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The government is but steadily progressing and working towards a complete migration to e-mode with e-tendering, e-procurement, and e-information portals becoming the talking points.

During the last three years, the central government has been making efforts to discuss this with states and other central government authorities to implement an integrated "GOV on-line (ONEINDIA)" by strategizing an integrated framework (NeGP) with mission mode projects identified and approved by the Prime Minister.

NeGAP
Under the National e-Governance Action Plan (NeGAP), 22 Mission Mode Projects have been identified which are to be implemented in a phased manner by the line ministries/departments concerned at the central and state level. This is in addition to the various other e-Governance initiatives being taken by states and central Ministries. NeGAP is part of the Congress led UPA government's commitment to National Common Minimum Program to bring in good governance.

NeGAP looks into the aspects of creating the right governance and institutional mechanisms to set up the core infrastructure and policies to implement mission mode projects. It has recently got in-principle approval by cabinet. Endorsement has been given to the overall program content, implementation approach and governance structures.

Pillars of NeGAP
The approval for the NeGP includes streamlining grassroots governance through the proposed one lakh common service centers (under the NeGAP) countrywide.

The CSCs are expected to be in place by mid 2008. They are considered as one of the strategic pillars approved by the government under NeGAP, the other two being the state wide area network (SWAN) connectivity and the state data center (SDC).

State Initiatives
States on their part have also identified projects and e-Governance initiatives to add impetus to the concept of e-Governance. Some of the key projects and components which states are aggressively pursuing include Land Records, Road Transport, Property Registration, Agriculture, Treasuries, Municipalities, Gram Panchayat, Commercial Taxes, Police and Employment Exchanges. Apart from these, the states have also identified other areas like Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, Health, Education, Rural Development, Forests, etc.

Another area where IT is increasingly improving government functioning is the delivery of civil services. However, experts point out that manpower and capacity building are important aspects which need to be pushed aggressively.

It is being seen as a prominent precursor towards the implementation of e-Governance in India. For India to be a truly developed nation, one needs to focus on various types of capacity building required across all the levels, feel experts.

Urvashi Kaul
urvashik@cybermedia.co.in

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