Digital –Governance
E-Governance Models
Anil Singh Rathore
E-Governance:
The use of IT to improve the ability of
government to address the needs of
society. It includes the publishing of policy
and programme related information to
transact with citizens. It extends beyond
provision of on-line services and covers
the use of IT for strategic planning and
reaching development goals of the
government.
Concept of E-Governance
E-governance is the good usage of information and
communication technologies to transform and enhance
the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and
accountability of informational and transactional
exchanges with in government, between government
agencies at National, State, Municipal & Local levels,
citizen & businesses, and to authorise citizens through
access and use of information. Fundamentally, E-
governance, entails electronic governance which uses
information and communication technologies at
various levels of the government and the public sector
to improve governance (Bedi, Singh and Srivastava,
2001).
Overview of e-Governance Models
Any system, when starts hatching is mainly influenced
by its development models. e-Governance models are
purposely and specifically designed to guide the
implementation and development of e-Governance
applications in a stage-wise manner.
The evolution revolves from immature manual systems
to the mature Digital Democracy. The advantage of
having a stage-wise approach is to offer governments
abilities to measure the progress and also to generate
momentum that could subsequently be maintained.
Models of digital governance are still evolving in
developing countries. A few generic models have
shaped up, which are finding greater recognition
and are being replicated. These models are based
on the inherent characteristics of ICT such as
enabling equal access to information to anyone
who is part of the digital network and de-
concentration of information across the entire
digital network, connecting all sources of
information.
In simpler terms, information does not reside at
any one particular node in the Digital Governance
models but flows equally across all the nodes-a
fundamental change from the more common
hierarchical information flow model that leads to
unequal distribution of information and hence,
skewed power relations.
The five generic models of digital governance in
developing countries are:
⚫[Link]/Wider Dissemination Model
⚫[Link] Flow Model
⚫[Link] Analysis Model
⚫[Link] and Lobbying Model
⚫[Link]-Service Model(G2C2G)
1. Broadcasting/Wider Dissemination Model
Principle
The model is based on dissemination of information
relevant to better governance that is already in the public
domain into wider public domain through the use of ICT
and convergent media. The rationale behind the model is
that a more informed citizenry is able to better
understand the governance mechanisms and is more
empowered to make informed choices and exercise its
rights and responsibilities. Further, there is a greater
likelihood that society in which the individuals are
equally informed will ensure that the agenda and forms
of governance are not biased to favor a few.
Applications
1. Putting government laws and legislation online.
2. Making available the names, contact addresses, emails, and
fax no’s of local government officials online.
3. Making available key information pertaining to
governmental plans, budgets, expenditures, and
performances online.
4. Putting key quote judgement/judicial statement that are of
value to common citizens and creating our precedence for
future actions online, viz. Key environment related
judgements, state v/s citizen court rulings, etc.
Evaluation
Pros
If national governments aggressively adopt this model,
they will effectively create an environment that enhances
participation of its people in domestic matters. This
model is the very first move in achieving e-governance
platforms since it facilitates free flow and access to
information to all parts of the society hence can be
referred as the building block of digital governance.
Cons
This model is not useful when the government controls
the information being put in the public domain. Also, the
model is pointless when free flow of important content is
not encouraged. Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of
civil societies and government organizations to ensure
that this model becomes successful.
Successful projects based on the wider model of e-
governance:
Brazil
The official National E-government website provides
comprehensive information about the government as
well as integrates citizens tothe E-government
South Africa
In South Africa, there is a network called the Chapter 2
Network which is a center to clear communication and
information for social justice. This network distributes
information about research and political intelligence,
support campaigns and legislation scrutiny to civil
society organizations involved in social justice. Earth
Negotiations Bulletin-is a network service that keeps
citizens around the globe aware of international
environmental negotiations, decisions, and processes.
It’s of primary value to
2. Critical Flow Model
Principle
The model is based on challenging information of
critical value to a targeted audience or spreading it in the
wider public domain through the use of ICT and
convergent media. The model requires foresight to
understand the significance of particular information set
and use it strategically. It may also involve locating users
to whom the availability of a particular information set
would make a critical difference in initiating good
governance.
Applications The application involves making available:
⚫ Information on corruption (by an appropriate legal authority ) of a
particular government ministry or government officials, to its electoral
constituency or to the concerned governing body(e.g. the websites of
Central Vigilance Commission);
⚫Research studies, enquiry reports and appraisals commissioned by the
government to the affected parties;
⚫Human Rights violation and Criminal impeachment records against
government officials to NGOs and concerned citizens; and
⚫Environment related information to local communities, e.g.,
information on radioactivity spills, wealthy discharge in rivers, green
ratings of a company, etc.
Evaluation of critical flow model
Pros
[Link] model is based mostly on the direction of its
information and its prospective users. By concentrating
on the important aspect of data, it the weakest feature
of governance and its decision-making body.
[Link] model informs people about particular instances
of political failure and improper governance.
[Link] fuelling public strife, this system puts pressure
on the responsible government officials and bodies to
take into consideration the concerns and the opinions
of citizens while making decisions.
Cons
[Link] government itself may have a limited motivation, and
attitudes in sharing such important information.
[Link] only way to achieve such a model is to lay its
implementation responsibility to civil societies so as to
have efficient watch on government actions and policies
[Link] model may not work properly on instances where the
government bodies do not encourage public contributions
and criticize all information of critical nature
[Link], the model will also fail where the government
maintains tight control over all information and remains
available to only a few top levels of the government.
Successful projects based on critical flow model
India
India Central Vigilance Committee has a website which provides
access to information freely about the government servants who
have been implicated in legal charges related to corruption to the
citizens. In this site, people can file complaints aligned with a
public servant who falls in the jurisdiction of the commission.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Human Rights Portal: the networking of this port
actively endorse human rights changes in the political boundaries
of Bangladesh. Also, the portal supports women, marginalized
communities, children and citizen in resisting any social
repression.
3. Comparative Analysis Model
Principle
⚫The Comparative Analysis Model is based on exploring information
available in the public or private domain and comparing it with the
actual known information sets to derive strategic learning’s and
arguments. The model continuously assimilate new knowledge
products and uses them as a benchmark to evaluate, influence or
advocate changes in current governance policies and actions.
⚫The comparison could be made over a time scale to get a snapshot of
the past and present situation (before-after analysis) or between two
different situations to understand the effectiveness of an intervention
(with or without analysis).
⚫The strength of this model lies in the boundless capacity of ICT to store
information in a retrievable manner and transmit it almost
instantaneously across all geographical and hierarchical barriers.
Applications
[Link] the effectiveness of current policies by gleaning
learning’s from government policies and action from the
past.
[Link] conditions of prior precedence, especially in
the case of judicial or legal decision making and use it to
influence future decision making. This could be useful in
resolving patent related dispute, public goods, ownership
rights, etc.
[Link] informed decision making at all levels by
enhancing the background knowledge and provide a
rationale for future course of action.
[Link] the performance record of a particular
government official or ministry.
Evaluation (Pros and Cons)
Pros
⚫The developing countries can use this model to their benefit as
ICT unlocks access to local knowledge and global products a
very low cost. Organizations trusted in maintaining this digital
platform may use it to track the performance of electoral
candidates and share the records in their constituencies.
Cons
⚫This model can become useless/ ineffective in the absence of
vigorous civil societies welfares and little public memory Also,
the model relies on the availability of other information’s for
comparison and the attitude of people to examine and come up
with self-explanatory or strong arguments from the analysis.
Successful projects based on critical flow model
Philippines
The Philippines have a website call [Link], which is non-
sectored, non-partisan online information bank. This is the
reference center for Philippine elected officials on the local and
the national level. This directory is used by voters to know who
runs in their electoral areas and who their current representative
is.
India
India, the Center for Science and Environment carries out
surveys of how environmental friendly Indian industries are.
This project is mainly an attempt to facilitate fair and
independent examination of the relative environmental
performance of various industries. It attempts to a perspective
which supports accountability in industries and on the other
hand encourage poor performers to compete. After evaluation,
the performance of these companies is shared online and mass
opinions implored in deciding the greenest industry.
4. Mobilisation and Lobbying Model
Principle
Mobilisation and Lobbying Model is one of the most
frequently used digital governance models and has often
come to the aid of civil society organisations in developing
countries to impact international decision making processes.
The model is based on planned, directed, strategic flow of
information to build strong virtual allies to strengthen action
in the real world. It takes up the proactive approach of
forming virtual communities which share similar values and
concerns, promoting active sharing of information between
these communities, and linking them with real world
activities.
Applications
1)Fostering public debates on global issues, themes of
upcoming conferences, treaties, etc.
2)Formation of pressure groups to pressurize decision makers
to take their common concerns into cognizance.
3)Amplifying the voices of marginalized groups such as
backward classes or minorities who are traditionally
marginalized from the decision making process.
4)Encouraging wider participation in decision making
processes.
5)Developing global expertise on a particular theme in the
absence of localized information to aid decision-making.
⚫Evaluation (Pros and Cons)
Pros
[Link] model gained ground after the onset of the Seattle round of
WTO which led to the formation various virtual communities
that advocate the concerns of the developing nations in the WTO
agreement. This was as a result of massive discussions that must
have taken place over virtual networks before the summit.
[Link] model increases the range of membership of individuals and
communities in debates and any policy issues.
[Link] model creates a limit for members to be careful or get the
opinion of the global members is against them.
[Link] model can also be used to gauge public opinions by the
government, especially on particular issues.
[Link]-Service Model/ Government-to-Citizen-
to-Government Model (G2C2G)
Principle
Interactive-Service Model in many ways is a
consolidation of the earlier digital governance models
and opens up avenues for direct participation of
individuals in the governance processes. This model
fully captures the potential of ICT and leverages it for
greater participation, efficiency and transparency in the
functioning of government as well as savings in time and
costs relating to decision-making.
Applications
⚫Establishing an interactive communication channel with policy
makers such as video conferencing and online dialoguing.
⚫Conducting electronic ballots for the election of government
officials and other office bearers.
⚫Conducting public debates/opinion polls on issues of wider
concerns before formulation of policies and legislative
frameworks.
⚫Filing of grievance petitions, feedback and reports by citizens
with the concerned governmental body.
⚫Performing governance functions online such as revenue
collection, filing of taxes, governmental procurement, payment
transfers, etc.
⚫ Carrying out video conferencing, and online discussion with
policy makers.
⚫Evaluation of G2C2G
Pros
⚫This model of governance is more applicable in the
developed nations and has been projected for use in the
developing countries.
Cons
⚫The model is highly reliable to technology as
compared to other models hence making it hard to
copy in the developing countries which lack reliable
ICT infrastructure
⚫Successful projects on Interactive Service Model
This model of E-governance has been used in Dhar, which
is a district in Pradesh. It connects rural cybercafés to cater
for the everyday need of citizens. The site offers services
such as online applications and registrations, copies of land
maps, and public complaint redress.
Philippine
Secondly the model has been used in Philippines custom
bureau which is an online system that has been developed
to aide in clearance at the ports, duty payment, and delivery
of orders for ships to leave the doc. This digital platform
has reduced cases of the graft within government arms
hence making the revenue bureau maximize revenue
collection.
⚫Every government, either in the developed or the
developing countries should work towards achieving a
digital governance model. We can be sure that E-
governance models bring adequate transformations in
the on hand forms of governance as they transform the
situation of citizen governance relationship and bring
in a new era of influencing governance decision-
making processes. E-governance models make certain
that the voice of the people is reflected in the decision-
making organs
