INTRODUCTION
E-Governance, where the ‘e’ denotes electronic, encompasses a set of lawful rules for the management, control, and administration of the public sector. It revolves around the strategic use of information and communication technologies (ICT) with the aim of enhancing information and service delivery, fostering citizen participation in decision-making processes, and making the government more accountable, transparent, and effective.
E-GOVERNANCE VS. E-GOVERNMENT
- 1. E-Governance Overview
- Wider Concept: E-governance is generally considered a broader concept than e-government, introducing significant changes in the way citizens relate to the government and each other.
- Citizenship Concept: It goes beyond service delivery, bringing forth the concept of citizenship with the objectives to enable, engage, and empower citizens.
- E-Government Distinction
- Narrower Discipline: E-government, in contrast, is a narrower discipline focusing on the development of online government services, including E-tax, E-transportation, and E-participation.
E-GOVERNANCE OBJECTIVES
1.Citizen Engagement
- Participation in Decision-Making:E-governance aims not only to provide information about government activities but also involves citizens in the decision-making process.
2.Digital Accessibility
- Online Rules and Regulations: It emphasizes putting government rules and regulations online for easy accessibility by citizens.
- Budget and Performance Information:Providing online access to government plans, budgets, expenditures, and performances.
3.Legal Transparency
- Key Judicial Decisions:Important judicial decisions, especially those concerning the environment, are made available online to inform citizens and set precedents for future actions.
4.Information Dissemination
- Contact Addresses:Making contact addresses of officials at local, regional, national, and international levels available online.
- Grievance Handling:Facilitating the online filing of grievances and receiving feedback from citizens.
- Reports Publication:Making reports of inquiry committees or commissions available online for public scrutiny.
E-GOVERNANCE VS. E-GOVERNMENT UNDER IT ACT, 2000
- Legal Recognition (Sections 4-10A)
- Validity of Electronic Records (Section 4):Electronic records are deemed valid, satisfying requirements for typewritten or printed forms.
- Electronic Signatures (Section 5): Authentication of information through electronic signatures as prescribed by the central government.
2.Government Processes and Services (Sections 6-6A)
- Use of Electronic Records (Section 6):Government processes, including form submissions, record creation, and license issuance, may be conducted through electronic means.
- Services by Service Providers (Section 6A):Authorization for service providers to set up, maintain, and perform services for efficient e-governance.
3.Record Retention and Audit (Sections 7-7A)
- Retention of Electronic Records (Section 7): Conditions for the retention of electronic records, ensuring accessibility, original format, and identification details.
- Audit of Electronic Documents (Section 7A): Applicability of audit provisions for documents maintained in electronic form as per existing laws.
- Publication and Interaction (Sections 8-10)
- Publication in Electronic Gazette(Section 8):Electronic gazette publication deemed satisfying legal requirements.
- No Right to Insist on Electronic Interaction (Section 9):Individuals have no right to insist on electronic forms for government interactions.
- Rules for Electronic Signatures (Section 10):Central government’s authority to prescribe rules for electronic signatures.
5.Validity of Contracts (Section 10A):
- Enforceability of Electronic Contracts: Contracts formed through electronic means are enforceable, eliminating the ground of unenforceability based solely on electronic form usage.
E-GOVERNANCE PROJECTS IN INDIA
- NICNET (1987)
- Foundation for E-Governance: NICNET, launched in 1987, laid the groundwork for e-governance in India.
- District Information System (National Informatics Centre)
- Computerizing District Offices: The program aimed to computerize all district offices across the nation.
3.Parliament of India Website
- Comprehensive Information: The website provides detailed information on parliamentary proceedings, the constitution, budgets, debates, committees, and links to other government websites.
4.E-Governance Center at Haryana Secretariat
- Effective IT Monitoring:The Haryana government established an E-Governance Center at the secretariat to monitor information technology effectively.
5.Bhoomi (Karnataka)
- Land Record Computerization:This Karnataka-based project involves the computerization of more than 200 treasuries across the state, primarily focusing on land record systems.
CONCLUSION
E-Governance stands as a transformative force, reshaping the dynamics between citizens and governments. Through legal frameworks like the IT Act, 2000, and impactful projects in India, the commitment towards achieving effective e-governance is evident. As technology continues to advance, the evolution of e-governance remains critical in building transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric governance systems.
REFERENCE :
- INDIA TODAY
- TIMES OF INDIA
- LEGAL GLOSSARY -ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE
- LEGAL GLOSSARY – ELECTRONIC CONTRACT