misra,d.c.(2009) obama's e governance agenda skoch summit 2009

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Skoch Summit 2009Skoch Summit 2009

Thinkers and Writers ForumJanuary 22, 2009, New Delhi2-50 p.m. to 3-00 p.m.

Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 2© Dr D.C.Misra 2009

Barack Obama’s Agenda for Barack Obama’s Agenda for E-governanceE-governance

by

Dr D.C.MisraE-governance Researcher and

Consultant C-183 Madhuvan Madhuvan Marg

New Delhi-110 092Tel: 22452431Email: [email protected]


Barack Obama’s Agenda for Barack Obama’s Agenda for E-governanceE-governance

Are There Any lessons for India?

A Presentation by

Dr D.C.Misra


I INTRODUCTIONI INTRODUCTION

The US. President is a tech-savvy person. He and his team made full use information

and communication technology (ICT) during the election campaign.

For example, according to reports, on www.barackobama.com/

More than 280,000 people created accounts, Users created over 6,500 grassroots volunteer

groups,


ICT in ElectionICT in Election

Organized more than 13,000 off-line events using the website,

Over 15,000 policy ideas were submitted through the website.

He made full use of social networking sites. Obama has built a treasure trove of database

of more than 10 million supporters. Internet operation was looked after by 95

people.


ICT in ElectionICT in Election

Official Stuff Watched (Free): --14.5 million hours --Cost on TV: $47 million Obama’s 37-minute Speech on Race: --6.7 million people watched Obama’s Twitter Account: Provided his daily

whereabouts to his 160,000 followers Change.gov launched


II Obama’s E-governance II Obama’s E-governance AgendaAgenda

Obama has set an ambitious agenda for e-governance

Open government as its main plank. There are many items in his agenda Following ten are particularly

noteworthy:


E-governance AgendaE-governance Agenda1. Transparent and Connected

Democracy 2. Open Government3. Federal Chief Technology

Officer (CTO)4. Openness of the Internet5. Protection of Children


E-governance AgendaE-governance Agenda6. Public Media 2.07. Right to Privacy8. Next Generation Broadband9. Protection of Intellectual Property Rights at Home and Abroad, and10. Health Care.


III THREE NOTEWORTHY ITEMSIII THREE NOTEWORTHY ITEMS(a) Open Government

A challenging task Open Government vs Security and

Privacy Closing the revolving door between the

executive branch and K-Street lobbying shops.

800,000 contractors have security clearances at 11,000 government facilities (Verkuil 2007)


(b)(b) Citizen Participation in Citizen Participation in Government Decision-MakingGovernment Decision-Making

A more challenging job than open government

Legislators, once elected, forget about the citizens until the next election.

Seeking Citizen views a mere formality?

Tier 2 legislator?


(c)(c) National Chief Technology National Chief Technology Officer (CTO)Officer (CTO)

Co-ordination is no cakewalk CTO/CIO will protect his turf and the

method of working Often immune to external adviceIn case he is suitably legally empowered,

he will be a Super-CTO or Super CIO, and

His authority is likely to be resented by agency CTO/CIO


IV LESSONS FOR INDIAIV LESSONS FOR INDIA

(A) Transparent and Connected Democracy Transparency is one of the characteristic

features of e-governance It induced individuals and institutions to

embrace and promote e-governance. It has so far eluded e-governance. Connected democracy, in which state

and citizens are connected, can redress the situation to a great extent


V CONCLUSION: V CONCLUSION: LESSONS FOR INDIALESSONS FOR INDIA

(B) Open GovernmentAn ideal difficult to achieve in practiceHow much to give and how much to

protect?Right to Information Act Need for Transparency (i) Recruitment,

and (ii) Procurement


(B)(B) Citizen Participation in Citizen Participation in Government Decision-MakingGovernment Decision-Making

A more challenging job than open government

E-tools available to facilitate itEmail, Discussion Forum, RSS,

Blog, Twitter and WikiGovernment commitment is an

essential requirement


(C) Citizen Participation in (C) Citizen Participation in Government Decision-MakingGovernment Decision-Making

The real divide in governance is citizen-state divide

E-governance has polarized the state and citizens

State happy with its websiteCitizens happy with their discussion

groups, blogs, twitter and social networking sites

And the two don’t meet


Citizen-State DivideCitizen-State Divide

Widening Divide under E-government

Petition Gazette

Website

GroupBlogWiki

(a) State

(a) State

(b) Citizen

(b) Citizen

Governance

E-governance


Common Service Centres under Common Service Centres under NeGPNeGP

1,00,000 common service centres (CSCs) under National eGovernance Plan (NeGP) to cover 6,00,000 villages

Can CSCs narrow the gap between the citizen and the state?

Can they be instruments of change from mai-baap government to government which serves the people and meets their needs?


V CONCLUSIONV CONCLUSION

India is world's fourth largest "Internet Nation," after the U.S., China and Japan.

This is a critical mass in e-governance. It deserves better e-governance in its own

right. Select items from Obama’s agenda in e-

governance, which has universal appeal at least in democracies worldwide, may help us in making e-governance more meaningful and productive for citizens.


CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Let us Focus on Three Areas for E-governance

Transparent and Connected Democracy through CSCs

Open Government Citizen Participation in

Government Decision-Making


End of PresentationEnd of Presentation

Thank you

Any questions?