Usher In a Citizens’ Technology

Context: COVID-19 presents an opportunity for bold reforms not just in infrastructure and regulations but also in e-governance.  

Problems in e-governance:

• No focus on outcomes: Citizen service delivery is most focused on activities rather than outcomes.

• Sub-optimal Systems:  Poor website designs, patchy multilingual features, inadequate data and security parameters, non-integrated services etc. provides a disheartening picture of e-governance.

• Narrow view of technology: can be seen in blockchain policy currently being crypto-centric and lacking balance with smart contracts paradigm. 

• The impact of the poor health of telecom and Industry 4.0 in telecom and manufacturing respectively needs to be seen.

Way Forward:

• Key Performance Indicators driven approach: needed along with leveraging IT systems and cyber security standards to help drive adoption of key technologies like Artificial intelligence and 5G.

• Bold Reforms: In strategic sectors like APMC, PDS, defence, telemedicine having key outcome goals of increase in revenue, prevention of leakages and contact process efficiency.