E-governance, meaning ‘electronic governance’ is using information and communication technologies (ICTs) (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) at various levels of the government and the public sector and beyond, for the purpose of enhancing governance. The application of ICT to transform the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of exchange of information and transaction:
between Governments,
between Government agencies,
between Government and Citizens, and
between Government and businesses
Government Process Re-engineering using IT to simplify and make the government processes more efficient is critical for transformation to make the delivery of government services more effective across various government domains and therefore needs to be implemented by all Ministries/ Departments.
NATIONAL E-GOVERNANCE PLAN (NEGP)
negpThe National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), takes a holistic view of e-Governance initiatives across the country, integrating them into a collective vision, a shared cause. Around this idea, a massive countrywide infrastructure reaching down to the remotest of villages is evolving, and large-scale digitization of records is taking place to enable easy, reliable access over the internet. The ultimate objective is to bring public services closer home to citizens, as articulated in the Vision Statement of NeGP.
“Make all Government services accessible to the common man in his locality, through common service delivery outlets,and ensure efficiency, transparency, and reliability of such services at affordable costs to realise the basic needs of the common man”
The Government approved the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), comprising of 31 Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) and 8 components, on May 18, 2006.
Click the link to view the Official website for the National E-Governance Plan (NeGP)
E-GOVERNANCE INFRASTRUCTURE
Digital India
State Wide Area Network (SWAN): Under this Scheme, technical and financial assistance are being provided to the States/UTs for establishing SWANs to connect all State/UT Headquarters up to the Block level via District/ sub-Divisional Headquarters, in a vertical hierarchical structure with a minimum bandwidth capacity of 2 Mbps per link. Each of the State / UT can enhance the bandwidth up to 34 Mbps between SHQ and DHQ and upto 8 Mbps between DHQ and BHQ depending upon the utilization. Steps have been initiated to integrate all SWANs using the National Knowledge Network (NKN).State Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG): State Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG), is one of the core infrastructure pillars of the NeGP which would establish Electronic Service Delivery in all 35 States / UTs. This project aims to enhance the services provided to the citizens through Common Service Centers (CSCs) by carrying out the Implementation of the State Portal, State Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG) & Electronic Form application. It is envisaged that the common infrastructure (SWAN, SDC
2. Unit-I (E-Governance)
◦ What is E-Governance?
◦ Goals, Types, Need of E-Governance
◦ Advantages/ Disadvantages of E-Governance
◦ Issues/Challenges of E-Governance
◦ Evolution of E-Governance
Unit – II (E-Governance Models)
◦ Six models of Digital Governance
◦ Evolution in E-Governance and Maturity Models
4. E-governance can be defined as the process to
integrate the ICT (Information and
Communications Technology) for carrying out
the daily operations of governance.
The main aim of this technology is to boost the
ability of government for addressing the
requirements for normal public.
5. Creating a better business environment
Strengthening good governance and broadening
public participation
Improving the productivity and efficiency of
government agencies
Efficiency gains
Improving the quality of life for disadvantaged
communities
6. (G2G): Government-to-Government
(G2C): services by the Government -to-citizen
(C2G): Interaction of Citizens with the
Government
(G2B): services of the Government-to-
business
(B2G): Business Interaction with the
Government
8. Loss of Interpersonal Communication
High Setup Cost and Technical Difficulties
Illiteracy
Cybercrime/Leakage of Personal Information
9. E-Governance is the public sector’s use of
Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) with the aim of:
◦ Improving information and service delivery
◦ Encouraging citizen’s participation in the decision-
making process
◦ Making government more accountable, transparent,
and effective
The word ‘E-Governance’ can be viewed as
governance and the ICT revolution
10. To provide SMART government
◦ S - Simple
◦ M - Moral
◦ A - Accountable
◦ R - Responsive
◦ T - Government
To provide difficult but ideal Models for
◦ Smart Village
◦ Smart Municipality
◦ Smart State
Disintermediation – eliminating the middleman
or tout between the government and the people
11. To cut costs and minimize governance
complexities by business process reengineering
To include an online system based on the
Internet for:
◦ reducing middlemen and malpractices
◦ tackling corruption
12. Trust
Digital divide
Lack of Awareness
Cost
Privacy and Security
Accessibility
Low Computer Literacy
Resistance to Change
13. The e-governance issues that need to be
focused on:
◦ How will the performance of government
departments/public bodies be improved by e-
governance initiatives?
◦ What are the organizational effects of e-government
and IT?
◦ What are the correct strategies for success in e-
governance projects?
◦ What are the skills that are required by government
employees in an e-governance environment in the
Information Age?
14. The unequal access to digital technology,
including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and
the internet
Creates a division and inequality around access
to information and resources
Characterized by 3 types of gaps:
◦ Availability – Lack of available options for technology
◦ Adoption – Lack of user readiness and digital literacy
skills
◦ Affordability – Lack of affordable services and
products
15. Real E-Governance solutions were initially
implemented in Chile in the early seventies.
The current interest in e-governance
applications has its root in the “Information
Super Highway”, a concept initiated by the US
in 1990.
The focus was on the development of IT
infrastructure including the US, UK, Canada,
Australia, and India.
The interest widened to include socio-
economic considerations encapsulated in the
concept of an Information Society or
Knowledge Society.
16. Today, Commercial enterprises utilized ICT to
enhance their service quality, speed, and
convenience.
E-commerce became a boom and visible success
cases of ICT applications include:
◦ 24 hours ATM
◦ 24 hours call centres
◦ electronic shopping on the Web
◦ integrating TV with the Internet, etc.
Information system runs ‘back offices’ in various
sectors including financial, services, etc.
These ‘back offices’ are being handled offshore in
developing countries like India where manpower
available at low cost
17. The scope of ICT implementation in government
machinery results in:
◦ improvement of efficiency and effectiveness of the
executive functions of government
◦ greater transparency to citizens and businesses in
terms of greater access to the information generated
or collated by the government
◦ fundamental changes and improvement in relations
between citizens and the state thereby improving the
democratic process
◦ better interactions and relationships among different
wings of the same government,
state or local governments within a country.
countries whose governments are web-enabled
18. Any e-governance activity/project involves
appropriate:
◦ hardware and corresponding system software
◦ networking of the hardware identified above-both the
Internet and Intranet environment
◦ application software along with appropriate database
management software
21. ICT to governance activities can be manifested
in multifarious ways and models
Models are essential for the right perspective
on e-governance implementation
Each Model is based on the inherent
characteristics of ICT:
◦ Enabling equal access to anyone who is linked to the
digital network
◦ De-concentration of information across the entire
digital network
◦ Connecting all sources of information
22. Few Generic models have shaped up, found greater
recognition, and are being replicated
The information in these models does not reside at
any one particular level (or node) but gets
distributed across all nodes
This distribution of information may happen
through
◦ direct access
◦ public access
◦ convergent modes
Hierarchy-based information flow instead of
Equity-based
23. Governance models are
◦ fundamentally different in developed and developing
countries in terms of expectations of good
governance.
◦ still evolving in developing countries
Each model exhibits several variations
depending on
◦ Local situation
◦ Governance activities being carried out by them
24. Broadcasting/Wider Dissemination Model
Critical Flow Model
Comparative Analysis Model
Mobilisation and Lobbying Model
Interactive-Service Model
E-governance Maturity Model
25. Based on the mass dissemination of
information relevant to better governance
into the wider public domain using ICTs and
convergent media
This raises awareness among the citizens
about ongoing governance processes and
government services that are available to
them and how they can benefit from them
The application of this model using
appropriate technologies could reduce the
"information failure situations”
26. Putting government laws and legislation online
Making available the names, contact addresses,
e-mails, and fax numbers of local government
officials online
Making available key information pertaining to
governmental plans, budgets, expenditures,
and performances online
27. Putting key court judgments/judicial
statements that are of value to common
citizens and creating a precedence or future
actions online, viz. key environment-related
judgments, State vs Citizen court rulings, etc.
Project GISTNIC (General Information Services
Terminal of National Informatics Centre)
◦ NIC disseminates general information on 25 subjects
such as Economy, Education, Census, Tourism, etc.
◦ Setting up or maintaining websites for the public
using www.nic.in
28. Evaluation
◦ The first step to more evolved forms of digital
governance models
◦ It is a crucial model as
Enhances 'access' and 'flow' of information to all
segments of the society
Serves as a building block to better governance
◦ Government can use this model to provide greater
governance services to their constituencies and to
enhance the participation of citizens in governance
processes
29. Evaluation
◦ The model can lose its effectiveness
In the situation of optimal ignorance
In societies, where the free flow of information is not
encouraged
30. The model is based on channeling information of
‘critical value’ to a targeted audience or wider
public domain using ICTs
The targeted audience may include media, affected
parties, opposition parties, judicial bench,
independent investigators, or the general public
Those who would divulge such information could
include upright officials and workers,
whistleblowers, affected parties, and those who
were themselves involved in bad governance
practices but have now changed their minds
31. The use of this model requires foresight of
◦ Understanding the "critical and use value" of a
particular information set
◦ How or from where this information could be
obtained?
◦ How could the information be used strategically?
◦ Who are the best target group for such information?
The strength of ‘Critical Flow Model’ is the
inherent characteristic of ICT that makes the
notion of distance and time redundant.
32. Information on corruption (by an appropriate
legal authority) of a particular government
ministry or government officials, to its electoral
constituency or to the concerned governing
body (e.g., the websites of Central Vigilance
Commission)
Research studies, inquiry reports, and
appraisals commissioned by the government to
the affected parties
33. Human rights violation and criminal
impeachment records against government
officials to NGOs and concerned citizens
Environment-related information to local
communities, for example, information on
radioactivity spills, effluent discharge in rivers,
green ratings of a company
34. Evaluation:
◦ This model is more focused in terms of its
information content and its intended users
◦ Due to critical aspect, the model exposed the weakest
aspect of governance and decision making
Different organizations can use it differently depending
on the situation they want to address
◦ The model corrects information failure, raises
awareness about bad governance practices, and acts
as a hindrance to bad governance practices
35. ◦ The model exerts indirect pressure on the concerned
governance institution / policy-making body to move
away from optimal ignorance attitude to reform, and
take into cognizance the interest and opinion of the
masses in decision-making processes
◦ The model may not work
In cases where the governance mechanism does not
allow public debates and opinions and censures all
information of critical nature
Where the government maintains tight control over all
information
36. This model empowers people by comparing
cases of bad governance with those of good
governance and identifying specific aspects of
bad governance, the reasons and people
behind them, and how the situation can be
improved
The model continuously assimilates new
knowledge products and uses them as a
benchmark to evaluate, influence or advocate
changes in current government policies and
actions
37. The comparison could be made over a time
scale to get a snapshot of the past and the
present situation or could be used to compare
the effectiveness of an intervention by
comparing two similar situation
The strength of this model lies in the infinite
capacity of digital networks to store varied
information, retrieve and transmit it instantly
across all geographical and hierarchical barriers
38. Gauging the effectiveness of current policies by
learnings from government policies and actions
of the past
Establishing conditions of prior precedence,
especially in the case of judicial or legal
decision-making, and use it to influence future
decision-making. This could be useful in
resolving patent-related disputes, public goods
ownership rights, etc.
39. Enabling informed decision-making at all levels
by enhancing the background knowledge and
provide a rationale for future course of action.
Evaluating the performance record of a
particular government official or ministry.
40. Evaluations:
◦ Developing countries can effectively use this model to their
advantage as ICT opens access to global and local
knowledge
◦ Watch-guard organizations and monitor groups can use
this model to continuously track the governance past
record and performance and compare with different
information sets
◦ Requires the ability to analyze and bring out strong
arguments
◦ Ineffective in absence of a strong civil society interest and
public memory which is essential to force decision-makers
to improve existing governance practices
41. Mobilization and Lobbying Model is one of the
most frequently used digital governance models
and has often come to the aid of civil society
organizations in developing countries
The model is based on planned, directed, strategic
flow of information to build strong virtual allies to
strengthen action in the real world
It takes up the proactive approach of forming
virtual communities which share similar values and
concerns, promoting active sharing of information
between these communities, and linking them with
real-world activities
42. The strength of this model is in the diversity of
its virtual community, and the ideas, expertise,
and resources accumulated through virtual
forms of networking
The model is able to effectively overcome
geographical, institutional and bureaucratic
barriers to shape concerted action
It also provides a strong virtual arm to several
activities such as directing campaigns against a
particular individual or decision-making body
43. Fostering public debates on global issues,
themes of upcoming conferences, treaties, etc.
Formation of pressure groups to pressurize
decision-makers to take their common
concerns into cognizance
Amplifying the voices of marginalized groups
such as backward classes or minorities who are
traditionally marginalized from the decision-
making process
44. Encouraging wider participation in decision-
making processes
Developing global expertise on a particular
theme in the absence of localized information
to aid decision-making
45. The model enhances the scope of participation of
individuals and communities in debates that affect
them and helps them build a global alliance
A community may no longer find itself isolated but
may find an ally for mobilizing effective action
through this model
It also creates an effective deterrent for
governments and decision-making bodies that are
responsive to people's opinions to provide better
governance
46. The model could also be used favorably by the
government in a positive manner to encourage
public debates on issues where the opinion and
expertise of civil society are of great
importance and therefore could become a tool
to enhance democratic practices and improve
governance practices (especially in Developing
Countries
47. It is a consolidation of the other digital governance
models and opens up possibilities for one-to-one and
self-serviced participation of individuals in governance
processes
The participation is direct as this model fully captures
the potential of ICT and leverages it for greater
participation, efficiency, and transparency in the
functioning of government as well as savings in time
and costs relating to decision-making
It can bring greater objectivity and transparency in
decision-making processes, and give a greater feeling
of involvement and empowerment, provided that
individuals are willing to engage in the governance
processes
48. Under this model, the various services offered by
the government become directly available to its
citizens by opening up an interactive Government
to Consumer to Government (G2C2G) channel in
various aspects of governance
The interactive Government-to-Consumer-to-
Government (G2C2G) channel in various functions
such as the election of government officials (e-
ballots), filing of tax returns, procurement of
government services, sharing concerns and
providing expertise, conducting opinion polls on
public issues, and grievance redressal
49. Establishing an interactive communication
channel with policy-makers such as
videoconferencing and online dialoguing
Conducting electronic ballots for the election of
government officials and other office bearers
Conducting public debates/opinion polls on
issues of wider concern before the formulation
of policies and legislative frameworks
50. Filing of grievance petitions, feedback, and
reports by citizens with the concerned
governmental body
Performing governance functions online such
as revenue collection, filing of taxes,
governmental procurement, payment transfers,
etc.
Carrying out videoconferencing, and online
discussion with policymakers
51. This model is more embedded in e-governance
initiatives in the developed countries
The model is on the higher end of technology
reliance than the other models, making it
difficult to replicate in developing countries
without individual and secure ICT access
52. The E-governance Maturity Model, based on
the conventional software maturity models,
proposes some levels of maturity, depending
on the effectiveness with which the e-
governance efforts have been initiated,
implemented, or successfully completed
The E-governance Maturity Model proposes five
levels of maturity, depending upon the
effectiveness with which the e-governance
efforts have been initiated, pursued, utilized,
and institutionalized
53.
54. Level 1: Closed
◦ This is the stage when an organization does not use
ICT as a facilitator for good governance and has no
plans to do so in the near future
◦ This situation may arise due to a lack of exposure to
ICTs and associated benefits due to :
remoteness from the mainstream in terms of location
lack of resources and strategic thinking
◦ The organization is 'closed' in terms of being
connected and sharing information in the context of
e-governance
55. Level 2: Initial
◦ The stage when an organization has initiated the
automation of its processes but on an ad-hoc basis
◦ No organized efforts are made to undertake the e-
governance initiatives
◦ Due to a lack of direction many such e-governance
efforts are abandoned at a subsequent date
56. Level 3: Planned
◦ The e-governance initiative, at this level, is undertaken
with a systematic approach
◦ The organization has a clearly defined vision, objectives,
and goals for e-governance
◦ A need assessment study is conducted to prioritize
areas of implementation and gauge the extent of e-
readiness.
◦ Taking input from the need assessment study, extensive
planning has been carried out indicating policies,
strategies, various activities, stakeholders, roles,
responsibilities, and resources required in terms of
time, money, and manpower to undertake the e-
governance exercise
57. Level 4: Realized
◦ This level corresponds to the stage when the
organization actually realizes the complete e-
governance plan
◦ An integrated system is established where all the
internal processes of the organization are
computerized and there is a seamless information
exchange among all concerned entities
◦ A further classification within this level has been
proposed that measures the extent of realization of
the plan over a period of time.
58. Level 4: Realized
◦ These sub-levels are also indicative of the openness
and effectiveness with which the information is
exchanged among the various entities of the
organization (external and internal)
Retrospected
E-ready
Partially open
Open
59. Level 5: Institutionalized
◦ The organizations sustain the realized state over a
period of time so that e-governance becomes part of
its work culture
◦ Several iterations between planned and realized states
lead to institutionalization, when e-governance
becomes a way of life
60. Key Focus Areas (KFAs) indicate the areas that
need to be focused by an organization
A set of related activities when performed
collectively, help achieve a particular level of
maturity
KFAs are defined from level 3 (Planned)
onwards, as this is the stage from where e-
governance effort is systematically attempted
61. The digital governance models bring about a
transformation in the existing forms of
governance by changing the citizen-
governance relationship and bringing in new
agents and mechanisms to influence the
governance processes
The changes brought through digital
governance are fourfold
◦ They open up avenues for the flow of information
both vertically and laterally to encompass a wider
foundation of the civil society
62. ◦ The power equations shit from being concentrated at
select nodes to its even distribution among citizens,
opposition parties, and watchguard groups
◦ There is a greater scope to influence policy-makers
and members of civil society through collective
opinion, direct participation, participation in public
debates, and the use of advocacy tools
◦ Policy-makers become more aware of the voices of
people and can effectively involve them in policy-
making mechanisms
63.
64. Many nations have successfully implemented
the e-governance. It can only be applied if
the government of the respective country is
ready to apply it. Also, it improves the quality
of work between the two.