Many governments across the world are talking about e-governance including India. We have been shown the dream of "Digital India" by the present union government.
But the ultimate aim of e-governance is to promote democratic practices through public participation, consultation and informed decision making. Essentially, e-governance pertains to improving of government processes and of the internal workings of the government and public sector enterprises with new ICT-executed information processes.
Some of the identified areas of e-governance include online or e-services to citizen; enhanced participation in democracy; transparency in the functioning of the government sector, and accountability towards citizens.
Over the years, a large number of initiatives have been undertaken by various State Governments and Central Ministries to usher in an era of e-Government. Sustained efforts have been made at multiple levels to improve the delivery of public services and simplify the process of accessing them.
The website of Ministry of Information Technology of GOI says that e-Governance in
India has steadily evolved from computerization of Government Departments to initiatives that encapsulate the finer points of Governance, such as citizen centricity, service orientation and transparency.
The website further informs that due cognizance has been taken of the notion that to speed up e-Governance implementation across the various arms of Government at National, State, and Local levels, a programme approach needs to be adopted, guided by common vision and strategy.
Here is an ABC verse on e-governance.
A: Accountable, transparent and effective governance
B: Bettering delivery of services and making government more responsive
C: Communication technologies used to provide opportunities for welfare-oriented relationships between governments and citizens
D: Democracy in the true sense through participation in decision making
E: Enhance good governance through ICTs
