E-Government can be defined as the use of information and communications
technologies by governments to enhance the range and quality of information and
services provided to citizens, businesses, civil society organizations, and other
government agencies in an efficient, cost-effective and convenient manner, making
government processes more transparent and accountable and strengthening
democracy.
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E-GOVERNANCE
E-Government can be defined as the use of information and communications
technologies by governments to enhance the range and quality of information and
services provided to citizens, businesses, civil society organizations, and other
government agencies in an efficient, cost-effective and convenient manner, making
government processes more transparent and accountable and strengthening
democracy.
According to world bank: “E-Government refers to the use by government agencies
of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile
computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses,
and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different
ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions
with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information,
or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits can be less
corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/ or
cost reductions.”
DIGITAL INDIA PROGRAMME
“Digital India” Programme launched by The Honorable Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on 1st July 2015. The “Digital India” initiative aims at availing digitizing of
various individual projects of all central government and ministries like education,
health services and other services, that can be delivered to citizens using
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by joining all the areas of
India including the Gram Panchayats at high speed internet through broadband
connectivity, in order to focus on the e-governance till 2019.
Vision of Digital India initiative:
Here is what the government of India aims to achieve through Digital India
initiative.
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1. Infrastructure: The Digital India initiative has a vision to provide high speed
internet services to its citizens in all gram panchayats. Bank accounts will be
given priority at individual level. People will be provided with safe and secure
cyber space in the country.
2. Governance and services: Government services will be available online
where citizens will be ensured easy access to it. Transactions will be made easy
through electronic medium.
3. Digital empowerment of citizens: This is one of the most important factor
of the Digital India initiative to provide universal digital literacy and make digital
sources easily accessible. The services are also provided in Indian languages for
active participation.
Nine pillars of digital India
1. Manufacturing of electronics: The government is focusing on zero imports
of electronics. In order to achieve this, the government aims to put up smart
energy meters, micro ATMs, mobile, consumer and medical electronics.
2. Provide public access to internet: The government aims to provide
internet services to 2.5 lakh villages which comprises of one in every panchayat
by March 2017 and 1.5 lakh post offices in the next two years. These post offices
will become Multi-Service centers for the people.
3. Highways to have broadband services: Government aims to lay national
optical fiber network in all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats. Broadband for the rural will
be laid by December 2016 and broadband for all urban will mandate
communication infrastructure in new urban development and buildings. By
March 2017, the government aims to provide nationwide information
infrastructure.
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4. Easy access to mobile connectivity: The government is taking steps to
ensure that by 2018 all villages are covered through mobile connectivity. The aim
is to increase network penetration and cover gaps in all 44,000 villages.
5. e-Governance: The government aims to improve processes and delivery of
services through e-Governance with UIDAI, payment gateway, EDI and mobile
platforms. School certificates, voter ID cards will be provided online. This aims
for a faster examination of data.
6. IT Training for Jobs: The government aims to train around 1 crore students
from small towns and villages for IT sector by 2020. Setting up of BPO sectors in
North eastern states is also part of the agenda.
7. e-Kranti: This service aims to deliver electronic services to people which
deals with health, education, farmers, justice, security and financial inclusion.
8. Global Information: Hosting data online and engaging social media
platforms for governance is the aim of the government. Information is also easily
available for the citizens.
9. Early harvest programs: Government plans to set up Wi-Fi facilities in all
universities across the country. Email will be made the primary mode of
communication. Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance System will be deployed
in all central government offices where recording of attendance will be made
online.
Just a decade ago, in India, monthly bank visits were routine. We would never
buy clothes without trying them on. And, we certainly never thought social
networking sites that helped reconnect with long-lost friends would become
engines of commerce. Yet, here we are.
In 2015, India crossed a new Internet milestone of 375 million Internet users,
which exceeds the population of the US, making it the world's second largest
country by the number of Internet users after China. More than half of these
users access the Internet through a mobile phone.
The important critical mass to sustain a digital economy is now a foregone
conclusion. Yet, India was ranked 131 out of 167 countries in the recent
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Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Development Index. The
ICT Development Index is based on three indicators: access, use and skills in ICT.
So, what's missing?
Challenges & Changes Needed
The ambitious Digital India programme which is focused on 9 pillars and aims to
connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats is much needed for India in the digital age to
help the poor access digital dividends.
Challenges faced by Digital India programme are as follows:
1. Digital infrastructure: The programme will require huge investment
and costs to build the primary infrastructure which the government alone
cannot afford. The scheme is based on earlier NOFN which could not
achieve the desired targets.
2. Digital literacy: Providing internet access alone is not sufficient as
large part of India cannot access digital infrastructure due to lack of
knowledge.
3. Privacy and security: The programme faces huge challenge of cyber
security as out institutional safeguards are not sufficient enough to tackle
the new challenges. Further data gathering is a debatable issue.
4. Local needs: Such programme will require special attention to needs
like sector specific, language specific, gender specific demands.
5. Economically unviable: as revenue generation methods are not
developed.
These challenges can be addressed in following ways:
1. PPP model: can be of immensely helpful as private sector in India has
gained expertise in communication networks area.
2. Involving Private sector: Their infrastructure can be used to
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complement DI programme. Eg: Allowing virtual network operators,
Project Loon by Google.
3. Digital literacy: Schemes like National Digital Literacy Mission
and Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (DISHA) are a step in right direction.
4. Cyber security: Privacy law need to be put in Place, high encryption
standards along with review of IT act is necessary.
CONCLUSION
Digital India is a large umbrella program which will restructure and re-focus
several existing schemes to bring in a transformative impact. The Digital India
vision aims to transform our country into a digital economy with participation
from citizens and businesses. This initiative will ensure that all government
services and information are available anywhere, anytime, on any device that is
easy-to-use, seamless, highly-available and secured. The Digital India program is
just the beginning of a digital revolution, once implemented properly it will open
various new opportunities for the citizens. It is one of the highly ambitious
programs of Indian government, and is directly monitored by Hon’ble Prime
Minister of India. The program is a multi-ministry program, with the
involvement of central cabinet ministers, state governments etc. Various grand
companies like Microsoft, Google and Fujitsu will also be agreed partner and help
the success of Digital India initiative. While there are many obstacles in the path
of Digital India program, one major of which is electricity. But this problem will
soon be solved as there will be pressure on local leaders to get electricity in their
village when Digital India program will be running in the nearby villages
