NEW DELHI: The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) has recommended an overhaul of the system of governance before attempting large-scale computerisation. At present e-governance efforts are primarily based on computerising age-old processes left behind by the British. "As a result we are computerising cumbersome processes and not commensurately benefiting from it. Simply digitising the existing government processes merely adds an additional layer of expense, complexity, delay and confusion," said NKC Chairman Sam Pitroda while briefing newsmen about the recommendations on e-governance submitted to the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

The NKC said company-specific and proprietary software bought by States was a stumbling block in integrating and standardising e-governance initiatives in different parts of the country. India, Mr. Pitroda said, had a lot of software talent but is busy solving the problems of the West while the problems of the poor do not get good talent. The Commission would be exploring options for building a software base for e-governance using open source software (as opposed to licensed software such as that sold by Microsoft and others).

"It doesn't mean we shut the door on other options but if we continue with whatever we have today we will have to pay more." Without overhauling the administration and standardising the software system across the country, fresh e-governance initiatives are "going to be more of the same."

To make an immediate impact on citizens, it is critical to identify and simplify 10 to 20 important processes and services such as birth and death certificates, proof of residence and host them as web-based services. Other processes can be added over a period of time. This approach will require each State to implement these processes in concert and learn from each other, recommended the Commission.

Mr. Pitroda said the Commission was extremely worried about the quality of education at all levels and suggested that the recommendations would aim at expanding the private sector's role. "The quality of education is not great. There are 90,000 Masters of Business Administration degree holders every year but only 5,000 to 10,000 are immediately employable," he noted.

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