Innovative e-governance by leveraging new mobile networks and devices

1. Innovative e-governance by leveraging new mobile networks and devices Prabir K Das WBEIDC

2. Mobility, New access devices & Quad-Play • Advent of new technologies • 3G/4G wireless networks • Smart-phones, TABs, PDAs • These technologies have truly enabled availability of voice, data and video services to mobile devices over wireless networks • Come to be known as Quad-play services

3. New-age mobile devices

4. m-governance: e-governance through mobility • e-Governance is the use of information technology , WAN, and Internet by Government agencies to make G2C services available at Citizen’s doorstep. • m-Governance is not a replacement for e-Governance, rather it complements e-Governance. • m-Governance, on the other hand, is the use of mobile or wireless technologies like cellular phones, laptops, Tablets and PDAs with wireless Internet connections to improve Govt. services and strengthen peoples reach “anytime, anywhere”.

5. m-Governance Adoption: Mobile/Wireless Applications in e-Governance • m-Communication (G2C2G) • m-Services (Transactions and Payments) • m-Administration • m-Democracy

6. m-Communication (G2C2G) • Mobile devices provide an important access channel for governments to reach citizens (G2C) • Citizens can subscribe to SMS/e-mail alerts for various e-services • renewal of road tax, • passport renewal notifications • court sitting/hearing deferrals • license-renewal • exam results • Security threat alerts • Emergency broadcasts • SMS is an effective channel for citizens to communicate with government (C2G).Citizens can text their representatives to comment and complain about government officials and services

7. m-Administration • Health • Monitoring Progress – NRHM • Telemedicine • Irrigation / Water Resources • Capturing Reservoir Storages • Monitoring Releases of water through Sluices • Monitoring Minors and sub minors area under a given Canal • • Electricity Board/ Urban Local Bodies • Citizen Grievances • Bill Collections • • Public Works Monitoring

8. m-Services & m-Democracy • m-Services (Transactions and Payments) • SMS and other mobile devices enable government-to-citizen transactions. • Owing to security issues , Transactions and payments have not taken off in India yet. • In other countries m-tickets can be used in public transport • m-Democracy • Use of SMS and mobile devices for citizen input to political decision-making is an m-governance application with tremendous potential to enhance democratic participation. • Owing to security & secrecy issues, this is still experimental • From DeitY app store, an RTI application can be downloaded using which citizens can seek information from the government.

9. DeitY initiatives to promote m-governance • National Rollout of Mobile Service Delivery Gateway (MSDG) to ensure easy availability of Government services to common man by making them accessible through mobile devices • Target outcomes by Dec 2013 • Development of MSDG platform for all delivery channels (http://mgov.gov.in) • Mobile App Store with 75 live Apps • Mobile Payment Gateway and Mobile Wallet • Transactions: 1.0 crore transactions per month (TPM) • The app store (http://apps.mgov.gov.in) was launched in last week of May with popular apps like RTI and Adhaar card. • The government is setting up a new fund to provide financial support to mobile start-ups that are developing e-governance applications

10. Some mobile applications in e-governance • Food & Civil Supplies • Tracking Lorry Movements and stocks at warehouses • Information on availability of Ration at FP Shops • Irrigation / Water Resources • Reservoir Levels monitoring • Urban Local Bodies • Grievance Redress • Garbage dump removals • Water Supply • SMS a water tanker • • Railways • Ticket Booking • Examination Results and Mark Lists • Agriculture • Weather Reports, Market prices, seed availability etc.

11. M-Government: Pros and Cons • Integrates Data, Voice & Video communication-modes that are typically used by Government to communicate • Cost of ownership and operations are relatively small and affordable • Improved convenience-anytime, anywhere • Penetration is much higher than normal wireline Internet • Personalized information can be targeted to a specific user • Requires less training to operate than a PC

12. m-Government: Pros and Cons • Can be operated with erratic power supply and without fixed line telecom access • Can connect with a number of devices such a biometric identifiers, smart cards, small printers in a wireless mode • Can easily communicate with back end servers and integrate with existing ICT applications • Can be scaled up quickly because of less stringent requirements of power and training. • Handle small amounts of data on screen and for transfer.

13. Role of Mobiles in Government Service Delivery

14. Challenges in Promoting m-Government • Moderate penetration, given the low purchasing power. Only low cost mobiles specially designed for the needs of the poor can enhance penetration. • The basic service is affordable but is limited by the restriction on size of SMS (no longer than 160 characters) and a small screen. • Other value-added services and features such as MMS, packet-switched connection (GPRS), Voice-enabled services (voice SMS), data transfer cards (3G devices), bigger screens etc require expensive phones and services. • Ability of mobiles to handle many local languages. • Protecting privacy and providing security for data

15. Challenges in Promoting m-Government • Delivery of Government services through mobiles is not a part of the NeGP in its current design. • Awareness/preparedness of govt. agencies to alter traditional ways of serving customers and adopt m-government • High illiteracy prevents self use by citizens. The main challenge is to educate the rural poor on the usage of a phone • Enabling legislation-law does not recognize mobile documents and transactions

16. Innovative E-Governance Practices in West Bengal • SMS based disaster alarm system • E-district pilots rolled-out in Bankura and Jalpaiguri. Roll-out in other districts will start shortly. • State data centre is successfully operational • Centralized Web based Document Management system for DM office Darjeeling

17. Thank You