Explain the concept of e-governance and also highlight the various e-governance models.

 CONCEPT OF E-GOVERNANCE

E-governance is the application of ICT to the processes of government functioning for good governance. In other words, e-governance is the public sector’s use of ICTs with the aim to improve information and service delivery, encourage citizen participation in decision-making and make government more accountable, transparent and efficient.

The Ministry of Information and Technology states that e-governance goes far beyond mere computerisation of stand alone back office operations. It implies fundamental changes in government operations; and new set of responsibilities for the legislature, executive, judiciary and citizens.

According to the Comptroller and Auditor General, UK, e-governance means providing public access to information via the internet by government departments and their agencies.

So in essence, e-governance is the application of ICT in government functioning to bring in SMART governance implying: simple, moral, accountable, responsive and transparent governance.

SMART governance, thus, helps in:

· improving the internal organisational processes of governments;

· providing better information and service delivery;

· increasing government transparency in order to reduce corruption;

· reinforcing political credibility and accountability; and

· promoting democratic practices through public participation and consultation.

MODELS OF E-GOVERNANCE

Prof. Dr. Arie Halachmi in his paper, namely, ‘ E-Government Theory and Practice: The Evidence from Tennessee (USA),’ has given five important models of e-governance, which can be used as a guide in designing e-government initiatives depending on the local situation and governance activities that are expected to be performed. These models are:

· The Broadcasting Model

· The Critical Flow Model

· The Comparative Analysis Model

· The E-Advocacy/Mobilisation and Lobbying Model

· The Interactive-Service Mode

· The Broadcasting Model

The model is based on dissemination/broadcasting of useful governance information, which is in the public domain into the wider public domain with ICT and convergent media. The strength of the model rests upon the fact that a more informed citizenry is better able to judge the functioning of existing governance mechanisms and make an informed opinion about them. Consequently, they become more empowered to exercise their rights and responsibilities. Widespread application of this model corrects ‘information failure situations’ by providing people with the relevant information relating to the governance sphere to make informed opinion and impact governance processes.

Further, the uses of ICT opens an alternative channel for people to access information as well as validate existing information from different sources.

· The Critical Flow Model

The model is based on disseminating/channeling information of critical value to the targeted audience or into the wider public domain with ICT and convergent media.

The strength of this model is that ICT makes the concept of ‘distance’ and ‘time’ redundant when information is hosted on a digital network, and this could be used advantageously by instantly transferring the critical information to its strategic user group located anywhere or by making it freely available in the wider public domain.

· The Comparative Analysis Model

This model is highly significant model for developing countries and can be used for empowering people. Essentially, the model continuously assimilates best practices in the areas of governance and then uses them as benchmarks to evaluate other governance practices. It then uses the result to advocate positive changes or to influence ‘public’ opinion on these governance practices. The comparison could be made over a time scale to get a snapshot of the past and present situation or could be used to compare the effectiveness of an intervention by comparing two similar situations. The strength of this model lie in the infinite capacity of digital networks to store varied information and retrieve and transmit it instantly across all geographical and hierarchal barriers.

· The E-Advocacy/Mobilization and Lobbying Model

This model builds the momentum of real-world processes by adding the opinions and concerns expressed by virtual communities. This model helps the global civil society to impact on global decision-making processes. It is based on setting up a planned, directed flow of information to build strong virtual allies to complement actions in the real world. Virtual communities are formed which share similar values and concerns and these communities in turn link up with or support real-life groups/activities for concerted action.

Hence, it creates a diversity of virtual community and the ideas, expertise and resources are accumulated through this virtual form of networking. In addition, it is able to mobilize and leverage human resources and information beyond geographical, institutional and bureaucratic barriers and use it for concerted action.

· The Interactive-Service Model

It opens avenues for direct participation of individuals in governance processes and brings in greater objectivity and transparency in decision-making processes through ICT. Fundamentally, ICT has the potential to bring in every individual in a digital network and enable interactive (two-way) flows of information among them.

Under this model, the various services offered by the Government become directly available to its citizens in an interactive manner. It does so by opening up an interactive Government to Consumer to Government (G2C2G) channel in various aspects of governance, such as election of government officials (e-ballots); redressing online of specific grievances; sharing of concerns and providing expertise; opinion polls on various issues; etc. (adapted from Prof. Dr.Arie Halachmi ‘E-Government Theory and Practice: The Evidence from Tennessee, USA’).

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