E- Governance and Smart Cities of India

STEPHEN ANURAG PMaster of Arts (MA), I year

Politics and International RelationsPONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY

(A CENTRAL UNIVERSITY)

"Government's foremost job is to focus society on achieving the public interest. Governance is a way of describing the

links between government and its broader environment - political, social,

and administrative.”

Thomas B Riley

Contents Introduction

E-Governance: Meaning and approaches and National e-governance Plan

Smart Cities of India : Features and modes

Good Governance and Sustainability : Major contributor for the smart

city development

Vizag as a Smart City

Suggestions

INTRODUCTION Since the advent of the empire-states, governance has been playing a pivotal role in

the administration of the society. Earlier, during the monarchs regime governance was king centric and its impact would reflect on the general administration. The modern era gave birth to a new concept of Policy Studies i.e. “e-governance”.

Information is an utmost necessary element of any administration and the present globalized world made information more accessible through various ways among which Information through Internet (IT) is relevant to understand the concept of E-governance. Objectives of Its origin in India and the objectives shall be discussed in the next chapters.

  The other concept of this paper is ‘Smart Cities’, which is a new mission of the

government to create or modify a cosmopolitan city in the country into a super land of opportunities with world class modern facilities like very good transportation, clean environment, solar power and efficient electricity, adequate medical and health facilities and education, etc. This enables India’s growth in the modernized world.

 

E-governance is one of the major objectives of smart cities mission of the government. Which aims to enable:

A decent quality of life to its citizens

A clean and sustainable environment and application of ‘Smart’ Solutions Priority for accountability, status of complaint/activity, and other

information of the governments are highly demanded of the people.

Before 1991, government carried out its activities, but with the LPG policy being introduced in the country, citizen’s activities and governance was progressed and prospered, and Urbanization has been at full force, which boosted the economic power of the country.

And before the introduction of e-governance plan in 2006, all activities of the government were carried out in a traditional and regular manner, but the implementation of e-governance plan brought enhancement in the governance and citizens involvement in government. Many government services are being utilized through internet.

Internet is the lifeline to e-governance.

E-Governance: Meaning and approaches and National E-Governance Plan

Information is an utmost necessary element of any administration and the present globalized world made information more accessible through various ways among which Information through Internet (IT) is relevant to understand the concept of E-governance.

The Council of Europe has taken e-Governance to mean: “the use of electronic technologies in three areas of public action: -

1. Relations between the public authorities and civil society 2. Functioning of the public authorities at all stages of the

democratic process (electronic democracy) –3. The provision of public services (electronic public services)”  In this case, the focus is on making use of electronic technologies

with a view to encourage better interaction between government and citizens, promote democracy and provide public

NOT ONLY CITIZENS BUT ALSO INDIVIDUAL PERSONS OF A STATE SHALL KNOW THE INPUTS AND OUTPUTS OF THEIR ADMINISTRATION.

NeGP i. Common Support Infrastructure ii. Structured Governance iii. Centralised Initiative, Decentralised Implementation iv. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) v. Integrative Elements vi. Programme Approach at the National and State levels

Smart Cities of India : Features and modules

The conceptualisation of Smart City, varies from city to city and country to country, depending on the level of development, willingness to change and reform, resources and aspirations of the city residents. A smart city would have a different connotation in India than, say, Europe. Even in India, there is no one way of defining a smart city. Some definitional boundaries are required to guide cities in the Mission

In the imagination of any city dweller in India, the picture of a smart city contains a wish list of infrastructure and services that describes his or her level of aspiration. To provide for the aspirations and needs of the citizens, urban planners ideally aim at developing the entire urban eco-system.

The core infrastructure elements in a smart city would include:

Adequate water supply, Assured electricity supply, Sanitation, including solid waste management, Efficient urban mobility and public transport, Affordable housing, especially for the poor, Robust IT connectivity and digitalization, Good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation, Sustainable environment, Safety and security of citizens,

Good Governance and Sustainability :Major contributor for the smart city development

Good Governance doesn’t necessarily mean to the anti-corruption and anti-racial administration.

Good Governance and Sustainability are unique and complementary.

E-governance is not just an Electronic governance. It is more of an Efficient Governance.

Components of Good Governance Sustainability

Prevention of corruption Analysis, Articulation and acceptance of governmental

policy choices Across Transparency and information, Accountability and Rule of law

INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION(3000-1500 B.C)

Town Planning: Urban Cities and Rural areas

Mohen-Jo-daro: It was being Built which was used as a public bath. The overall dimension of the Bath Tub is 180 feet by 108 feet. The bathing pool is 39 feet by 23 feet with 8 feet depth. There is a device to fill and empty the water of the bathing pool. 

Vizag as a ‘Smart’ City Government of India in 2004, identified and sanctioned

“smart city” status to 100 cities, for the sophistication at its best. The pioneer among them is Visakhapatnam

With a beautiful Coast and being the tourist spot, the state government and the union government with the district authorities have formulated the following modules for the smart city development of Vizag.

Modules 24 hrs water

24 hrs electricity

Solar and Green energy

Slum free zones

Underground electricity cords and the power will be restored in a day

Pollution free, Best law and Order, Digitalization of Government services, Tourism, Education, Cultures etc;

Suggestions Establishment of Community Resources Centre (CRD’s)

There shall be a CRD for 3000 families radius, this also invokes more employment and counters the problem of Unemployment and Poverty

Each CRD shall consist of Transport service tickets, Telecom office, Post Office, Ministerial representative office, Health Centre, Departmental Stores.

Establishment of Traffic Lane Discipline and a Systematic patrolling

Promoting historical significance and local cultures of the city to tackle the globalization and ‘go-localization’ of local cultures

Development of a country not only depends on e-Governance or Smart Cities but also Good Governance and Sustainable policies, which includes:1. Economic Development2. Removal of Poverty3. Correct use of Natural Resources4. Get accessible to Entrepreneur and Social responsibility5. Sound leadership6. Improving of National Income and Standards of Living

NOT ONLY THE CITY’S ARCHITECTURE THAT HAS TO BE BEAUTIFIED BUT ALSO AND MOST

IMPORTANTLY THE INNER ARCHITECTURE OF AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS PERSONALITY, MINDSET

AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS SOCIETY WOULD HELP DEVELOP A CITY LIKE VISAKHAPATNAM AHEAD

OF OTHER REGURARLY DEVELOPING CITIES

References Concepts and Components of E-Governance: Nayana Renukumar, Centre for Good

Governance E-governance : Meaning and Concepts, IGNOU text book Source: http://www.coe.int/T/E/com/Files/Themes/e-voting/definition.asp Source: http://india.gov.in/e governance/national e governance plan

Thank you !