BJP's IT Vision - An Analysis

At the outset I wish to compliment the Key opposition party of India to give an IT Vision for India. Infect if look back the foundations of a planned approach to Information Technology started with the National IT Action Plan formulated by a committee headed by Sh. Jaswant Singh. The next step was formation of the Ministry of Information Technology (though by just changing the name of Department of Electronics to Ministry of Information Technology was not of much help). The IT Act as brought by Sh. Pramod Mahajan within a short time was an achievement which the BJP IT Vision document has ignored as well. And we all know the time taken and the citizen feedback (if any) taken about the Amendments to IT Act. The next achievement was the conceptualization of the National e-Governance Action Plan (NeGAP now renamed NeGP) under the then IT minister Sh. Arun Shourie. Another achievement of the same was formation of the Empowered committee with special reference to e-Governance under the then Deputy PM, Sh. Advani. The IT vision document now proposed will go a long way for progress of e-Governance in India. I presume the IT Vision document is a discussion document and the party will definitely consider the feedback of the e-Gov community before implementing the same. I therefore am presenting in brief my views on the document:
1. NeGP – Even the website for National e-Governance Plan has not yet been formed, this despite the full page advertisements in major national dailies about the National e-Governance Plan with the website www.negp.gov.in. I myself got the domain registered two and half years ago. The current domain is still a forward to the link http://www.mit.gov.in/default.aspx?id=115
2. MNIC – I do agree with the Vision Document on the website http://mnic.nic.in which despite the pilot project under implementation since November’03 is still under construction. I would further like to bring to the notice that the link http://www.mit.gov.in/default.aspx?id=859 about the MNIC project gives a conflicting view about two projects UiD and MNIC. It further says that an empowered group of Ministers is formed to oversee the implementation of the project and resolve issues of UID and MNIC. Information about the Unique Identification Authority of India is also missing from the DIT link. This despite that the link has been validated on 17th March'09. I think the first step in the above regard should be clarify that we need Unique ID or National ID or Multipurpose National Identity Card. The UID is to give a unique identity to people. National Id is about giving Identification to Citizens of India and MNIC is focused on elimination of multiple IDs. I think for success of e-Governance in India, MNIC is the way out (though I may be wrong). We have to probably discuss and debate the various citizen id cards that have to be eliminated by MNIC. I request the members of the forum to give their feedback on same. The figure of coverage under MNIC on page 10 is not conveying much. Though the BJP vision document talks about Citizenship Regulatory Authority of India (CRAI),National Register of Citizenship (NRC), Citizen Identification Number (CIN) but it is silent on issues of privacy of Citizen information and the security issues related to same. I think the same have to be addressed at equal importance. I think the next logical step after The IT Act, the RTI Act (FOIA Act renamed) is the Privacy Act for Citizens followed by an e-Governance Act. With regards to MNIC project, I will like to risk at least my single vote for the promise that the MNIC project will be implemented within three years.
3. The Digital Highways or the broadband with 2 mps link with 1:1 connection ratio is dream of every web enabled individual. However the more important is that the power of internet must reach all individuals. The party must also take a view on multiple SWANs (State Wide Area Networks) which have been achieved with different PPP Players without any application. The front end or the 100,000 CSCs appears to be another PPP which has lead to no results at ground level, as the backend for delivery is still not there. The various delays in the establishment of digital infrastructure i.e. SWAN, SDC and CSC is also a key cause of concern. An analysis is must to understand the impact assessment of all the three initiatives. The idea of converting the Post Offices to Multi-service outlets and conversion of telephone booths to internet kiosks is a welcome move which will help avoid duplication of resources.
4. The Vision Document also talks of a paperless office. The e-Disha or the paperless office project as already implemented by Government of India appears to have shown no impact. Even the SKIMS / SMARTgov project of Government of AP (only the name changed) has also seen a downward trend in its implementation. It is said that Sh. Chandrababu Naidu refused to clear various files unless they came through the route of paperless office and now the ground situation can be told only by officials in AP Government. In case of Government of India (after failure of e-DIsha) a less paper office(e-Office) initiative is again getting conceptualized. But my question is why not was it conceptualized in the first place and what was the haste to give the project without any conceptualization. The new Government must take learning from the pitfalls of the less paper office project. I understand even in the Department of Information Technology the Green Sheets move till date, why cannot we have a paperless office in DIT at-least or the minimum in the e-Governance Programme Management Unit (EGPMU)
5. The promise of 1.2 Crores IT enabled jobs in rural sector though just looks like a vision statement. If the party would have substantiated the same with the data of jobs created in the party ruled states, the same would have sounded more authentic. However the intent is very noble. The party may also propose a law to protect the employees of IT/ ITeS companies from pink slips at the drop of hat. While promoting globalization we must see the future of the employees as well. I think the definition of labor under the Industrial Disputes Act needs to be reviewed to include the employees of IT/ ITeS sector.
6. The idea of DTI (Duty to Inform) is really path-breaking thought. But the implementation of RTI is also not achieved in proper form in the current Government. I will not go beyond the Department of ARPG (Department under the nodal Ministry for implementation of RTI Act) and the hurdles one faces to request / and get information from there. I surely can write a paper on how to get information from the said department. (infect now I have already tried my hands with CAG and CVC and plan to test the same with DITs in all states). I must compliment the office of CVC which is handling all requests to information in a professional way. I think the credit goes to the Record Management System in CVC which is still missing across various other Departments. I do not know if Government Officials heard of a project called Training on Record Management under the World Bank Project. I think the party may also look into the replication of Bihar’s project on RTI through e-governance across India.
7. The leaky pipe-line concept is well appreciated. But there as well the Action Speaks louder than words. We have to have an institutional mechanism to check the leaks in the system. I think even planning commission may not have a list of various schemes implemented by various agencies of Centre, State and Local Government delivered through the District Administration. I am told that a complete book has already been written which lists the various schemes of the Government. I think a “Scheme Management System” is the need of the hour to ensure that the benefits reach the people for whom they were planned for and that no one gets a double benefit.
8. The Advaniji’s dream of Swaraj to Su-raj has to detailed further. The same has to include Administrative Reforms (atleast reforms in Department of Administrative Reforms, GOI) , Electoral Reforms (negative voting / right of re-call), Education Reforms, Economic Reforms, Legal Reforms (nothing has been done on the outdated laws identified by the previous Government), Institutional reforms, Sectoral Reforms – health, agriculture, education. (Education and Health are not even part of NeGP). The idea of a 24 * 7 line for speaking to the Member parliament is a welcome move, but the real challenge will be its implementation and take-away. (How many MPs will respond to such calls ?)
9. I may not be able to comment on e-Gram project as I have not seen its implementation/ achievement. Request if someone from Gujarat may bring that insight.
10. The standardization of open source & open standards and use of open source operating system in the 10000 laptops is clearly mentioned in document, but I could not see that the Vision Document anywhere mentions that the party is against commercial software anywhere. Promotion of one technology is fine but I could not see anything related to banning of commercial software anywhere contrary to claims in many forums and press releases. Standards body on lines of BIS is a long awaited move. I suggest that such a body should also validate the content on various Government Websites for its accuracy and up-dating.
11. The e-Banking project as mentioned by the Vision Document is also crucial. There is no update of the Banking / Insurance Mission Mode Project by the current Government available. Trust they are in some process of implementation/ Conceptualization.
12. Under the e-Development initiative a comprehensive project for Agriculture needs to be conceptualized. There are multiple projects which are getting implemented but the integration of these projects is crucial. The National Skill Development Mission, Green Technology, commitment to Millennium Development Goals all are steps in right direction, but it will help if the focus of the party and its strategy is clarified further (As in case of MNIC it is available)
13. The detailing in case of e-education is impressive (Core2Duo processor with 2 GB Ram  ). We surely need web based open source learning, IT enabled teaching, knowledge networks between institutions and a national repository of Best Lectures. Infect a National Mission Mode Project on Education as part of the NeGP should also be introduced. The promotion of Software in all 22 official languages will help the non English speaking population. (Trust me people in interiors like Bhatinda in Punjab where I was requested to make my presentation in Punjabi will really benefit from such a move. IT will reach beyond the English speaking population. )
14. As in case of education, health also needs to be included under the National e-Governance Plan as a Mission mode project. The ideas of connecting the PHC to telemedicine project, computerization of health records, Mobile diagnostic vans are very encouraging idea. I think beyond this the party may also look into providing inclusive opportunities in education, healthcare and employment for people with visible or invisible disability.
15. The concept of e-records appears to very comprehensive (official records of government, land / property records, citizen records, manuscripts records, geographic records). However the party must ensure that digitization does not mean just scanning of documents. The data needs to be captured in digital form and then converted into usable information, scanned documents just means documents dumped in hard-disks and therefore are of limited use. The two MMPs Passports and MCA21 are focusing just on scanning of documents. The focus must be widened now. The use of GIS for planning is a welcome and much awaited move.
16. With regards to e-Justice we first need a process reform in Judicial System. AS we all know justice delayed is justice denied. The party must ensure reforms for speedy justice whether with or without computerization. However the current initiatives are clearly based on automation of processes and digitization of records with very little focus on comprehensive process reforms. A comprehensive Mission Mode Project on e-Justice should be evolved which links judiciary with investigating agencies, updates MNIC in case of conviction, allow various authorities like RPOs, Employers etc to have a background check online. And to link various regulatory agencies and NCRB for data records of criminals. An effort to eliminate the outdated laws is also important.
17. The use of IT for a disaster management is a must. Even the National disaster helpline is currently accessible only in Delhi (with code 011) and the definition of Disaster is very limited. The concept of Public safety answering points and national unique number in emergency is welcome and long awaited.
18. National Cyber Security Plan appears to be comprehensive. However the party may also think of proposing the Cyber Crime as a Centre Subject may be thought of, as the cyber space has no state, national or international boundaries and various police stations in far flung areas may not be able to train their manpower. Let the Central Cyber Police station look into all cases of cyber crime and implementation of IT Act.
19. The concept of Digital Sovereignty is very important and one country should not dominate the names of various websites.
20. Despite a comprehensive nature of the IT Vision document, the same lacks on following:
a. Integrated Government
b. View point on establishment of Indian IT services (A separate cadre)
c. Revisiting of NeGP
d. Creation of a repository of e-Governance initiatives
e. Issues on Privacy
f. Issues on Freedom of Expression Online
g. National e-Governance Act
h. Institutional Framework for implementation of e-governance (SeMTs / PMUs / NEGA etc ??)
i. Capacity Building of Government for e-Governance
j. Reality check on e-governance so far
k. To check corruption in name of e-Governance
l. Issues of interoperability
m. Multiplicity of Front End Centres


I hope the party includes the above issues in its refined drafts. Kindly apologize me for cross posting as I am sharing the e-mail through india-egov, bytesforall and india-gii.