E-Governance applications, models, successes,limitations, and potential

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 ICT (Information and Communications Technology), So it is the application of Communication-technology/”>Information and communication technology (ICT) for delivering government Services, exchange of information, communication transactions, integration of various stand-alone systems and services between government-to-customer (G2C), government-to-business (G2B), government-to-government (G2G) as well as back office processes and interactions within the entire government framework.[1] Through e-governance, government services will be made available to citizens in a convenient, efficient and transparent manner. The three main target groups that can be distinguished in governance concepts are government, citizens and businesses/interest groups.

 

Types of government Interaction in e-governance.

  • G2G: Government to Government 

  • G2C:Government to Citizen 

  • G2BGovernment to Business

  • G2E:Government to Employee

 

  1. G2G (Government to Government): When the exchange of information and services is within the periphery of the government, is termed as G2G interaction. This can be both horizontal, i.e. among various government entities and vertical, i.e. between national, state and Local Government entities and within different levels of the entity.

 

  1. G2C (Government to Citizen): The interaction amidst the government and general public is G2C interaction. Here an interface is set up between government and citizens, which enables citizens to get access to wide variety of public services. The citizens has the freedom to share their views and grievances on government policies anytime, anywhere.

 

  1. G2B (Government to Business): In this case, the e-governance helps the business class to interact with the government seamlessly. It aims at eliminating red-tapism, saving time, cost and establish transparency in the business Environment, while interacting with government.

 

  1. G2E (Government to Employees): The government of any country is the biggest employer and so it also deals with employees on a regular basis, as other employers do. ICT helps in making the interaction between government and employees fast and efficient, along with raising their level of satisfaction by providing perquisites and add-on benefits.

E-governance can only be possible if the government is ready for it. It is not a one day task, and so the government has to make plans and implement them before switching to it. Some of the measures include Investment in Telecommunication Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE, budget Resources, ensure security, monitor assessment, Internet connectivity speed, promote awareness among public regarding the importance, support from all government departments and so forth.

Benefits of E-governance

  • Reduced Corruption
  • High transparency
  • Increased convenience
  • Growth in GDP
  • Direct participation of constituents
  • Reduction in overall cost.
  • Expanded reach of government

Through e-governance, the government plans to raise the coverage and quality of information and services provided to the general public, by the use of ICT in an easy, economical and effective manner. The process is extremely complicated which requires, the proper arrangement of hardware, Software, networking and indeed re-engineering of all the processes to facilitate better delivery of services.

E Governance in India

e-Governance in India has transformed to promote Inclusive Growth that covers electronic services, products, devices and job opportunities. An initiative driving this growth is the Digital India. The Digital India programme is a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered Society and knowledge economy.

National E-governance Plan

The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) has been formulated by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) and Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in 2006.

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 realise the basic needs of the common man.”

 

Recent initiatives and Mission mode Projects

§  UID

The unique identification project was conceived as an initiative that would provide identification for each resident across the country and would be used primarily as the basis for efficient delivery of welfare services. It would also act as a tool for effective monitoring of various programs and schemes of the government.

 

  • e-Governance in Municipalities

It is a unique initiative of the Government of India conceptualized under the umbrella of the overall National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (Jnnurm) aimed at improving operational efficiencies within Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

 

§  Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems

Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) MMP aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effective policing at all levels and especially at the Police Station level through adoption of principles of e-Governance, and creation of a nationwide networked infrastructure for evolution of IT-enabled state-of-the-art tracking system.

 

§  Public Distribution System

Computerization of the PDS is envisaged as an end-to-end project covering key functional areas such as Supply Chain Management including allocation and utilization reporting, storage and movement of food grains, grievance redressal and transparency portal, digitization of beneficiary Database, Fair Price Shop automation, etc.

 

§  Health

ICT for programme management has been undertaken by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in the Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) programme and the Ministry envisages a more comprehensive use of ICT including for Hospital Information Systems, supply chain management for drugs and Vaccines, providing ICT tools to ASHA and ANM workers.

 

§  e-procurement

Ministry of Commerce & Industry (Department of Commerce) has been nominated as the Nodal Ministry for implementation of e-Government Procurement (e-GP) Mission Mode Projects (MMP).

 

§  e-Courts

The e-Court Mission Mode Project was conceptualized with a vision to transform the Indian Judiciary by making use of technology. The project had been developed, following the report submitted by the e-Committee under Supreme Court on national policy & action plan on implementation of information communication tools in Indian judiciary.

 

§  e-Biz

The e-Biz Mission Mode Project, being executed by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, was conceptualized with the vision

 

  • Direct Cash transfer

To facilitate disbursements of Government entitlements like NREGA, Social Security pension, Handicapped Old Age Pension etc. of any Central or State Government bodies, using Aadhaar and authentication thereof as supported by UIDAI.

 

  • M Governance

M-Governance is not a replacement for e-Governance, rather it complements e- Governance. M-Governance, is the use of mobile or wireless to improve Governance service and information “anytime, anywhere”.

  • Mobile Seva

It aims to provide government services to the people through mobile phones and tablets. It has been developed as the core infrastructure for enabling the availability of public services through mobile devices.

 

 ,

E-governance is the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of government operations. It can be used to deliver services to citizens, businesses, and other government agencies, as well as to manage internal operations.

E-governance applications can be classified into four main categories:

  • E-procurement: The use of ICT to purchase goods and services.
  • E-Taxation: The use of ICT to collect taxes.
  • E-health: The use of ICT to provide health care services.
  • E-Education: The use of ICT to provide education services.

There are three main e-governance models:

  • Centralized model: In this model, all e-governance activities are managed by a central government agency.
  • Decentralized model: In this model, e-governance activities are managed by local governments or other government agencies.
  • Hybrid model: In this model, e-governance activities are managed by a combination of central and local governments.

E-governance has been successful in achieving a number of goals, including:

  • Increased efficiency: E-governance can help to reduce costs and improve efficiency by automating tasks and streamlining processes.
  • Reduced costs: E-governance can help to reduce costs by eliminating the need for paper-based processes and by making it possible to deliver services online.
  • Improved transparency: E-governance can help to improve transparency by making government information and services more accessible to citizens.
  • Increased citizen participation: E-governance can help to increase citizen participation by making it easier for citizens to access government information and services and to participate in government decision-making.

However, e-governance also faces a number of challenges, including:

  • Lack of infrastructure: In order to implement e-governance, governments need to have the necessary infrastructure in place, such as a reliable telecommunications network and computers.
  • Lack of skilled personnel: Governments also need to have the necessary skilled personnel to implement and manage e-governance systems.
  • Security concerns: E-governance systems are vulnerable to security threats, such as hacking and data breaches.
  • Privacy concerns: E-governance systems can also raise privacy concerns, as they often collect personal data about citizens.

Despite these challenges, e-governance has the potential to revolutionize the way governments operate. By increasing efficiency, reducing costs, improving transparency, and increasing citizen participation, e-governance can help to make governments more effective and responsive to the needs of their citizens.

In addition to the above, e-governance can also help to improve service delivery, increase Economic Development, and reduce corruption.

Improved service delivery: E-governance can help to improve service delivery by making it easier for citizens to access government services and by providing a more convenient and efficient way to do business with the government.

Increased economic development: E-governance can help to increase economic development by making it easier for businesses to operate and by providing a more efficient way to do business with the government.

Reduced corruption: E-governance can help to reduce corruption by making it more difficult for corrupt officials to operate and by providing a more transparent way to do business with the government.

Overall, e-governance has the potential to be a powerful tool for improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of government operations. However, it is important to address the challenges that e-governance faces in order to realize its full potential.

What is E-Governance?

E-Governance is the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of government operations. It can be used to deliver services to citizens, businesses, and other government agencies.

What are the benefits of E-Governance?

E-Governance can offer a number of benefits, including:

  • Increased efficiency and effectiveness: E-Governance can help governments to streamline their operations and improve the delivery of services.
  • Reduced costs: E-Governance can help governments to reduce costs by automating processes and eliminating the need for paper-based transactions.
  • Improved transparency: E-Governance can help to make government more transparent by making information and services more accessible to citizens.
  • Increased citizen participation: E-Governance can help to increase citizen participation in government by making it easier for citizens to access information and services, and to provide feedback to government.

What are the challenges of E-Governance?

E-Governance also faces a number of challenges, including:

  • Lack of infrastructure: Many developing countries lack the infrastructure necessary to support e-Governance initiatives.
  • Lack of skills: Many governments and citizens lack the skills necessary to use e-Governance services.
  • Security and privacy concerns: E-Governance systems can be vulnerable to security attacks, and there are concerns about the privacy of personal information collected by e-Governance systems.
  • Lack of political will: E-Governance initiatives often require significant investment and political will, which can be difficult to obtain.

What are some examples of successful E-Governance initiatives?

There are many examples of successful e-Governance initiatives around the world. Some examples include:

  • The United States’ Social Security Administration’s website, which allows citizens to access their Social Security information and benefits online.
  • India’s Aadhaar program, which provides a unique identification number to all Indian citizens.
  • Brazil‘s Bolsa Família program, which provides cash transfers to poor families.

What are some of the limitations of E-Governance?

E-Governance also faces a number of limitations, including:

  • The digital divide: Not everyone has access to the internet or the skills necessary to use e-Governance services.
  • Lack of interoperability: E-Governance systems often do not interoperate with each other, which can make it difficult for citizens to access information and services from multiple government agencies.
  • Lack of trust: Some citizens may not trust e-Governance systems, or may be concerned about the privacy of their personal information.

What is the potential of E-Governance?

E-Governance has the potential to transform the way governments operate and deliver services to citizens. It can help to improve efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and citizen participation. However, there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed in order for e-Governance to be successful.

  1. E-governance is the use of information technology (IT) to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of government operations.
  2. E-governance can be used to improve the delivery of government services, to increase citizen participation in government, and to improve the management of government resources.
  3. E-governance can be implemented through a variety of models, including centralized, decentralized, and federated models.
  4. E-governance has been successful in a number of countries, including India, Brazil, and the United States.
  5. E-governance has a number of limitations, including the digital divide, the lack of technical expertise, and the lack of political will.
  6. E-governance has the potential to revolutionize the way governments operate.

Here are some MCQs on e-governance:

  1. Which of the following is not a benefit of e-governance?
    (a) Improved efficiency
    (b) Increased transparency
    (c) Reduced costs
    (d) Increased corruption

  2. Which of the following is a model of e-governance?
    (a) Centralized
    (b) Decentralized
    (c) Federated
    (d) All of the above

  3. Which of the following countries has been successful in implementing e-governance?
    (a) India
    (b) Brazil
    (c) The United States
    (d) All of the above

  4. Which of the following is a limitation of e-governance?
    (a) The digital divide
    (b) The lack of technical expertise
    (c) The lack of political will
    (d) All of the above

  5. Which of the following is the potential of e-governance?
    (a) To revolutionize the way governments operate
    (b) To improve the delivery of government services
    (c) To increase citizen participation in government
    (d) All of the above

Index