Working group on Convergence and E-Governance constituted
by the Planning Commission for the formulation of the strategies during the
tenth plan period (2002-2007) has submitted its report which is
available for
public information here.(pdf format).
The Ministry of Information Technology has invited
suggestions on the report to be sent by public before 10th April 2002.
Salient features of the report are reproduced here for
general information and interested persons are suggested to go through the
detailed report and submit their comments.
1. The total plan proposal is estimated at Rs 2860 crores
out of which Rs 1830 crores is for convergence and Rs 850 crores for
E-Governance. .
3. Existing NICNET infrastructure to be strengthened and
extended to sub district levels (6500 development blocks) for promoting
E-Governance at various levels.
4. Intensive and Extensive attention is to be given to
"Reengineering Government Rules and Procedures".
5.Government to give priority to the creation of Public Key
Infrastructure.
6. Basic research relevant to the needs of the country to
be developed and experimenting processes and practices going on in other
countries at public expense to be avoided.
7.In order to take advantage of the convergence of
technologies and applications for promotion of E-Governance and Corporate
Governance, it is essential to have a national organization to play as an
effective catalyst and facilitator.
8.NIC suggested to be the nodal agency for implementation
of E-Governance strategies.
9. Specific applications like interactive Telemedicine and
Tele education should be encouraged.
10. In order to provide accessibility to masses in all
parts of the country, Multifunctional Converged Applications Community Centers
are to be developed at Panchayat level. (1000 such centers to be set up during
the tenth plan period).
11. A series of pilot projects in the areas of adult
literacy, rural empowerment and employment generation for rural people, health
care advice and IT enabled education for remote areas to be launched
with a budgetary provision of Rs 50 crores for promotional efforts.
12. Government to actively take up development of
Interactive TV.
13. National Standardization for Convergence Standards to
be set up with headquarters in the National Capital Region.
14. Service delivery should be on "Transaction Fee" Basis.
15. Private Sector should partner the Government in
electronic delivery of services.
16. Service Delivery Points should be set up at convenient
locations for citizens to access services.
17. Smart Card Citizen ID should be launched. ...etc
The report lays emphasis on the efforts required to manage
the digital divide in the Convergence scenario and makes an interesting study.
The suggested fund allocations indicate the likely focus of
E-Governance activities in the coming years and members of the private sector
have clear indications on where the priorities lie.
The report seems to lay emphasis on "Appropriate
Technology" and warns specifically to avoid "Aping the West". Indigenous
players may find this gladdening.
Reengineering of Government process is an interesting
concept and should help the Governments to shed archaic procedures and
modernize administration.
A significant change in the Banking sector is indicated
with the focus on the need to develop Electronic Fund Transfer.
The report rightly lays stress on "Education" of both the
Citizens and the Government officials for enabling better utilization of the
benefits of IT.
The report while appreciating the role of NIC in the past
and supporting its expansion in the future has subtly suggested that the task
on hand needs a broad vision and advocates setting up of a "National Institute
for SMART Governance", (SMART= Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and
Transparent).
It is hoped that the proposed agency for better
E-Governance in the Convergent era would have proper representation from
Private Sector and academia so that the envisaged objectives of the report can
be achieved.
Naavi
April 3, 2002
For Full Details, Visit :http://www.mit.gov.in/eg/CSS.htm
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