The last couple of years have seen e-governance drop roots in India. IT enables the delivery of government services as it caters to a large base of people across different segments and geographical locations. The effective use of IT services in government administration can greatly enhance existing efficiencies, drive down communication costs, and increase transparency in the functioning of various departments. It also gives citizens easy access to tangible benefits, be it through simple applications such as online form filling, bill sourcing and payments, or complex applications like distance education and tele-medicine.
India is set to invest more than US$2.8 billion over the next three years in a national e-government project, revealed J Satyanarayana, CEO of NISG.
Be it depositing electricity bills or examination fees, e-government offers a hassle-free solution by replacing lengthy queues and insolent government employees with computerised single window Bill collection centres.
Read more: India: e-Governance: Powerful tool for PSUs reform
As a first step, the State would float e-tendering in the Public Works Department (PWD), Public Health Engineering (PHE) and initiate e-procurement in all departments that purchase different materials every year in a bid to check 'corruption' which is otherwise rampant in these departments. The new system would make it more transparent and accountable. The government would also adopt e-payment for clearing payments.
Read more: India: Chhattisgarh to adopt e-government mechanism
Pilot projects in various parts of the country have clearly demonstrated the enormous potential of e-government in reducing the harassment of citizens and corruption.