are developed on different platforms.
There is need to contain cost by developing
portable / replicable modules, which can be
reused across different government.

26. e-Governance Systems Development Steps
5. The e-Governance architecture should be able
to support phased implementation. This is
possible by providing interlinked common
backbone
architecture,
and
customized
architecture at front end for deployment of different
e-Governance applications.
6. There is need to follow technology standards
for Databases, operating systems,Schema,
nomenclatures,
architecture,
communication
security etc.

27. Critical Success Factors
• People, Process, Technology
• Architecture & Standards
• Security
Implementation Models

28. Implementation

29. Points to Ponder
in Implementation of e-Gov
•
System Study Vs. System Development
•
Pilot Vs. Rollout
•
In-house Vs. Outsource
•
Make or Buy
•
Open Source Vs Proprietary software

30. Problems in implementation
• Budget constraints
• Too many disjointed efforts
• Lack of Infrastructure
• Digital Divide
• Shortage of Champions
• Local Language Interface
• No architecture and standards
• Too little benefits

31. eGov Applications
• Railway Reservation
• 7/12 / Land Records,
• E-Tendering
• Sevarth
• PlanPlus
etc…

32. The National e-Governance Plan
(NeGP)
http://mit.gov.in/content/national-e-governance-plan

33. e-Governance approach in India –
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)
The Plan seeks to lay the foundation and provide the
impetus for long-term growth of e-Governance within
the country.
It seeks to create the right governance and institutional
mechanisms, set up the core infrastructure and policies
and implement a number of Mission Mode Projects at
the center, state and integrated service levels to create
a citizen-centric and business-centric environment for
governance.

34. e-Governance approach in India –
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)
VISION
The NeGP aims at improving delivery of Government
services to citizens and businesses with the following
vision:
“Make all Government services accessible to the
common man in his locality, through common service
delivery outlets and ensure efficiency, transparency &
reliability of such services at affordable costs to
realize the basic needs of the common man.”

35. e-Governance approach in India –
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)
NATIONAL E-GOVERNANCE STRATEGY
• Centralized Initiative, Decentralized Implementation
• Identify services to be targeted
• Prioritize Services (Mission)
• Identify measurable service goals (Outcomes)
• Identify, Appoint & Empower Mission Leaders
• Create mechanism for effective Private Sector participation
• Put in place a common Infrastructure, Policies, Standards and Framework.
• Service delivery through Common Service Centres
• Think Big, Start Small and Scale Fast
• All services supported by infrastructure to facilitate web-enabled access
• Connectivity: State Wide Area Networks (SWANs)/NICNET
• National Data Bank/ State Data Centres ( SDCs)
• Common Service Centres (CSCs) primary mode of delivery

36. e-Governance approach in India –
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)
Core Infrastructure
• National eGovernment Intranet (NICNET, ERNET etc.)
• State wide Intranets
• National eGovernment Data Center
• State Data Centers
• Security Infrastructure
• Resource Centre for E-Governance
• GIS National Spatial Data Infrastructure
• Language Resource Centre

37. e-Governance approach in India –
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)

38. e-Governance approach in India –
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP)
Institutional Framework under NeGP
(CM- Chief Minister, CS – Chief Secretary, DIT – Dept of IT, GoI, PeMT – Project Governance Mission Team,
SeMT – State eGovernance Mission Team)

39. Legal Framework for eGovernance
IT Act, 2000, was enacted to “… provide legal recognition for transactions
carried out by means of electronic data interchange and other means of
electronic communication, commonly referred to as “electronic commerce”,
which involve the use of alternatives to paper-based methods of
communication and storage of information, to facilitate electronic filing of
documents with the Government agencies and further to amend the Indian
Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Bankers’ Books Evidence
Act, 1891 and the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.”
The focus of the Act is on electronic commerce and electronic records. It
contains provisions on digital signatures and authentication of electronic
records, legal recognition of digital signatures and electronic records,
retention of electronic records, attribution, acknowledgement and dispatch of
electronic records, security of electronic records, regulation of Certifying
Authorities, Cyber Regulation Appellate Tribunal etc. To facilitate the
implementation of e-Governance projects at various levels across the
country, a more holistic legal framework is required.

40. Need for Statutory Backing for E-Governance
As seen earlier, the DIT has been tasked with creating the
common core and support infrastructure, like the National and
State Wide Area Networks, NDC and SDCs, Common Services
Centres and the Electronic Service Delivery Gateways.
It is also laying down Standards and Policy Guidelines in its role
as facilitator.
There are complexities involved in evolution/development and
adoption of the overall technology architecture, framework
standards, security policy, funding strategy, service delivery
mechanism, sharing of common infrastructure etc.

41. Need for Statutory Backing for E-Governance
Data Retention and Preservation policies are important,
as paper files are replaced by electronic methods.
Data Privacy issues are extremely important. Citizens
may take Government Departments to courts on
leakage of data and privacy issues.
NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreements) with all vendors and
their employees is an aspect that should be carefully
examined.
Amendments to IT Act now have section on “Sensitive
Personal information” (Rules u/s 43A).

42. Stronger laws
Stronger and more effective laws and rules
related to usage of ICT will have to be formulated,
and strongly implemented.
This presupposes the adoption and use of
security measures more particularly empowering
and training judiciary and law enforcement
manpower with the knowledge and use of cyber
forensics and digital evidencing.

43. To conclude…
E-governance is an evolutionary phenomenon, and requires a
change in the mindset of one and all – citizen, executives and the
government.
With the support of the Internet, the government processes defined
by specializations can be made efficient, effective, and citizenfriendly.
There are many challenging issues lying ahead. Security is the main
concern, both for the Government and for citizens.
Redefining rules and procedures, information transparency, legal
issues, infrastructure, skill and awareness, access to right
information, inter-departmental collaboration, tendency to resist the
change in work culture, are the main concerns for the government to
address.