ICT and Governance
Governance can be defined as the process through which institutions, businesses and citizen groups articulate their interests, exercise their rights and obligations and mediate their differences.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) can help to sustain this process in three ways:
(i) they can support tasks that involve complex decision making, communication and decision implementation,
(ii) they can automate tedious tasks done by human’s, and
(iii) they can support new tasks and processes that did not exist before. When ICTs. are properly aligned with governance goals, they can help to create gains in both efficiency and effectiveness.
Traditionally, the interaction between a citizen or business and a government agency took place in government office. With emerging information and communication technologies it is possible to locate service centers closer to the clients. Such centers may consist of an unattended kiosk in the government agency, a service kiosk located close to the client, or the use of a personal computer in the home or office. Internet has proven to be a powerful tool for reinventing governments. It encourages transformation from the traditional bureaucratic paradigm, which emphasizes standardization, departmentalization and operational cost-efficiency, to the “e-government” paradigm, which emphasizes coordinated network building, eternal collaboration and customer services.
Benefits
1. Increases accountability
2. Increases transparency
3. Makes communication faster
4. Reduces cost of paper based communication
5. Higher availability of public domain information
6. Reduces corruption
7. Higher penetration due to automation
8. Increases efficiency due to connectivity
Scope of e-Governance
Governance is all about flow of information between the Government and Citizens, the Government and Businesses and the Government and Government. E-Governance covers all these relationships as follows.
1. Government to Citizen (G2C)
Government to Citizen relationship is the most basic aspect of E-Governance. The G2C relation includes the services provided by the Government to the Citizens. In modern times, Government deals with many aspects of the life of a citizen which include the public utility services i.e. Telecommunication, Transportation, Post, Medical facilities, Electricity, Education and some of the democratic services relating to the citizenship such as Certification, Registration, Licensing, Taxation, Passports, ID Cards etc. The relation of a citizen with the Government starts with the birth and ends with the death of the citizen. Therefore E-Governance in G2C relationship will involve facilitation of the services flowing from Government towards Citizens with the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Some of the emerging areas in G2C can be listed below:
i. E-Citizenship
E-Citizenship will include the implementation of ICT for facilitation of Government Services relating to citizenship of an individual. It may involve online transactions relating to issue and renewal of documents like Ration Cards, Passports, Election Cards, Identity Cards, etc. It is required for the Government to create a virtual identity for every citizen so as to enable them to access the Government services online. For the same, Government would need to create a Citizen Database which is a huge task.
ii. E-Registration
E-Registration will cover the online registration of various contracts. Many of these contracts and transactions require registration for giving it legality and enforceability. Such registration may also be made ICT enabled. E-registration will help to reduce a significant amount of paperwork.
iii. E-Transportation
E-Transportation includes ICT enabled services of Government, relating to Transport by Road, Rail, Water or Air. This may involve online –
(a) booking and cancellation of tickets,
(b) knowing status of vehicles, railways, boats and flights,
(c) issue and renewal of driving licences,
(d) registration and renewal of vehicles,
(e) transfer of vehicles, 6. payment of the fees of licences and
(f) payment of fees and taxes for vehicle registration. E-Health – E-Health services includes ICT enabled health services of the Government. Under this, interconnection of all hospitals may take place. Patient database and local pharmacy database may also be created.
iv. E-Education
E-Education would cover the implementation of ICT in education. Distant as well as classroom education needs facilitation through the use of ICT. For instance, use of internet reduces the communication time required in distance education. Internet may also help in conducting online classes.
v. E-Help
E-Help refers to the facilitation of disaster and crisis management using ICT. It includes the use of technologies like internet and SMS for the purpose of reducing the response time of the Government agencies to the disasters. Online information relating to disasters, warnings and calls for help can assist the Government and the NGOs to coordinate their work and speed up the rescue work.
vi. E-Taxation
E-Taxation will facilitate the taxing process by implementing ICT in the taxing process. Online tax due alerts and online payment of taxes would help transact faster.
Citizen to Government
Citizen to Government relationship will include the communication of citizens with the Government arising in the Democratic process like voting, campaigning, feedback, etc.
i. E-Democracy
The true concept of Democracy includes the participation of citizens in the democratic and governing process. Today due to the increased population the active participation of the citizens in governing process is not possible. The ICT can help to enable the true democratic process including voting, public opinion, feedback and Government accountability.
ii. E-Feedback
E-Feedback includes the use of ICT for the purpose of giving feedback to the Government. Lobbying is pursuing the Government to take a certain decision. Use of ICT can enable online feedback to the Government, online debates as to the Government services.
3. Government to Government
G2G relationship includes the relationship between Central and State Government and also the relationship between two or more Government departments.
i. E-Administration
E-Administration would include the implementation of ICT in the functioning of the Government, internally and externally. Implementation of ICT can reduce the communication time between the Government Departments and Governments. It can substantially reduce paper work if properly used. E-administration will also bring speed and transparency to the administration of Government Departments.
ii. E-Police
The concept of E- Police is little different from Cyber-Police. Cyber Police require technology experts to curb the electronic/cyber crimes. E-police refers to the use of ICT for the purpose of facilitating the work of the Police department in investigation and administration. The concept of E-police includes databases of Police Officers, their performances, Criminal databases – wanted as well as in custody, the trends in crimes and much more. ICT can help reduce the response time of the Police department and also reduce cost by reducing paperwork.
iii. E-Courts
The concept of E-Court includes the ICT enablement of the judicial process. Technology may help distant hearing, online summons and warrants and online publication of judgment and decrees.
4. Government to Business
i. E-Taxation
Corporate sector pays many taxes, duties and dues to the Government. Payment of these taxes and duties will be made easier by E-Taxation. Online taxing and online payment of taxes can help reduce cost and time required for physical submission of taxes. ICT can also help cross check the frauds and deficiencies in payment, further bringing accuracy and revenue to the Government.
ii. E-Licensing
Companies have to acquire various licenses from the Government, similarly the companies have to acquire various registrations. ICT enablement of the licensing and registration can reduce time and cost.
iii. E-Tendering
E-Tendering will include the facilities of online tendering and procurement. It alerts to new opportunities of business with the Government and also online submission of tenders and online allotment of work. It will reduce time and cost involved in the physical tendering system.
