Perspective
Introduction of E-Governance is the key to making information technology (IT) relevant to ordinary citizens.E- Governance is a culture, which changes how citizens relate to governments as much as it changes how citizens relate to each other. It brings forth re-definition of needs and responsibilities. Though computerization introduced successfully by NIC in different sectors in the districts has yielded fruitful results, the concept of introducing E- Governance to implement citizen-IT based applications in the district is the next logical step. WebCITI (Web based Citizen-IT Interface) is an E-Governance project for building citizen-IT interface for services offered by district administration at Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab as a pilot project. Sponsored by the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) [Earlier MIT (Ministry of Information Technology)], WebCITI provides web based interface to citizens seeking services from district administration. These include issuance of certificates such as death/birth, caste, rural area etc; licenses such as arms license, permission for conferences/rallies etc and benefits from socio-economic schemes. The Project has been appropriately funded by Govt of Punjab and has been executed through NICSI/NIC- Punjab State Unit. Department of Information Systems & Administrative Reforms (DISAR), Govt of Punjab is the nodal office involved in WebCITI. WebCITI has been augmented with DialCITI (Dialup based Citizen-IT Interface) to provide status as well as procedural information through telephone. It further extends the cause of providing efficient, transparent & quick information to the citizens. One can have information on any services or status of his case or application on phone. DialCITI was necessitated by the fact that Internet has not yet penetrated the villages. However, the phone access is available at this level.One can also find information about various schemes and procedures, status of one’s application etc. through web Interface available through select intranet counters at developmental block / revenue tehsil and kiosks.
The set of software developed can be implemented as stand-alone versions as well as on client/server.It facilitates the citizens in interacting with the government.
Mission and Objectives
With the sole mission of bringing district administration closer to the common people thus offering efficient and effective services, WebCITI is evolved with the following objectives. To provide a friendly, affordable, speedier and efficient interface between the government and the public. To ensure greater transparency, efficiency, objectivity, accountability and speed that can help tackle most of the maladies of the government by providing efficient services to the public. To provide responsive and transparent services to the citizens of the state. To provide cost effective service and at the same time improving the quality of service. To provide a single window for govt services at district level.
NIC's Contribution
NIC Punjab / NICSI is the sole executing agency of the project. NIC has been involved in detailed study of activities of various branches of Deputy Commissioner Office to have complete understanding of working of the prevailing system for introduction of E-Governance, identification of user requirements for creating Citizen-IT interface at DC office, Identification of required infrastructure details such as site preparation, telephone lines etc to be provided by district administration, providing training to the users and giving implementation support.
Application Areas
The following key services are available in WebCITI. These have been identified on the basis of interactions required by citizens with the district administration.
Property Registration Information System Module (PRISM) Web based Information Dissemination System for the Public Arms License Peshi (Court) Branch of Deputy commissioner Financial Assistance Schemes of the State Govt Old Age Pension Financial Assistance to Widows and Destitute Women Financial Assistance to Dependent Children Financial Assistance to Disabled Person Issue of Rural Area certificates Issue of Caste certificates Issue of Domicile certificates Issuance of Death & Birth Certificate Record and Copying Branch Freedom Fighter Information - Issuance of Bus Passes Issuance of Licenses to Cinema Halls, Video Parlours & Guest Houses Character Verification for New Recruitment Succession Certificate for Legal Heirs Certificate to Handicapped persons Permission for Loud Speaker, Rallies, Conference Issuance of Marriageability Certificate Prohibitory Order regarding Liquor, Meat Shop, Processions, imposition of Sec144, Curfew etc
Highlights
MIT sponsored; Also funded by Punjab Govt Members from MIT, IT department-Govt of Punjab, district administration, NICSI & NIC Punjab to review the project Technical Execution by NICSI and NIC Punjab State Unit| Dialup connectivity from Tehsils / Blocks / Villages to district servers Use existing databases as verification of identity of citizen and property Query through Interactive Voice Response System | LAN in Mini Secretariat Public Information Kiosk in the City Local language (Gurumukhi)
E-Governance Architecture
Making information on Schemes, Forms, Procedures available from remote locations and on Internet Workflow like systems instead of input/output to facilitate tracking of progress Elimination of verification and on the spot issue of certificates Use of Citizen ID to provide unique identification Linkages with Land Records, Census, BPL, Licenses, Ration Cards, Death and Birth database
Salient Features
Single window system On Line verification On the spot delivery, wherever possible Information/Status on Intranet/ Web Generation of internal notes & verification forms to minimize delay Based on Highly specific parametres to facilitate future changes Business rules in database rather than hard-coded Provision for entry of old records Local Language (Gurumukhi) Computerized acceptance-cum-fees receipt for Applications Generation of Identity Card/ Passes/ Permissions/ Licenses /Certificates User administration for each module Audit of critical activities MIS Reports
Technologies Used
All the modules of WebCITI have been developed using Visual Basic with SqlServer at the backend. The web components are hosted on Apache web server and use Java Servlets.
Impact
The project was triggered by successful implementation of PRISM (Property Registration Information System Module) in the sub-registrar offices, which is a living example of how to deploy simple innovative ideas using IT tools to automate the procedures and enforcing rules to avoid scope of misuse and at the same time provide better services to the citizens. On the other hand it resulted in big jump in revenue collection. Such a large-scale acceptance created scope for marching ahead to cover more govt services for e-governance. All the modules adhere to single window concept in workflow and provide unique application identification. Currently the access points are at Fateh Garh Sahib- intranet and once data builds up, it will be thrown open to public through web. In the words of Sh Nirmal Jit Singh Kalsi, IAS, Director cum Secy(IT), Govt of Punjab, "The main emphasis of WebCITI is on web enabled citizen centric services coupled with the necessary administrative reforms. For the first time the State Government decided to provide the government services on the basis of authentication through a Citizen Data bases to be created on the basis of a house to house survey. The attempt is to bring the services closer to common people ...."