1 Skoch Summit 2009 Skoch Summit 2009 Thinkers and Writers Forum January 22, 2009, New Delhi 2-50 p.m. to 3-00 p.m.
Dec 18, 2014
1
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]
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 3© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 4© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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,
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 5© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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.
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 6© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 7© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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:
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 8© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 9© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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.
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 10© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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)
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 11© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
(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?
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 12© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
(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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 13© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 14© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 15© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
(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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 16© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
(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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 17© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 18© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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?
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 19© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
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.
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 20© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
Let us Focus on Three Areas for E-governance
Transparent and Connected Democracy through CSCs
Open Government Citizen Participation in
Government Decision-Making
Skoch Summit 2009January 22-23,2009, New Delhi 21© Dr D.C.Misra 2009
End of PresentationEnd of Presentation
Thank you
Any questions?