WHAT IS E-GOVERNANCE
It is the use of a range of modern information and communication technologies such as internet, local area networks, mobiles etc by Governments to improve effectiveness, efficiency, service delivery and to promote democracy.
E-governance is defined as the application of electronic means in—
1. The interaction between government and citizens and government and businesses, as well as in internal government operations to simplify and improve democratic, government and business aspects of Governance.
2. The term interaction stands for the delivery of government products and services, exchange of information, communication, transactions and system integration.
E-Democracy & E-Government
E-Democracy- It refers to the processes and structures that encompass all forms of electronic interaction between the Government (elected) and the citizen (electorate).
E-Government -It is a form of e-business in governance and refers to the processes and structures needed to deliver electronic services to the public (citizens and businesses), collaborate with business partners and to conduct electronic transactions within an organisational entity.
Objectives of E-Governance
The strategic objective of e-governance is to support and simplify governance for all parties - government, citizens and businesses.
E-governance uses electronic means to support and stimulate good governance.
Therefore the objectives of e-governance are similar to the objectives of good governance. Good governance can be seen as an exercise of economic, political, and administrative authority to better manage affairs of a country at all levels, national and local.
The use of ICTs can connect all three parties and support processes and activities. It provides a common framework and direction in the implementation of Government Policies for the following:
1. Across the public sector organizations and institutions (G2G)
2. Between Government and the Business Community (G2B)
3. Between Government and Citizens (G2C)
E-Governance in Bangladesh:
Honorable Prime Minister herself has put great emphasis on identifying challenges in the implementation of nation-wide E-Governance and on initiating pilot projects in various sectors of the government through a project called the Support to ITC Task Force (SICT).
Ministry of Finance has customized software for budget planning, sensitivity analysis, impact analysis, financial projections and various reports.
National Board of Revenue is computerizing the revenue budget procedure.
Both Dhaka and Chittagong Stock Exchange are highly computerized and networked, allowing citizens to trade with much more ease than before.
Ministry of Science and ICT creating web-sites containing information about various ministries.
Ministry of Communication provides online searchable database of contractor’s tenders and created a Project Monitoring System for tracking progress of the projects.
Challenges of E-Governance
E-Governance is very capital intensive and no donor or consortium of donors can fully fund E-Governance Program
Private sector is a major beneficiary of E-Governance through increased access procurements and e-services. Can play a major funding role to subsidize E-Governance products
