Governance for UPSC, GS 2 Notes By UPSC Topper Ravisankar Sarma 

E-Governance

            E-Governance refers to the use of ICT to the process of government functioning with the objective of making it easily accessible, user-friendly and SMART.

Benefits of E-Governance

Simplification of Governance: E-governance platforms provide a medium for the government to simplify bureaucratic procedures through careful detailing of instructions and obviating the need for the physical presence of citizen

Eg: Tele-Law: video-conferencing of clients with lawyers

Accountability: E-Governance platforms by elucidating the government’s objectives and displaying its performance in pursuit of the same increases accountability on public authorities

Eg: GARV-II App: Real-time data on rural electrification

Transparency: E-Governance platforms provide transparent information to citizens regarding services offered, nodal agencies and mechanisms of grievance redressal. The information empowers the citizens to access government services and draw maximum benefit from them

Eg: Divyaang Sarathi – An app that enables differently-abled to access government schemes and scholarships

            Transparency is also observed in government procurement and allocation of resources with respect to industries.

Eg: Koyla- Coal allocation

       Government-e-Marketplace: A public procurement portal that procures all items of office need with special preference to MSMEs.

Responsive: Online status and tracking mechanisms for citizens speed up service delivery from the state.

Eg: e-PDS of Andhra Pradesh

Citizen Participation: These platforms are not simply a one-way communication from the state to the citizen. They enable the citizens them to be valued participants in democratic governance through suggestions, grievances and aspirations for services.

Eg: Mygov.in platform that allows citizens to discuss, deliberate and provide suggestions in policymaking and governance

Stakeholder Linkages under E-Governance

Government- Citizen Linkages

Bhoomi: A self-sustainable e-governance project for computerized delivery of land records in Karnataka

Bhu Seva: An e-governance project of Andhra Pradesh that geo-tags land assets referencing a unique Bhudhar number as identity

Government-Business Linkages

Government-e-Marketplace: Online portal to facilitate public procurement of goods and services.

E-Biz: It is an integrated service aimed at providing a single portal that will facilitate the faster and transparent business environment

Government- Employee Linkages

San Suvidha Portal: UIN for workers for social security benefit

Shram Suvidha Portal: UIN for employers

Government- Government Linkages

Pragati: Multi-model and multi-purpose platform that brings together Union and state bureaucracies along with the PMO in formulating a path for resolving common man’s grievances. It leverages data management, video conferencing and geostationary system.

Challenges

• Infrastructural Gaps: The governance services that are online may be deprived to a majority of citizens due to infrastructural gaps of internet and electricity particularly in remote and rural areas of the country
• Digital Literacy: A large majority of India’s population are not comfortable in accessing technology or have a behavioural aversion to the same
• Poor User experience: E-governance platforms are not user-friendly and citizens often struggle to use the web interface due to lack of clarity

Government Interventions

• Rural Electrification and Internet Infrastructure: The government through DDUGJY aims to achieve complete rural electrification and achieve last-mile connectivity driven by SAUBHAGYA Yojana. Under the DIGITAL INDIA Mission, the government seeks to provide optical fibre internet connectivity to rural areas
• Improving Digital Literacy: PMGDISHA aims to inculcate the habit of leveraging technology aiming to cultivate a digitally empowered society leveraging the youth of the country

Way Forward

• The government must quickly address the infrastructural gaps that exist in dissipating e-governance services leveraging private sector partnerships. VGF may be provided for rural and remote areas
• The behavioural change among citizens should be initiated leveraging IEC campaigns and the power of the youth in enabling the elderly to access government services
• The government shall provide better focus to developing user-friendly interfaces for its portals and apps. It shall seek fruitful private sector interventions for the same.