New Delhi: Democracy flourishes when all voices are of equal importance
and everyone gets to participate in the decisions that affect their lives.
 |
| Orissa e-governance initiative for Integrated Grievance Redressal |
Two rights stand out in all open democratic societies:
freedom of expression and access to information. E-governance—as in electronic,
or technology-driven, governance—is about both of these.
Efficient e-governance is an innovative and transparent way
to deliver government services and exchange information with citizens in a
convenient and transparent way, saving time and money.
The mass digital migration from personal computers to mobile
phone applications also brings new opportunities to boost e-governance.
Over five billion people—around 77 percent of the global
population—own or have access to mobile phones worldwide. In regions with no
electricity, computers or internet access, mobile phones are increasingly
helping spread mobile government, banking or health.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) supports 222
e-governance and access to information projects in 92 countries. More than 20
percent focus on the use of Information and Communications Technology to
enhance citizens’ access to public information and 18 percent to deliver
services more effectively.
And there is a world of knowledge to be shared. In Korea,
which won the UN’s global e-governance 2010 and 2011 awards, citizens can
petition government, complain about government services, pay their taxes and
apply for patents online. Businesses can get goods through customs quickly at a
lower cost and find all information they need on a single online space.
Many developing countries are making solid progress, but
challenges remain. Governments must be more strategic in mobilizing limited
resources to effectively respond to citizens' needs, keep them informed and
build sustainable bridges between public institutions and citizens. Also,
building a robust infrastructure for e-participation is expensive.
Developed and developing countries want to learn more from
each other’s experiences on policies, plans and investments in infrastructure,
technology and human capital. With this in mind it is excellent to see that
countries and multilateral organizations are upping efforts to share
e-governance experience.