e-Governance: Empowering Citizens Through e-Inclusion

e-Governance as a technology-enabled Public Information Services system aids not only in reengineering the structures but also in reorganising the procedures and processes for speedy delivery of services. The demand for e-Governance is growing in consequence of government’s ineptness in meeting citizens’ needs and rendering services in a timely, cost-effective and corruption-free manner. Moreover, Political, Economic, Social and Technological (PEST) changes and developments ushered e-Governance as a salvation to the shrinking role of Governments in delivering goods and services rapidly. Connectivity, community participation, and content are the prerequisites for designing effectual G2C or C2G systems, in addition to capital, committed leadership and components evaluation. Among the different stages of e-Governance, ‘Networked/Seamless Governance’ fosters e-inclusion, i.e., citizen participation through ICT-enabled open dialogue. We can transform the Indian e-Governance systems into e-inclusive systems, if due attention is paid to: (1) network connectivity (information infrastructure) and e-readiness; (2) user-friendly interface with apposite navigation tools and content in native language; (3) management optimisation; (4) introduction of CIOs to analyse, design, develop, implement and evaluate the e-Governance systems; (5) promotion of e-Governance with effectual monitoring and evaluation procedures, along with sensitising the public about the merits of such initiatives. This article primarily delves into the prerequisites for designing and developing effective e-Governance systems; and the stages to pass through to evolve into e-inclusion systems. It also depicts the indicators that gauge the existing e-Governance systems aimed at effective and efficient delivery of public information services.