PRAGATI: Journal of Indian Economy Volume 5, Issue 1, Jan-June 2018, pp. 123-143 doi: https://doi.org/10.17492/pragati.v5i01.13109 Citizens’ View on Digital Initiatives and e-Readiness: A Case Study for AADHAR Project in Madhya Pradesh Nidhi Jhawar* and Vivek S. Kushwaha** ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to understand the initiative of e-Governance in India. The paper examines an essential element for the success of e-Initiates of Government of India, i.e., the e-readiness of people, for the state of Madhya Pradesh. Several studies have been reviewed that have helped in understanding the concept of digital governance along with case study of ‘AADHAAR’ project. The study reflects on the e-Governance initiatives taken by other developed and developing countries and also compared with Indian projects. Governments throughout the world have become more apt to offer public information and services via online platform and this exercise of government initiative is known as e-Governance. The appreciating finding of the study is that users are participating actively in ‘AADHAAR’ project and results of questionnaire show the proactive input and acceptance of information and communication technology initiative of government even from the low income respondents. The technological aid and government role in providing ICT infrastructure is also significant. Keywords: e-Governance; e-Readiness; Technology; Aadhaar. 1.0 Introduction Government of India during FY 2016-17 allocated USD 197.69 Million for the Digital India Program which covers. The budget is for manpower development, electronic governance, externally aided projects of e-governance, national knowledge network, promotion of electronics and IT hardware manufacturing, promotion of IT industries, research and development of IT and foreign trade and export promotion projects. The spending on e-Governance projects were USD 40.90 Million in FY 2011- 12. Increase budget in 2016-17 clearly brings out the digital enthusiasm for making the e-governance projects successful. _______________________ *Corresponding Author; Assistant Professor, IPS Academy IBMR, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. (Email: [email protected]) **Director, IPS Academy IBMR, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. (Email: [email protected]) 124 PRAGATI: Journal of Indian Economy, Volume 5, Issue 1, Jan-June 2018 The real effort has come from bringing together the Jan Dhan accounts, the Adhaar Yojana and spread of Mobile networks. Together this vehicle is called JAM and these three pillars together reaching to the poor and excluded. The combination of JAM with digital economy created a major challenge in banking and payments like never before. All these changes will surely reveal the promise of cashless economy and financial inclusion which will benefit the Indian economy. These schemes will also enable government to transfer the financial benefits like subsidies. Transforming India digitally an empowered society is the ultimate focus of “Digital India Program”. The „Digital India‟ programme defines itself as “a programme to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy”. Creation of digital infrastructure, delivery service through digital platform and educating citizen digitally are the basics of this program. Success of these initiatives lies on citizens‟ readiness towards e-governance services however, rural India still facing the problem of internet connectivity and mobile network. So it is a challenge for both societies as well as for government. The present study examines and evaluates the success factor of this large initiative of e-governance. Paper discusses the key factor e-Readiness as the essence of the success for this digital program. 31 mission mode projects have been introduced under the e- Governance plan in various areas of citizens and government connectivity. Several projects have been discussed as a part of review of literature and also focused on “AADHAAR” project for the unique identification number. Research has done the comparative study of e-Initiative of India with other countries where these projects are the successful tool for digital government reforms. In this study objective was to find the factors of e-Readiness adoption towards e- Government services. Results were analysed after conducting the primary study and then there is discussion on the issues and challenges for the government to make the “AADHAAR” a successful project as a number of government schemes and initiatives are linked with unique identification number. The next part of the study discusses the background about the governance system along with the literature review and furthers the “AADHAAR” project case study, research methodology and results and discussion. Finally in the last part, conclusion, limitations and scope for future research is discussed. 2.0 Theoretical Framework “In order to transform the entire ecosystem of public services through the use of information technology, the Government of India has launched the „Digital India Citizens’ View on Digital Initiatives and e-Readiness 125 programme‟ with the vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy”. This initiative started in 2014 with a vision of investment of Rs. 1.13 lakh crore in technology sector to create a participative, transparent and responsive government. All new and current e-Governance projects as well, which are being refurbish, should now have to follow the key principles of e-Kranti namely „Transformation and not Translation‟, „Integrated Services and not Individual Services‟, „Government Process Reengineering (GPR) to be mandatory in every MMP‟, „ICT Infrastructure on Demand‟, „Cloud by Default‟, „Mobile First‟, „Fast Tracking Approvals‟, „Mandating Standards and Protocols‟, „Language Localization‟, „National GIS (Geo-Spatial Information System)‟, „Security and Electronic Data Preservation‟. Nation e-Governance plan initiated with 31 MMP‟s and now they have increased to 44. The first step of the digital India program is to create a supportive infrastructure then services which are supported by infrastructure and eventually the result will be an empowered society. Table 1 describes the steps of e-initiatives taken by the government. Table 1: Steps of e-Initiative Step 1. Infrastructure Step 2. Services Step 3. Empowerment 1.State wide area network, 1. Un-reserved ticket through mobile 1.Visvesvaraya phd scheme for 2.Single window interface for application (uts app) electronics and it, trade, 2. Umang (unified mobile application for 2. Targeted public distribution 3.Rapid assessment system, new-age governance), system (tpds), 4.Open data, 3. Udaan, 3. Smart cities mission, 5.National supercomputing 4. Swayam, 4. Pradhan mantrikaushalvikas mission, 5. Swatch bhaarat app, yojana (pmkvy), 6.Mobile seva app store, 6. Sugamayapustakalaya, 5.Pradhan mantrijan-dhan yojana 7. Megh raj, 7. Startupindia portal and mobile app, (pmjdy), 8. Jeevan pramaan, 8. Soil health card, 6. Pradhan mantrigramin digital 9.Irctc connect, 9.Sms-based mid-day meal monitoring sakshartaabhiyaan, 10.Integrated health scheme, 7. Paygovindia, information platform, 10. Shaalasidhdhi, 8. Pahal (dbtl), 11.Government e-Marketplace, 11. Kvshaaladarpan, 9. Openforge, 12. Garv Grameen 12. Saransh, 10. Nregasoft, 13.Vidyutikaran Mobile App, 13. Pusakrishi, 11. North east bpo promotion 14. e-Trade, 14. Public financial management system scheme, 15. ESSO-India National (pfms), 12. National mission on 16.Centre for Ocean 15. Project monitoring website for e- education through Information Services, courts, information and 17. e-Sign, 16. Project management and information communication technology 18. Electronic Development system , (nmeict), fund, 17. Passport seva project, 13. Mygov, 19. e-Basta, 18. Parivahan portal, 14. Digidhanabhiyaa, 20.Direct Benefit Transfer, 19. Online labs, 14. Bpo promotion, 21. Digitize India, 20. Nirbhaya app, 15. AADHAAR enabled 126 PRAGATI: Journal of Indian Economy, Volume 5, Issue 1, Jan-June 2018 22.Digital Saksharta Abhiyan, 21. Nikshay, payment system. 23. DigiSevak, 22. National voters service portal (nvsp), 24.Digi Locker, national ujala dashboard, 25.DeenDayal Upadhyaya 23. National scholarship portal (nsp), 26.Gram Jyoti Yojana, 24. National knowledge network (nkn), 27.Cyber Swachhta Kendra, 25. National career service portal, 28.CSC 2.0, 26. Mraktkosh, 29.CERT-In, 27. Mother and child tracking system, 30.Centre of Excellence for 28. Mkisan, 31.Internet of Things, 29. Mkavach, 32.Bharat Broadband Network, 30. Mcessation, 33. AADHAAR 31. The ministry of corporate affairs mca21, 32. Masset, 33. Madad app, 34. Learning management system (lms), 35.knowledge management system (kms), 36. Kisansuvidha, 37. Khoya paya, 38. Icds systems strengthening and nutrition improvement project (issnip), 39. Himmat app, 40. Goods and service tax network (gstn), 41. Geological survey of india (gsi), 42. Geographic information system (gis software) , 43. Fertiliser monitoring system (fms), 44. Farmer portal, 45.e-visa, 46. E-taal, 47.e-sampark, 48. Eprocurement portal (cpp), 49. Eprison, 50. Epfo web portal & mobile app, 51. E-pathshala 52. E-office, 53.e-national agriculture market (nam), 54.e- modified special incentive package scheme (msips), 55. Ehospital, 56. E-greetings, 57. E-district, 58. Ecievm tracking, 59. E-biz, 60.e-panchayat, 61. E-granthalaya, 62. Digital aims, 63.crop insurance mobile app, 64. Crime and criminal tracking network & systems, 65. Bharat interface for money (bhim),