Prior to getting into details on impact of the citizen centric services through eDistrict/eMunicipality Systems, it is imperative to understand the eGovernance model in India and its implementation. In short eGovernance is, making use of ICT or Information and Communication technologies in various routine governance activities.

In India, eGovernace has progressed in leaps and bounds at all levels and in all departments by NeGP hosted by GoI. The Projects are executed as MMPs (Mission Mode Projects) with the three pillars of mplementation, State Data Center (SDC), State Wide Area Network (SWAN) and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), which are the bases for IT infrastructure for all States as well as GoI.

To interface between states and the center, common gateway at states (SSDG) and center (NSDG) are planned to be set in place. This will ensure the states and center are integrated and have a unified platform for citizens.

Now to our point of discussion: How will the eDistrict/eMunicipality Systems help Citizens?

• These systems are designed to service citizens, at their locations, on various routine services of obtaining certificates (birth, community certificates and the like), Greviences and RTI, etc., through the CSC arm.
• eGovernace on district/Local administration will enable constant monitoring of services rendered to citizens and also provide meaningful feedback / statistics to the administration departments.
• eGovernance will help district/local administration and citizens to get meaning full information on Where,What, When, Who and How of any event. For example, a single query will enable a citizen know why his papers are on-hold on a particular desk.
• Alternatively,it will help citizens to be notified on every stage of their application over mobile phones.

The concept of eGovernace of local/district administration is not new to India, however the system needs to be well equipped to meet the challenges that we face every day. In other words, it should aid district/local administration to make effective-efficient-timely decisions manner. Also every measure is to be taken to keep the system transparent and accountable.

By going the ‘e’ way, we can ensure clean and efficient public administration and execution of welfare schemes to uplift the socio-economic condition of the nation.