African governments can learn a lot from India`s successful deployment of e-government services, delegates heard at the Government Technology World Conference, organised by Terrapin in Sandton this week.
"E-governance is a total reform process which needs strong leadership and political and administrative will, otherwise it becomes difficult to implement," said Raj Kumar Prasad, CEO of the Institute for Electronic Governance and Development in India.
Approaching e-governance as a co-ordinated effort within each department, rather than as an IT project, also increases its chances of success, Prasad added.
Among its accomplishments, the Indian government has instituted an e-government procurement system (eTender), a state-wide area network, and village knowledge centres, he said.
In July 2006, India`s government made the use of the eTender and ePayment systems mandatory, he said. The system was first used by Andhra Pradesh, India`s fifth largest state.
Citizens benefit
Reading communications` deputy-minister Roy Padayachie`s keynote address, Department of Communications` director of IT systems Dudley Petersen commended Andhra Pradesh for its development of e-governance services.
Andhra Pradesh achieved a number of important benefits for its citizens and businesses, he said. These include a streamlined, standardised process of electronic information gathering.
The system also facilitates information sharing across and within governmental departments resulting in overall cost-effectiveness, he said.
He added the project included four critical components which must be in place to achieve an effective and pervasive influence in the lives of its citizens. These are sustainable and affordable infrastructure, well-architected and sustainable software, the training and recruiting of ICT people, and the developing and rolling out of implementation plans. This must leverage IT to attain leadership excellence and transform the society into a knowledge society.
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