Electronic governance overview & use of digital signature

1. E-Governance
Electronic governance or e-governance implies government functioning with
the application of ICT (Information and Communications Technology). Hence
e-Governance is basically a move towards SMART governance implying:
simple, moral, accountable, responsive and transparent governance.
What is SMART Governance?
• Simple — implies simplification of rules and regulations of the government
and avoiding complex processes with the application of ICTs and therefore,
providing a user-friendly government.
• Moral — meaning the emergence of a new system in the administrative
and political machinery with technology interventions to improve the
efficiency of various government agencies.
• Accountable — develop effective information management systems and
other performance measurement mechanisms to ensure the
accountability of public service functionaries.
• Responsive — Speed up processes by streamlining them, hence making
the system more responsive.
• Transparent — providing information in the public domain like websites or
various portals hence making functions and processes of the government
transparent.

2. Advantages of e-Governance
• Improves delivery and efficiency of government services
• Improved government interactions with business and industry
• Citizen empowerment through access to information
• More efficient government management
• Less corruption in the administration
• Increased transparency in administration
• Greater convenience to citizens and businesses
• Cost reductions and revenue growth
• Increased legitimacy of government
• Reduces paperwork and red-tapism in the administrative
process which results in better planning and coordination
between different levels of government
• Improved relations between the public authorities and civil
society
• Re-structuring of administrative processes

3. Role of Engineers in E-Governance
The role of engineering has suffered many changes over the last
few decades, although its concept which is based on trial and
error has remained an essential element of the scientific-
technological method; where social, environmental and human
factors define the most suitable solution to manage a particular
issue. Thus, the engineer's role is continuing reshaped according
to the new challenges and necessities implicated by specialized
disciplines on the areas of E-governance. The role of engineers in
the field of E-governance is focus on identifying the needs of the
public and to design the process which is more user friendly,
secured and fast. Some of the guiding principles for reforming E -
governance with the help of technology are:
• Form simplification and field reduction — Forms should be
made simple and user friendly and only minimum and
necessary information should be collected.
• Online applications and tracking - Online applications and
tracking of their status should be provided.

4. • Online repositories - Use of online repositories e.g., for
certificates, educational degrees-, identity documents, etc.
should be mandated so that citizens are not required to
submit these documents in physical form.
• Integration of services and platforms — Integration of
services and platforms e.g., Aadhaar platform of Unique
Identity Authority of India (UIDAI), payment gateway, Mobile
Seva platform, sharing of data through open Application
Programming Interfaces (API) and middleware such as
National and State Service Delivery Gateways (NSDG/SSDG)
should be mandated to facilitate integrated and interoperable
service delivery to citizens and businesses.
• Databases and information in electronic form - The workflow
inside government departments and agencies should be
automated to enable efficient government processes and also
to allow visibility of these processes to citizens .IT should be
used to automate respond and analyse data to identify and
resolve persistent problems . these would be largely process
improvements

5. Need for Reformed Engineering
• To learn more than one discipline
• Need for new skills
• India as a land of opportunity
• Need to move to a research ecosystem

6. IT in Judiciary
The role of information technology in the judiciary is also on the verge
of increase. In 1990, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) of the
Ministry of Information Technology start the process of
computerization in the Supreme Court. Later NIC also took up
computerization of all High Courts on the lines of Apex Court’s
Computerization. This process has enabled the court administration to
eliminate the manual processes like generating daily cause list; creating
a database of details of fresh cases, disposed cases, and pending cases.
Cases can be listed strictly in the chronological order of date of filling.
It has made it possible for the Courts to dispose of the cases faster. As
the cases having the same point of law can be group and post before
one bench through the use of this information technology. It has also
become easier to recall dismissed cases when review petitions are
filed. The use of information technology in Court administration has
made the filing process hassle. Its free and reduce the irregularities in
the management of cases. This has proved to be a backbone
application of every Court.

7. Most of the bottlenecks identified by Judicial Commissions and Committees
referring to delays, arrears and backlog be partly overcome if a sound judicial
management information system is introduced in India. Case Management, File
Management, and Docket Management will be vastly improved by resorting to the
use of computers. In particular, the following are areas where the use of computers
will result in enhanced productivity and reduction of delays.
a) Legal Information Data Bases.
b) On line query system for precedents, citations, codes, statutes etc.
c) Generation of Cause List and online statistical reports.
d) Online Caveat matching. e) Online updating of data, monitoring and “flagging” of
events.
f) Pooling of orders and judgments.
g) Daily List generation with historical data of each case.
h) Word processing with standard templates including generation of
notices/processes.
i) Access to international databases.
j) Feedback reports for use of various levels.
The above are some of the areas where information technology can be introduced
after due preparation. In particular, tracking of cases would result in better
monitoring and control of cases by the Presiding Officers, rather than by the
lawyers.
Computerization should be supplemented by the use of Fax, E-Mail, Video
conferencing and other facilities for higher productivity and quicker decision making
at all levels.

8. Problem of Alienation and Secessionism in few states
creating hurdles in Industrial development.
The Northeast region of India comprising of eight states –
Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram,
Tripura and Sikkim. North East India is a region poorly
connected to the Indian mainland by a small corridor –
Siliguri Corridor with a narrow width of only 23
kilometres. North Eastern India has been facing problems
of Alienation and Secessionism for near 5 decades, but
things are now settling down and peace started to
prevail. Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Tripura had been
witnessing conflict since 1950-60 period, but since 1990,
the intensity of conflicts started to decrease. Now the
only state where prominent Alienation and
Secessionism exist is Manipur. But in this region several
armed factions operate. Some groups call for a separate
state, others for regional autonomy while some extreme
groups demand complete independence.

9. Reasons for Problem of Alienation
and Secessionism North East India
• Historical reasons – loosely administered under British
India.
• Tensions between these states and the central government.
• Tensions between tribal people, who are natives of these
states, and migrant peoples from other parts of India.
• Geographical reasons – not well connected with present
Indian mainland.
• Developmental reasons – Poorly developed due to lack of
fund from Centre/States.
• Environmental reasons.
• Military reasons – AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Power Act).
• Foreign Policy – Look easy policy and market changes
bought.
• External support – China and Myanmar.

10. Problems of Alienation and Secessionism in North East
India creating hurdles in Industrial development
• Security situation in the region has improved considerably in
Assam and Meghalaya in particular facilitating conducive
atmosphere for investment and development. The Northeast
Industrial Policy initiated by the Government of India further
contributed in encouraging investment and industries in the
region.
• However, the Northeast will not attract big industries
because the region is resource deficit, and does not have
economies of scale to match. Moreover, the security situation
in the whole of the region has not improved uniformly.
• The North East Council (NEC) and the Ministry for the
Development of the North East Region (DoNER) have become
fund disbursing agencies instead of strategic planning
agencies. At present approximately Rs. 11,000 crores are lying
idle with the Ministry of DoNER.

11. Recommendations to solve North East
India Industrial Developmental Problems
• The Ministry of the Development of the North East region (DoNER) be
merged with the North East Council (NEC) for better strategic planning
and coordination of various developmental projects in the region.
• Focus of the Ministry f DoNER and NEC should be on investment in
mega-projects which will make big difference to the development of the
region.
• Institutional capacities in the North east should be developed urgently.
• Pragmatic land use policy should be formulated for attracting industries
in the region. Micro, small and medium enterprises should be
encouraged.
• Local tourism should be promoted. Tourists residing in the eight North
Eastern states should be encouraged to travel within the region.
• Niche tourism or high-end tourism should be encouraged. Medical and
higher education tourism should be encouraged.
• The North east should become a single economic unit without
disturbing the political boundaries of the states. No internal traffic
barriers in the region. Exclusive five-year plan for the North east
focusing on development of infrastructure.