Barrier 1 (Economic): Governmental interference in the regulation of the telecom sector stifling competition
Description
There is the need to create a fair and competitive regulatory terrain to enhance pro-competitive investment in the telecom sector in pursuance of e-gov agenda. The National Communications Authority (NCA,) the Regulator, faces interference from governmental sector in the management of spectrum and issuance of value-added licences thus thwarting its effort to independently regulate the sector and attract potential investors.
Why it is a barrier
Telecom reform, the world over is promoting the participation of the private sector in investments in a liberalised and transparent environment. The lack of regulatory openness frustrates investment in value added services sector to enhance e-gov application.
Why it is critical
Investors in the telecom sector are suspicious of governmental interference which might lead to investment expropriation and depreciation. There is therefore the need to create a balanced environment of comfort and safety to avoid the fear of the country losing out as an ICT hub for the sub-region.
Underlying tensions
Competitors in the field of ICT want maximum protection for their investments and do not want to be discriminated against in their effort to gain substantial market share. Government does also want a say.
Proposed solutions
Seek amendment to existing Act to make the Regulator autonomous; additionally to organise a workshop for stakeholders to distinguish between policy making for government and implementation process so the Regulator can be empowered to operate independently.
Risks and Rewards of solution
The anticipated risk is that the government may consider the move as an infringement on its moderating powers.
The reward is that there would be the likelihood of private sector investment growth in the absence of fear of investment expropriation.
Barrier 2 (Technological) : Inability of the civil service to attract ICT professionals
Description
The lack of skilled ICT personnel in the civil service thwarts efforts at implementing ICT policies and strategies. The negative impact is the inability of government to deploy ICT in house to promote e-gov.
Why it is a barrier
Attempts at closing the digital divide calls for pro-active application of ICT in governance to enhance efficiency in service delivery. In this regard the ICT “supply side” involvement in the process is crucial.
Why it is critical
Government is the major investor in ICT in developing economies. It appears tragic that ICT tools are underutilised because of lack of skilled professionals and services delivery remain slow because manually done.
Underlying tensions
Attempts are made to outsource all ICT initiatives. The external professionals and the internal staff lack cohesion and unity of purpose. Computers sit on desks as toys and networks don’t talk to each other.
Proposed solutions
Propose the development of a scheme of service to indicate clear job content, career path, promotional avenues, and attractive remuneration package to help attract and create a professional class for ICT in the civil service. Retrain the “demand side” staff.
Make the acquisition of basic ICT skills a condition precedent to entry into the service. A long term strategy and change management.
Risks and Rewards of solution
Risk- Resistance to change management from within is likely to be encountered.
The benefits to the service will be enormous as ICT professionals in the class of CIOs can gain entry into the service and meaningfully support the e-gov implementation process.
Barrier 3(Demographic): Rampant issuance of fake passport (Corruption)
Description
There is a high tendency of fake passport issuance (identity theft) in African countries making the genuine traveller undergo unnecessary scrutiny on identity check at international airports. Meanwhile other identification projects are on going on separate platforms.
Why it’s a barrier
It erodes investor confidence in the economy as a security issue.
Why it is critical
Identification and verification of persons are security issues crucial to be addressed for the successful deployment of e-gov yet no cohesive attempt made to address this issue of secured identity of the populace.
Underlying tensions
Low classification of state at national and international security levels.
Proposed solutions
Promulgation of data protection bill to give legal backing.
Introduction of 3G biometrics and identification technology.
Risks and Rewards of solution
Budgetary constraints to the state a potential risk to proposal.
The reward is a secured integrated national identity scheme to enhance security and investment confidence of the country.
Barrier 4 : Political - There is no strong federal Strategy for the development of eGovernance
Description
There is no strong eGovernance Strategy like in Japan. There are only initiatives, as for example the portal or recommendations for standards. Where is a global vision?
Why it is a barrier
A global strategy, framework and budgets are mandatory.
Why is it critical
Very critical. The initiative for launching a comprehensive eGovernance programme has to come from the Federal Government. Regions and cities are still waiting.
Underlying tensions
Political compromises resulting in the lost of the importance of this Strategy
Proposed solutions
Regions and cities have to exert more pressure on Federal Government.
Risks and Rewards of solution
The risk is to obtain an inadequate or inapplicable Strategy.
The reward is that eGovernance can take off.
Barrier 5 : Structural – Top head Information System is not homogenous and interoperable !
Description
Federal Departments ICTs (Finance, Army etc.,) are technically isolated, like Silos. The more advanced federal office is the OFS (Federal Office of Statistics).
Why it is a barrier
Historically lack of collaboration and co-ordination.
Why is it critical
This situation compromises automation of transversal processes inside the federal Information System. Furthermore, this non-homogeneity compromises also the technical standardization of the electronic exchanges of the other stakeholders, private companies, local and regional governments. They need a unique federal entry point.
Underlying tensions
Internal protectionism of the federal departments.
Proposed solutions
Introduction of standards and wide usage of web services inside federal departments and other public and private partners.
Risks and Rewards of solution
Risk is to wait a very long time!
Modernization of the eGovernance of the federal Government itself.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
e Governance Model for Environmental Decision Making for Mining in India
India is a mineral wealthy nation. It has a huge geological potential. According to the geological survey of India (GSI) the national exploration agency, the country is yet to tap its complete potential. It has huge reserves of important minerals awaiting exploration. Conventional wisdom and geological evidence suggest that India is richly endowed with mineral resources. Explorations have found over 20,000 known mineral deposits and recoverable reserves of more than 60 minerals.
Worldwide, the mining industry is on an overdrive. Propelled by China’s growing economy its persistent passion for unprocessed substance minerals, due to this mineral prices are hitting roof. The global mining industry is having a dream run. Between 2002 and 2005, the index of world prices of minerals, ores and metal has more than doubled. This has escorted in a time of restless mining and profiteering in countries like India. The value of mineral production in India has more than tripled since liberalization of mining sector in 1993. The values grew at surprising rate of 10.7% during 1993-2005. The growth of the Indian mining industry is likely to be much higher in the coming years.
In between 2002-2006, an area of 900 Km2 was opened for mining for major minerals. Environmental clearances were granted to 540 mines during this period and as on April 2007, there were 508 mining projects awaiting environmental clearance. The Indian mining industry is characterized by a large number of small mines and is dominated by public sector. With only 25% of India’s operational mines, the public sector accounts for 75% of the total value of mineral production. The thrust of the new mining policy being promulgated by the government is to move India mining towards privately owned large scale, mechanized mines. India’s forests mineral bearing areas, regions of tribal habitation watersheds are all mapped together; they will overlay one another on almost the same areas. In other words, India’s major mineral reserves i.e., under its richest forests and in the watersheds of its key rivers. An estimates 1.64 lakhs ha of forest land has been diverted for mining in the country. Forest land diversion for mining has been rising. During 1998-2005, 216 mining projects were granted forest clearances annually, as against 19 per year during 1980-97.
In 1994 the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification was passed under the Environment Protection Act 1986. It outlined the procedure for granting environmental clearance to industrial and development projects with the objective of maintaining a balance between the three pillars of development, environment, society and economy. According to this procedure projects classifies on the basis of scale and impacts required to prepare an EIA report. The findings of report are presented to the local community in public hearing process during which the local have an opportunity to express their opinion on the project. The summarized minutes of the public hearing and EIA report then presented to the clearance committee set up at the state or central level which the decides on the fate of the projects. On paper this seems to be an excellent and foolproof method to reduce the environmental and social implications of a project to reduce the environmental and social implication of a project. But in practice, this rarely happens. The whole procedure stands completely diluted and has been reduces to being a mere formality due to corruption on some levels. For providing ease in the process of granting permission and environment clearance Government of India revised 1994 notification and issued new notification in 2006. But still there is no improvement in working and granting permissions. Complex laws in India and typical bureaucracy force immense pressure on several decisions. Executive role of Judiciary several time need to implement law. E governance provides transparency in decision making for all development. E governance based model for environment decision making for mining will help in sustainable management of resources, reduce in development delay. The delay in development cost money and unsustainably in development.
Successful governance can be realized through maximum dissemination of information. E governance involves knowledge and understanding, if sharing laws and citizens" involvement in environmental decision making for mining model will develop this could help in root out corruption and fasten the decision making procedure. This could attract more foreign companies which will contribute in development of nation in multidimensional way if they will get transparent system of decision making for establishing new mines.
Research Questions:
Can e governance bring transparency in decision making?
Can e governance help in simplifying complex environment decision making for mining?
What could be the e governance model for environment decision making for mining?
What will be benefits from e governance model for environment decision making for mining?
Methodology:
In India a few departments of state governments and centre government establish models for district and state level for transparent decision making which are below-
E-governance in Andhra Pradesh
Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) showcases the various E-Governance initiatives and applications being implemented in the state. CARD (Computer-Aided Administration of Registration Department), an e-government project started by the state government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) in India. CARD was adjudged one of the ten finalists in the International Innovation awards program instituted by the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management. The CARD project aimed at the complete computerization of the land registration process in AP. The case highlights the problems faced by the citizens of AP before the implementation of CARD. It provides detailed information about the implementation of the project, the services offered and the benefits reaped by the citizens and GoAP after the implementation of the project (1).
E-Governance in Ministries/Departments and State Governments
The website of the Ministry of Information Technology (MIT), Govt. of India lists briefly the E-Governance Initiatives undertaken by the various Ministries/Departments and States Governments(2)..
Mechanism of Single Window Clearance System
To overcome the inordinately long time required to obtain the statutory approvals/licenses etc. from various government departments/agencies, the Bureau of Industrial Promotion & Office of the Commissioner (Investment & NRIs), Government of Rajasthan, has introduced a Single Window Clearance System through a Single Composite Application Form (3)
E-Governance in Panchayats (Local People Parliament) in Kerala
The website of the department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions features an article on the e-governance initiatives adopted by the panchayats in Kerala (4).
EPackage for Effective Administration of Registration Laws Project in Kerala
The Government of Kerala has launched a project titled PEARL (Package for Effective Administration of Registration Laws) for computerization of the Registration Department in the State (5).
The above developed models will be taken in consideration. On the basis of finding one e governance model for environmental decision making for mining decision will be develop.
Expected Results:
This study will provide transparent system of decision making which will help in managing environment decision making for mining in speedy way. The engagement has been structured across key streams relating to design of e-Governance roadmap for the environment decision making for mining that includes:
Preparation of a blueprint for environment decision making for mining.
Plan to implement the recommended e-Governance initiatives
Assessment of the capacity gaps for implementing the e-Governance initiatives
Special Note(s):
Develop a portal which provides services directory such that the companies may avail the services without the need to know which department provides that service.
Provide information on procedures and downloadable forms on the internet and make them available through various channels.
Re-engineer processes and redesign forms to make it easier for the companies to demand and avail services
Devise a feedback mechanism so as to get constant feedback and adapt to companies needs and demands
Develop and follow standards and guidelines for interdepartmental data transfer to expedite flow of information between departments.
Create and follow formal content management processes to ensure that the content is regularly updated and correct.
Clear and accurate information about each service and transaction. Companies should be able to use the E-Government channel to follow up and track the progress of their permission and application.
Companies should be shielded from the various internal operations and activities involved in delivering a service.
Reference:
(1) http://www.ap-it.com/egovernance.html dated 12/03/08
(2) http://www.mit.gov.in/eg/ms.asp dated 12/03/08
(3) http://www.rajgovt.org/news/singwindow.htm dated 12/03/08
(4) http://persmin.nic.in/arpg/egov.htm#6 dated 12/03/08
(5) http://www.hindubusinessline.com/2000/08/12/stories/141260r1.htm dated 12/03/08
Worldwide, the mining industry is on an overdrive. Propelled by China’s growing economy its persistent passion for unprocessed substance minerals, due to this mineral prices are hitting roof. The global mining industry is having a dream run. Between 2002 and 2005, the index of world prices of minerals, ores and metal has more than doubled. This has escorted in a time of restless mining and profiteering in countries like India. The value of mineral production in India has more than tripled since liberalization of mining sector in 1993. The values grew at surprising rate of 10.7% during 1993-2005. The growth of the Indian mining industry is likely to be much higher in the coming years.
In between 2002-2006, an area of 900 Km2 was opened for mining for major minerals. Environmental clearances were granted to 540 mines during this period and as on April 2007, there were 508 mining projects awaiting environmental clearance. The Indian mining industry is characterized by a large number of small mines and is dominated by public sector. With only 25% of India’s operational mines, the public sector accounts for 75% of the total value of mineral production. The thrust of the new mining policy being promulgated by the government is to move India mining towards privately owned large scale, mechanized mines. India’s forests mineral bearing areas, regions of tribal habitation watersheds are all mapped together; they will overlay one another on almost the same areas. In other words, India’s major mineral reserves i.e., under its richest forests and in the watersheds of its key rivers. An estimates 1.64 lakhs ha of forest land has been diverted for mining in the country. Forest land diversion for mining has been rising. During 1998-2005, 216 mining projects were granted forest clearances annually, as against 19 per year during 1980-97.
In 1994 the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification was passed under the Environment Protection Act 1986. It outlined the procedure for granting environmental clearance to industrial and development projects with the objective of maintaining a balance between the three pillars of development, environment, society and economy. According to this procedure projects classifies on the basis of scale and impacts required to prepare an EIA report. The findings of report are presented to the local community in public hearing process during which the local have an opportunity to express their opinion on the project. The summarized minutes of the public hearing and EIA report then presented to the clearance committee set up at the state or central level which the decides on the fate of the projects. On paper this seems to be an excellent and foolproof method to reduce the environmental and social implications of a project to reduce the environmental and social implication of a project. But in practice, this rarely happens. The whole procedure stands completely diluted and has been reduces to being a mere formality due to corruption on some levels. For providing ease in the process of granting permission and environment clearance Government of India revised 1994 notification and issued new notification in 2006. But still there is no improvement in working and granting permissions. Complex laws in India and typical bureaucracy force immense pressure on several decisions. Executive role of Judiciary several time need to implement law. E governance provides transparency in decision making for all development. E governance based model for environment decision making for mining will help in sustainable management of resources, reduce in development delay. The delay in development cost money and unsustainably in development.
Successful governance can be realized through maximum dissemination of information. E governance involves knowledge and understanding, if sharing laws and citizens" involvement in environmental decision making for mining model will develop this could help in root out corruption and fasten the decision making procedure. This could attract more foreign companies which will contribute in development of nation in multidimensional way if they will get transparent system of decision making for establishing new mines.
Research Questions:
Can e governance bring transparency in decision making?
Can e governance help in simplifying complex environment decision making for mining?
What could be the e governance model for environment decision making for mining?
What will be benefits from e governance model for environment decision making for mining?
Methodology:
In India a few departments of state governments and centre government establish models for district and state level for transparent decision making which are below-
E-governance in Andhra Pradesh
Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) showcases the various E-Governance initiatives and applications being implemented in the state. CARD (Computer-Aided Administration of Registration Department), an e-government project started by the state government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) in India. CARD was adjudged one of the ten finalists in the International Innovation awards program instituted by the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management. The CARD project aimed at the complete computerization of the land registration process in AP. The case highlights the problems faced by the citizens of AP before the implementation of CARD. It provides detailed information about the implementation of the project, the services offered and the benefits reaped by the citizens and GoAP after the implementation of the project (1).
E-Governance in Ministries/Departments and State Governments
The website of the Ministry of Information Technology (MIT), Govt. of India lists briefly the E-Governance Initiatives undertaken by the various Ministries/Departments and States Governments(2)..
Mechanism of Single Window Clearance System
To overcome the inordinately long time required to obtain the statutory approvals/licenses etc. from various government departments/agencies, the Bureau of Industrial Promotion & Office of the Commissioner (Investment & NRIs), Government of Rajasthan, has introduced a Single Window Clearance System through a Single Composite Application Form (3)
E-Governance in Panchayats (Local People Parliament) in Kerala
The website of the department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions features an article on the e-governance initiatives adopted by the panchayats in Kerala (4).
EPackage for Effective Administration of Registration Laws Project in Kerala
The Government of Kerala has launched a project titled PEARL (Package for Effective Administration of Registration Laws) for computerization of the Registration Department in the State (5).
The above developed models will be taken in consideration. On the basis of finding one e governance model for environmental decision making for mining decision will be develop.
Expected Results:
This study will provide transparent system of decision making which will help in managing environment decision making for mining in speedy way. The engagement has been structured across key streams relating to design of e-Governance roadmap for the environment decision making for mining that includes:
Preparation of a blueprint for environment decision making for mining.
Plan to implement the recommended e-Governance initiatives
Assessment of the capacity gaps for implementing the e-Governance initiatives
Special Note(s):
Develop a portal which provides services directory such that the companies may avail the services without the need to know which department provides that service.
Provide information on procedures and downloadable forms on the internet and make them available through various channels.
Re-engineer processes and redesign forms to make it easier for the companies to demand and avail services
Devise a feedback mechanism so as to get constant feedback and adapt to companies needs and demands
Develop and follow standards and guidelines for interdepartmental data transfer to expedite flow of information between departments.
Create and follow formal content management processes to ensure that the content is regularly updated and correct.
Clear and accurate information about each service and transaction. Companies should be able to use the E-Government channel to follow up and track the progress of their permission and application.
Companies should be shielded from the various internal operations and activities involved in delivering a service.
Reference:
(1) http://www.ap-it.com/egovernance.html dated 12/03/08
(2) http://www.mit.gov.in/eg/ms.asp dated 12/03/08
(3) http://www.rajgovt.org/news/singwindow.htm dated 12/03/08
(4) http://persmin.nic.in/arpg/egov.htm#6 dated 12/03/08
(5) http://www.hindubusinessline.com/2000/08/12/stories/141260r1.htm dated 12/03/08
Saturday, October 4, 2008
X- Road for e governance
The paperless government is the most impressive thing which I observed here but the backbone of all e governance is X-Road project at Estonia. This distributed information systems functionality and diverse hardware and software work viz., gateways, elements of public key infrastructure (PKI) and governmental databases and information systems. The X-Road project has been a successful approach which extending interconnectivity between various databases and offering varied operations to different government and private departments.
There are following points which are need to note-
Û The standardized use of databases and to develop software, hardware and organizational methods for X-Road which allows civil servants, legal and natural persons to use data from national databases for different purposes.
Û The system ensures sufficient security for the treatment of inquiries made to databases and responses received.
Û The technical solution of the project in the creation of unified user interfaces for different databases.
Û Communication between databases and users is full secure.
Û The data exchange layer, which comprises the major part of the X-Road system, integrates the databases through user interfaces to a common.
Û The system is service-centered.
Û Data queries can be made only within services offered.
Û The user can make a query from his/her computer workplace to any service of a database that has joined the system.
Û The X-Road environment has proved the sustainability of the program,
e Voting in Estonia is also very interesting. The importance in e voting is below-
Û High literacy rate of Estonian public toward e-voting was and is positive; gender, income, education, type of settlement and even age are no important factors by choosing e-voting from all voting channels;
Û The use of e-voting possibility depends mostly on the trust in the procedure of e-voting and e voting in itself does not produce any political effects.
Û e voting can encourage the participation of voters who vote sometimes. Thus, e-voting could slow down the trend of falling participation.
Û Authentication token for all major e-services
Û The compulsory ID card with remote identification and digital signature functions.
Û Principle of transparency
Û Managing procedures
Û Technology selection
Û Physical security
IT auditors are the assurance of public reliance participate a vital function in the victorious experience. e voting has worked perfectly, all procedures have been legitimate and performed lawfully. No court cases happened which shows the transparency acceptance of system. Confidentiality of voter is in the remote unsupervised Internet voting. The legality and legitimacy of the whole election process has not been questioned for political reasons. The principles of uniformity and generality in their conjunction are participation in voting, guaranteed to voters, is convenient as possible. e voting serve the aim of increasing the participation in voting and thus protecting the representative nature of representative bodies.
Managing and making public land related data, land relation, e health and e education and security are also very good. The time saving, money saving and transparency.
There are following points which are need to note-
Û The standardized use of databases and to develop software, hardware and organizational methods for X-Road which allows civil servants, legal and natural persons to use data from national databases for different purposes.
Û The system ensures sufficient security for the treatment of inquiries made to databases and responses received.
Û The technical solution of the project in the creation of unified user interfaces for different databases.
Û Communication between databases and users is full secure.
Û The data exchange layer, which comprises the major part of the X-Road system, integrates the databases through user interfaces to a common.
Û The system is service-centered.
Û Data queries can be made only within services offered.
Û The user can make a query from his/her computer workplace to any service of a database that has joined the system.
Û The X-Road environment has proved the sustainability of the program,
e Voting in Estonia is also very interesting. The importance in e voting is below-
Û High literacy rate of Estonian public toward e-voting was and is positive; gender, income, education, type of settlement and even age are no important factors by choosing e-voting from all voting channels;
Û The use of e-voting possibility depends mostly on the trust in the procedure of e-voting and e voting in itself does not produce any political effects.
Û e voting can encourage the participation of voters who vote sometimes. Thus, e-voting could slow down the trend of falling participation.
Û Authentication token for all major e-services
Û The compulsory ID card with remote identification and digital signature functions.
Û Principle of transparency
Û Managing procedures
Û Technology selection
Û Physical security
IT auditors are the assurance of public reliance participate a vital function in the victorious experience. e voting has worked perfectly, all procedures have been legitimate and performed lawfully. No court cases happened which shows the transparency acceptance of system. Confidentiality of voter is in the remote unsupervised Internet voting. The legality and legitimacy of the whole election process has not been questioned for political reasons. The principles of uniformity and generality in their conjunction are participation in voting, guaranteed to voters, is convenient as possible. e voting serve the aim of increasing the participation in voting and thus protecting the representative nature of representative bodies.
Managing and making public land related data, land relation, e health and e education and security are also very good. The time saving, money saving and transparency.
For Success of e Governance
e voting is very good method for casting the vote but in my country where the population is more than 1 billion and it is not possible to provide all people the internet and computer. The literacy level is very low. The citizenship card is also not available for 1 billion populations. Government of India started voter ID cards but it is long to go. India is the country which has very good system of keeping population record since 1800 and many other institutes like, Forest Survey of India, Geological Survey of India and Indian Statistical Department etc. but very limited information is available on internet for public. Presently several projects are running and most of records now available in digitise form.
Remarkable development in the building up an efficient network of modern information and telecommunications technologies (ICTs) for the Information Society at Estonia is great achievement. ICT development by the government and people interest is main motivational force. The following are advantages:
Û Common agreement among main stakeholder in Estonian society
Û Commitment of political influential
Û Dynamic eagerness of government
Û Active involvement of citizen initiative
Û Opportunistic project based development
Û Limited resources – it drives innovation!
Û Un-established bureaucracy makes it easier!
Û Strong media & public support
India could adopt experience from the Estonian e governance projects. Estonia has adopted GIS applications and tools in areas such as:
· State land informational system (LIS)
· State buildings and constructions register
· Municipal planning register
· Positioning and tracking
· Object guarding and surveillance
GIS projects are being adopted in India in various areas but the way Estonian government has put into use is remarkable. A number of other benefits are generally attributed to GIS. They include:
· Improved productivity in providing public information.
· Improved efficiency in updating maps.
· The ability to track and monitor growth and development over time.
· Improved ability to aggregate data for specific sub-areas.
· Ability to perform and display different types of professional analysis that are too cumbersome or time consuming using manual methods, and
· Improved policy formulation
India is doing some projects at Forest Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, Indian Remote Sensing Agency etc which have adopted GIS inventory and resources and setting up the goals, planning for a transition process, India have very good laws related to Forest Conservation Act 1980, Land Acquisition 1865, Environment Conservation Act 1988 laws, IT policy 2000, etc which are giving guidance for infrastructure, organization and technology in place and exercising standardization.
The other Estonian ID Card project can adopt but it will take long time due to large size of Indian population. Big Estonian population today use the ID card to do e-banking, perform e-Government services, mobile parking, mobile payment, participate in i-voting and file their taxes etc. same initiatives are started in India as well but following reasons explain the Estonian e governance cannot be replicated in India shortly:
Û India comprises federal and state government with more then 3000 elected members from different houses from 29 states and 6 union territories while Estonia have 15 counties which is smaller than any Indian metro city.
Û The population of India is more than 1 billion whereas Estonia’s population is 1.4 million.
Û Internet penetration and usage in India is about 10% whereas in Estonia it is 64%.
Û In India more than 100 political parties are there who have different agenda and don’t think to promote e governance whereas Estonian has only few parties which support e governance.
Û To achieve United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals India need to achieve literacy, clean water food and environment conservation whereas Estonia as already achieved Millennium Development Goals so spending good budget on e governance.
Û In India Judiciary kept eye on the security and people believe in this system not encouraging them for using online facilities though Estonia’s 88% rating for Internet banking is very impressive when compared to India. In India most of the population still prefers to perform banking activities in person, the reasons being security issues, absence of reliable internet infrastructure and lack of PC operating skills.
Û India still has issues related to having a standardized and widely adopted national ID. Though Estonia has made it compulsory for its citizens to use and get a national ID card, because most of the services offered are online; India still has to go a long way to adopt such measures. Reason being a legacy system which is tough to replace; a large population base which is based in the rural area, low literacy rate, lack of ICT infrastructure in most parts of the country and last but not least lack of initiation from the govt. and lack of determination within the citizens themselves.Lack of funds to implement such a large scale project on a national scale.
Remarkable development in the building up an efficient network of modern information and telecommunications technologies (ICTs) for the Information Society at Estonia is great achievement. ICT development by the government and people interest is main motivational force. The following are advantages:
Û Common agreement among main stakeholder in Estonian society
Û Commitment of political influential
Û Dynamic eagerness of government
Û Active involvement of citizen initiative
Û Opportunistic project based development
Û Limited resources – it drives innovation!
Û Un-established bureaucracy makes it easier!
Û Strong media & public support
India could adopt experience from the Estonian e governance projects. Estonia has adopted GIS applications and tools in areas such as:
· State land informational system (LIS)
· State buildings and constructions register
· Municipal planning register
· Positioning and tracking
· Object guarding and surveillance
GIS projects are being adopted in India in various areas but the way Estonian government has put into use is remarkable. A number of other benefits are generally attributed to GIS. They include:
· Improved productivity in providing public information.
· Improved efficiency in updating maps.
· The ability to track and monitor growth and development over time.
· Improved ability to aggregate data for specific sub-areas.
· Ability to perform and display different types of professional analysis that are too cumbersome or time consuming using manual methods, and
· Improved policy formulation
India is doing some projects at Forest Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, Indian Remote Sensing Agency etc which have adopted GIS inventory and resources and setting up the goals, planning for a transition process, India have very good laws related to Forest Conservation Act 1980, Land Acquisition 1865, Environment Conservation Act 1988 laws, IT policy 2000, etc which are giving guidance for infrastructure, organization and technology in place and exercising standardization.
The other Estonian ID Card project can adopt but it will take long time due to large size of Indian population. Big Estonian population today use the ID card to do e-banking, perform e-Government services, mobile parking, mobile payment, participate in i-voting and file their taxes etc. same initiatives are started in India as well but following reasons explain the Estonian e governance cannot be replicated in India shortly:
Û India comprises federal and state government with more then 3000 elected members from different houses from 29 states and 6 union territories while Estonia have 15 counties which is smaller than any Indian metro city.
Û The population of India is more than 1 billion whereas Estonia’s population is 1.4 million.
Û Internet penetration and usage in India is about 10% whereas in Estonia it is 64%.
Û In India more than 100 political parties are there who have different agenda and don’t think to promote e governance whereas Estonian has only few parties which support e governance.
Û To achieve United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals India need to achieve literacy, clean water food and environment conservation whereas Estonia as already achieved Millennium Development Goals so spending good budget on e governance.
Û In India Judiciary kept eye on the security and people believe in this system not encouraging them for using online facilities though Estonia’s 88% rating for Internet banking is very impressive when compared to India. In India most of the population still prefers to perform banking activities in person, the reasons being security issues, absence of reliable internet infrastructure and lack of PC operating skills.
Û India still has issues related to having a standardized and widely adopted national ID. Though Estonia has made it compulsory for its citizens to use and get a national ID card, because most of the services offered are online; India still has to go a long way to adopt such measures. Reason being a legacy system which is tough to replace; a large population base which is based in the rural area, low literacy rate, lack of ICT infrastructure in most parts of the country and last but not least lack of initiation from the govt. and lack of determination within the citizens themselves.Lack of funds to implement such a large scale project on a national scale.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
