Strengthening the Urban Local Bodies –e-Governance Approach

Abstract
Map World Forum 2009

D Vasudevan
IT CONSULTANT
PROJECT MANGEMENT CONSULTANTS FOR YAMUNA ACTION PLAN II
INDIA
dvasudevan@ictonline.com

TSSV Laxminarayana
HEAD
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
SPECK SYSTEMS LTD
INDIA

Abstract

As the cities grow in size, the need to provide its citizens various services also grows resulting in increased pressure on services and their breakdown.Emerging technologies viz., IT have become an attractive alternative to provide such services and their repair through a single window mechanism. Urban local bodies have started using information technology in to their routine workflows with the objective of providing better services to their citizens. Accuracy of the data and easy to use and user friendly interfaces are the key success factors for such initiatives. This paper highlights how technologies can be very effectively utilized to provide better citizen service through Citizen Facilitation Centres that provide all citizen services through Single window approach. While the information security is addressed via well built firewalls at different levels, information dissemination to the citizens is ensured through web technologies. Administrators, at the same time are equipped with tools to monitor the status of various initiatives and communicate to the public in relatively short span of time. Quick grievance redressal is ensured by providing key contact details and transparency in grievance tracking. Network of systems across departments and regions ensure dynamic data updation providing both the administrators and the citizens information in near-real-time basis and 24 x 7 services.