IV. Role of parliamentarians in ICT4D

1. IV. Role of parliamentarians in ICT4D Objective To focus on the role of parliamentarians, in the diffusion of ICT in Society and strategies for capacity building

2. Transition to Information Society Information Inequality

3. Information Society Information Equality Cyber Space

4. Information Flow for Policy Development Government /Ministry Government /Ministry Parliamentarians Bureaucracy Parliamentarians Bureaucracy Citizen Citizen Citizen

5. Pre-electronic Government Government Agency Information System Government Agency Information System Electronic Government POR T A L S Information System Government Agency Information System Government Agency Transition to e-Government Citizens Citizens

6. Present Policy Direction • Policy and Strategy formulation is primarily driven by Technological Push • Main stakeholders are Technology Providers and government - represented by bureaucracy • Bureaucracy to improve government functioning • IT companies to build business • Citizen is still very much a mute spectator • Thus, Demand Pull is not getting generated

7. Reasons • Technology induction in developing nations is seen from government’s perspective; ever-increasing volume of work, minimize corruption, reduce government control and efficiency – in-house functional improvement • The intermediaries continue to perform their role, thus limiting the benefits of ICT induction to Citizen • The funding for such initiatives often comes from government or donor agencies for “proof of concept,” who find it hard to provide continued financial resources to sustain it over time • In such conditions, the technology diffusion remains at pilot or proof of concept level, and does not roll out on a national basis

8. Reasons (contd..) • The scope of the Project and priority of implementation is quite often driven bytechnology push ( maximize technology input) and hence, high cost • Need for higher skill levels and high costs create barriersfor roll out of applications in remote areas • Government supported initiatives can be approved and implemented in short time as compared to development of initiatives with private-sector participation • It is therefore important that the entire ICT4D Policy Vision is viewedfrom citizen’s perspective keeping in mind the appropriate mix of Acceptability & Sustainability.

9. Need for Citizen-Parliamentarian partnership • Information is at a premium in the developing world; easy access is the right of all citizens • Citizen does not have enough knowledge or channels to proactively participate in re-orienting the policy framework • Also, the citizen as a stakeholder, does not represent a strong force to change the direction of technology push to serve his/her needs (-minimize the digital divide )

10. Need for Citizen-Parliamentarian partnership • Parliamentarians, as the elected representatives, are responsible to provide leadership and guidance to the people. ICT deserves a closer look, and hence partnership • Parliamentarians are also responsible for general policy initiatives, including that of ICT to improve the lot of their people • Parliamentarians can bridge discussion between Ministries, issues and technologies • Hence, need for parliamentarians to take up a new role in ICT4D to address the Digital Divide

11. New Role of Parliamentarians in ICT4D • Build awareness among masses • Legislate laws and policies and effective implementation • Work as a driving force for citizen centric development and promote citizen centric projects • Facilitate sufficient budget on ICT4D • Create linkages between ministries, industry sectors, laws, issues, and technologies • Work as a change agent for good governance • Lead by example - Use of ICT for local area development • Enterprise development • Facilitate access to information by all citizens

12. Convergence of Communications Technologies Users Generalized Information Infrastructure Basic telephone Cellular Telephone Wire line Internet Wireless packet switch Cable Television Coaxial Data Transmission Satellite

13. Preparing Parliamentarians for New Role • Awareness building among parliamentarians • Seminars and workshops • Access to information (best practices, case studies) • Continuous dialogue and interaction among different stakeholders • Develop a cross-sector viewpoint • Regional dialogue among parliamentarians to share their vision, experiences (success/failures) • Regional cooperation for technology and best practices transfer and localization • e-Asian Parliamentarians Forum <www.eAPF.net>

14. Conclusions • The information revolution and transition to Knowledge Society is a reality. • Every nation big or small, rich or poor has to face up to this reality. • While it has unlimited potential, it also poses numerous challenges. • Every segment of society has to actively participate and contribute to ensure just and equitable distribution of benefits to all. • Parliamentarians being a vital segment, have to proactively participate. • Parliamentarians need to evolve new role for themselves for this and act on it.

15. Food for thought • Do we genuinely believe that ICT can trigger the desired development in society? • Acceptance of ICT is driven by conviction or fear of being left behind? • What can convince us? • What can we contribute to ICT4D? • What and how do we prepare? • Do we need to increase regional/international cooperation?

16. Thank You!