PHOTO: G. R. N. SOMASHEKAR

`SHED COLONIAL LEGACY': Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission (right), and Nandan Nilekani, CEO, Infosys, in Bangalore on Monday.

Bangalore: The National Knowledge Commission has suggested re-designing the government processes before undertaking any large-scale computerisation as part of its 10 high-level recommendations submitted to the Prime Minister.

"Simply digitising the existing government processes merely adds an additional layer of expense, complexity, delay and confusion. Now is a unique opportunity in the history of India to leave behind the legacy of the British Raj and re-engineer and modernise government process to build a new India of the 21st Century. Hence, it is essential that we first re-design the government process keeping the citizen at the centre, providing hassle-free enablement to citizens, businesses, producers and consumers, replacing the old mistrust and control regime from the British Raj," Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda told reporters here on Monday while releasing its recommendations on e-governance.

To make an immediate impact on citizens, it was critical to identify and simplify important processes and services that were cumbersome, bureaucratic and prone to unnecessary delays and even corruption. These processes could be simplified and made available as web-based services, he said.

"Initially, these services could include birth certificate, death certificate, proof of residence, ration cards and ID cards. Each State should implement these services in concert and learn from each other," the Commission has suggested.

It has recommended that it was critical to develop and implement standards uniformly over all States and Central ministries and functions.

The Commission said it was vital to provide a nationwide, secure broadband infrastructure and associated hardware, software and hosting facilities with easy access at all levels. This infrastructure should be based on the `user-pays principle' and public-private partnership in investments.

Capitalise on talent

The panel has suggested that wherever possible, open source software implementation should be actively encouraged and States and Central Government departments must create an empowered chief technology officer.

India has a huge amount of software talent. We need to capitalise on that," Mr. Pitroda said.

E-governance will reduce transaction costs and time and improve the reach and quality of public service as well as increase transparency of government functioning and empower citizens. The implementation of the recommendations on e-governance will entail an investment of about Rs. 7,000 crores in the next few years. Mr. Pitroda admitted that the recommendations will come across "resistance."

Generational changes

"What we are trying to do signifies change, in some cases, generational changes. We expect resistance. But, I see a better climate for change today than it was 20 years ago. Confusion will be there at the political and administrative level. It's a part of life. We are a democracy, we have to live with it," he noted.

`Will not enlarge divide'

He said that the e-governance recommendations would not enlarge the digital divide, which was a major concern globally.

"We propose to use the tool as an equity and not for aggravating the divide," he said, adding that the recommendations would take time to implement.

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