Chapter I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Meaning and definitions of e-Governance The 21st century has been widely acclaimed as the „knowledge century era‟. Every nation in the world finding itself to be performing in an increasingly competitive and globalised international environment; where the information infrastructure, research and innovation, education and IT education, GDP and Economic growth and regulatory framework have become critical parameter. India is one of the developing nations. India is regarded as having the third largest reservoir of scientific and technical manpower in the world of nations with an estimated stock of seven million and most of them are IT related. In its development, number of factors contributing at large scale, IT sector is one of them. Introduction of ITC‟s are changing many aspects of personal and professional life. Because when e-Governance and now-a-days m-Governance playing a vital role. E-Governance or „electronic governance‟ may be define as delivery of government services and information to the public using electronic mean. E-Governance is beyond the scope of e-government. While e-government is defined as a mere delivery of government services and information to the public using electronic means, e-Governance allows direct participation of constituents in government activities. 1.1.1 Meaning of e-Governance E-Governance is the use of a range of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as Internet, Intranet, Local Area Networks, Mobile computing etc. by government to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, service delivery and to promote democracy. E-Governance is now becoming a buzzword in the corridors of power. World economies have recognized IT as an effective tool in catalyzing the economical activities in efficient governance and developing a human resource. They have made significant investments in it and successfully integrated it with the development process, thereby reaping the benefits to their society. Simply stated, the use of ICTs in governance may be termed as e-Governance. It has radically defined the way a government provides services to citizens, businesses and arms of the government. 2 E-Governance involves access to government information and services 24 X 7, in a way that is focuses on the needs of the citizens. E-Governance relies heavily on the effective use of Internet and other emerging technologies to receive and deliver information and services easily, quickly, efficiently and inexpensively. In India the e-Governance has consequently become the accepted methodology involving the use of ICT. This methodology improves transparency, providing information speedily to all citizens, improving efficiency of administration and public services and impacted industrial, education, public as well as private service and government sectors. This influence of e-Governance on various applications felt of late increasingly being. Thus, e-Governance, e-Government or digital Government essentially refers to the utilization of IT, ICT‟s and other web based telecommunication technology to improve and/or enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery in the public sector. 1.1.2 Concepts and Definitions of e-Governance – The new ICTs have made significant contribution to achieve the goals of good governance in the developed countries. It has made the governance process more efficient and effective in bringing the citizens together with the help of the e-societies. The emergence of pro-active knowledge of societies, the Governments have no choices but to improvise constantly to bring greater efficiency, accountability, responsiveness and transparency in their administrative functioning. The use of ICT in e-governance is principally characterized by innovation in computerized networking from Intranets to Internet. It creates wealth of new digital connections as follows: a) Connections within government – Permitting “joined-up thinking”. b) Connections between government and NGOs/Citizens – Strengthening accountability. c) Connections between government and Business/Citizens-transforming service delivery d) Connections within and between NGOs – Supporting learning and concerted action. e) Connections within and between Communities - Building social and economical development. As a result, the focus grows from just parts of e-administration to e-citizens, e-services and e-society are shown in the following Diagram No1.1 Focal Domains for e- Governance Initiatives. 3 Diagram No 1.1 Focal Domains for e-Governance Initiatives 1.1.2.1 Definitions of e-Governance: Although e-Governance is now buzzed world has gained lots of respect in recent years. Different governments and organizations define this term to suit their own aims and objectives. Some widely used definitions are as follows: According to the World Bank2 “E-Governance refers to information technology used by government agencies of that have the ability to transform relation with citizens, business and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of government management. The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reduction.” As per the US E-Government ACT 2002 Section 36013 “The use by the Government of web-based Internet application and other information technologies, combined with processes that implement these technologies, to – (A) Enhance the access to and delivery of Government information and services to the public, other agencies and other Government entities ; or (B) Bring about improvements in government operations that may include effectiveness, efficiency, service quality, or transformation”. This definition reflects the strategy of the US Government regarding the use of ICT in improving Government operations on one side and enhancing the access and delivery of information, services as well as and government entities on the other hand with better quality and effective services. 4 UNESCO defines:4 “Governance refers to the exercise of political, economical and administrative authority in the management of a country‟s affairs, including citizens‟ articulation of their interests and exercise of their legal rights and obligations. E- Governance may be understood as the performance of this governance via the electronic medium. It does so to facilitate an efficient, speedy and transparent process of disseminating information to the public, and other agencies and for performing government administration activities.” This definition visualizes the use of electronic medium for the effective government administration for disseminate information to the public to provide efficient, speedy and transparent way. In Short “e-Governance is the application of information and communication technologies to transform the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of informational and transactional exchanges with in government, citizen & businesses. Empower citizens through access and use of maximum information. It may be understood as the performance of governance via the electronic medium. The resulting benefits can be increased transparency, greater convenience, speed up for decision making and quality service delivery, sustainable development, less corruption and so as cost reduction.” E-Governance is the application of ICT to the processes of government function to create following qualities in the processes: 1. Simple 2. Moral 3. Accountable 4. Responsive and 5. Transparent Governance. i.e SMART Governance. 1.1.2.2 E-Governance will support on: World shifts towards increased deployment of ICTs by governments emerged with the advancement of internet, broadband. The ICTs as well as e-Governance initiatives have come a long way since them. With the increase in World Wide Web, e-governance and m-governance, the citizens are learning to exploit their new mode of access in wide ranging ways. Every educated citizen have started expecting large information and services online from governments and corporate organizations to further their civic, professional and personal lives and it helps every stakeholders of governance a bit large in following manner. a) Improve interaction between Government, Business and Citizens. b) Increasing Transparency and Accountability of officers. c) Speed up decision making and high quality service delivery. d) Global advocacy and Communication. e) Stakeholders empower through access of information. 5 f) Enhance capacity of authorities / Customers. g) Timely delivery of information. h) Sustainable Development. i) Poverty Alleviation. j) Costs reduction. k) Connectivity is increased. l) Procedures become simple. m) Changing lifestyles and political sensibilities. n) Enable innovative approaches. Thus, e-Governance should result in the efficient and swift delivery of goods and services to citizens, businesses, government and rest of the stakeholders of the government. e-Governance aims to make interaction with every stakeholder, more convenient, friendly, transparent, inexpensive and effective way. As all of us know e-Governance does not mean proliferation of computers and internet services; it‟s basically a political decision which calls for discipline, attitudinal change in administrators, officers and employees and gigantic government process reengineering. Through this process e-governance will be support and try to achieve all of the above things. 1.1.3 ICT and e-Governance “ICTs are efficiently showing new dimensions to old institutional