The unveiling of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) blueprint by the Union government on Wednesday is, without doubt, a step laden with huge significance. The ambitious project, costing Rs 23,000 crore, is to be implemented in the next five years at both the central and state levels. For a country known for its prowess in information technology (IT), such a plan is not only in the fitness of things given its substantial benefits, but also one that was long overdue. Agreed, e-Governance projects both at the central and state-level are being implemented, some with a great degree of success. For instance, the Karnataka’s government’s five-year-old Bhoomi project, which undertook the computerisation of 20 million land records of 6.7 m land-owners. Or the Andhra Pradesh government’s e-Seva project, which has made payment of bills for municipal services like water and electricity a hassle-free task for the common man.
Implemented in earnest and if NeGP doesn’t fall prey to the red-tapism or tardiness normally associated with government projects, it has the potential to touch the lives of millions of ordinary citizens. After all, among the areas it plans to bring under its ambit are land records, agriculture, road transport, commercial taxes, civil supplies, education and police at the state level; and income tax, pensions, passports, insurance, etc. at the central level. The NeGP has set its sights high by promising ‘anytime, anywhere, access’ through facilities like 100,000 common service centres in nearly six lakh villages by the end of next year. A tad ambitious target, but at least it will set the government on the road toward this goal.
E-Governance has the capacity to transform ordinary lives. And lend governments a citizen-friendly face. But they would do well to encourage greater public-private partnerships to bring in technical and management skills. With a win-win situation for both, why lose more time?
Quelle/Source: The Financial Express, 17.06.2006
