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5 e-Security and Privacy Policy
Primary Driver: DIT
A national e-security policy is important to safeguard information, particularly so when India is on its path to becoming an e-Governed nation. Hence, it's important that the National e-Security Policy be clearly defined and spelt out. Besides, NeGP also needs to incorporate the security aspect for implementation of projects under the MMP, including the use of digital signature and e-security audit. An important first step could be the adoption and use of digital signature by all government departments by year 2007.

Besides, there is also a need to adopt a privacy policy by various agencies in possession of key citizen information. This assumes further significance with the increase in the number of G2C and G2B transactions being outsourced. This would also increase confidence of citizens and government departments in common databases, and of foreign customers in India

6 NDC Policy
Primary Driver: DIT
Support: Media such as Dataquest
A comprehensive framework for national and state data centers is important to avoid duplication of resources across states and at the Centre. The Policy would also aim at creating a framework to allow where required, interconnection of states and sharing of information (policy based) for better planning and allocation of resources.

The Summit suggested that the distributed framework approach be adopted for a national NOC. The states and departments should have access to data as well as applications as per pre-defined policies. The Summit also suggested that states should have a clear de facto and de jure control of the state level data center. However, the states also agreed that the data center may not essentially be in the state but can be hosted in a common data center, being run at the national level by a third party or by NIC. It can have a clearly defined DR site and policy.

The consolidation of infrastructure is aimed at better cost management, reliability and disaster recovery and not aimed at data sharing. While DIT can work towards creating a policy on the same, media such as Dataquest can push the cause by doing stories on architectures and presenting cost comparisons.

7 Funding
Primary Driver: DIT
Make available project based funding at the state level. The account model of DIT created for funding SWAN can be followed, making monitoring of fund utilization easier.

Three options have been proposed for 'Project-based funding at state level'

A: Fund only central adoption, cleanup, etc
B: (A) plus part-fund rollout for only the projects in the repository (additional benefit to be sought for originator of adopted application)
C: Give Central funding only for projects that have a clear e-Gov component (not IT projects)

8 Unified
e-Procurement Policy
Primary Driver: Ministry of Finance/CVC
Secondary Driver: DIT (For tech and security framework, standards, etc)
Procurement being one of the major expense areas, the policy is aimed at developing a guideline for e-Procurement and technology standards for the same. Besides, there is a need to propagate the procurement of services guidelines that have been recently incorporated in General Financial Rule (GFR) document. The CVC guidelines now covers procurement of works, goods and consultancy and services as well.

Also, there is a need to create a policy on user charges-tender document fee–that varies from one e-Procurement project to another, unlike in the case of traditional tendering process.

These issues can be handled by Ministry of Finance and CVC, which can also constitute an expert panel, including members of PSUs, to create the standards framework, security features and uniform process flow for e-Procurement in India.

DIT can work towards creating technology framework, including security and standards and a monitoring mechanism for the same.

9 The Champion Pool
Primary Driver: Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR&PG)
Secondary Driver: DIT/Media such as Dataquest (Like DQ e-Gov Champion Award and Best e-Governed State Award through DQ-IDC Citizen Satisfaction Index)
While the role of 'champion' as a success factor was highlighted in both the Dataquest e-Gov Summit (2005 & 2006), what has come out very clear is that many an e-Gov initiatives failed to achieve a critical mass because the official championing the cause was transferred.

While Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had indicated a fixed tenure for senior officers, and the DAR & PG is driving the same, the Dataquest e-Gov Summit recommends the policy be finalized fast. Also, initiative should be taken to bring about changes in the service rule. This will enable post-transfer availability of the officer for project consultation for a maximum period of one year for hand holding of new projects in his previous department, if required. While the initiative has to be driven by DAR & PG, the DIT can play the role of a catalyst by pushing the cause.

Besides, the government can motivate officers to adopt the e-way of governance by linking their appraisals and promotions to their 'e' initiative and their proficiency in IT. There is also a need to create a core group of e-Gov champions at the state and Central level, who can act as consultants to other states and departments which are lagging behind in e-Gov initiative. The list can be published by DIT and also by publications such as Dataquest. DIT can also look towards motivating the e-Gov champions at the district level or extend the process through Dataquest's existing e-Gov Champion Award.

10 Health & Telemedicine
Primary Driver: Ministry of Health
Secondary Driver: DIT (To create white paper and push it)
Keeping in sync with the World Health Assembly 2005 resolution of adopting e-Health, the Summit recommends that e-Health and Telemedicine be made part of the Mission Mode Projects. These can also turn out to be killer applications for CSCs.

While its important to link district and village health centers to the major hospitals to provide better diagnosis and consultancy, this is also important for a nationwide medical surveillance system that the Health Ministry has already planned.  Though standardization of health record format is part of the agenda number 2, the same needs to be integrated in the final plan on e-Health and Telemedicine. The citizen ID card as in agenda number 4 can also double up as the Health Card, that can be used to maintain an online health record of the person throughout his life, no matter wherever he goes. The compiled database can then be corroborated at the district health office, where it is mapped with the help of the GIS system of the area. This healthcare tracking mechanism can help generate real-time data and many problems can be nipped out in its early stages, increasing the economic productivity of the individuals.

Shubhendu Parth
shubhendup@cybermedia.co.in

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