Learner’s Submission: Online Public Service in Kenya

” I have used and benefited from government online services courtesy of Kenya National Bureau of Statistics when I was undertaking research on impact of road accidents on economic growth in Kenya.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics was established by an Act of Parliament – the Statistics Act, 2006 No.4. It is a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency under the Ministry of Planning, National Development & Vision 2030. It is mandated to collect, compile analyze, publish and disseminate official statistics for public use. In addition, it coordinates monitors and supervises the National Statistical System (NSS). The NSS is composed of the individual units engaged in the production and use of official statistics in the country. It comprises producers, users, suppliers of statistical information as well as research and training institutions.

The management of the Bureau is vested in the Board of Directors. The Board consists of a Chair (appointed by the President) and seven other Board members. The Director General is the Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau and Secretary to the Board. The organization structure of the Bureau is composed of six directorates, each headed by a Director. Strategy and Development Directorate is responsible for policy research, planning, development of statistical methods and standards, and coordination of the NSS. Secondly,  Population and Social Statistics Directorate is responsible for collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of demographic and other social sector statistics, as well as maintenance of the Cartography and NASSEP (National Sampling Survey and Evaluation Programme) laboratory. Moreover, macroeconomic Statistics Directorate is responsible for collection, analysis, generation and dissemination of macroeconomic statistics of National Accounts statistics, External Sector statistics, Monetary and Financial statistics, Public Finance statistics, Tourism, Transport and Communication statistics. Production Statistics Directorate on the other hand is responsible for collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of labour and industrial statistics. This includes employment and earnings, consumer price indices and inflation rates, manufacturing, building and construction, energy and leading economic indicators, business expectation enquiry, agriculture and livestock production, food monitoring and environment statistics. On the other hand, Information and Communication Technology Directorate is Responsible for Bureau Information Systems, Data Processing for surveys and Censuses, Managing the National Socio-Economic Database, Data Dissemination, Printing and/or Publishing, and Library service and finally, Finance and Administration Directorate is responsible for Finance, Administration and Human Resources Management and Development.

KNBS undertakes two broad types of surveys, namely, household-based surveys and establishment based surveys.

These include – but are not limited to – the following:

• Kenya Population and Housing Census
• Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey
• Kenya Demographic and Health Survey
• Malaria Indicator Survey
• Adult Literacy Survey
• Disability Survey
• Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey
• Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
• Consumer Price Index
• Producer Price Index
• Labour Force Survey
• Micro and Small Enterprise Survey
• Child labour Survey
• Agriculture and Livestock Survey
• Time Use Survey
• Foreign Investment Survey
• Integrated Survey of Enterprises
• Informal Cross Border Trade Survey
• Financial Access Survey
• Survey on Expansion of Coverage of Financial Institutions
• Annual Survey on Industrial Production
• Building and Construction Survey

After undertaking the surveys, KNBS ensures that the information is shared to the public by the use of their website where the findings are accessible since they can be downloaded. Among the items that can be downloaded are consumer price index, Quarterly GDP reports, economic survey highlights, Kenya facts and figures, as well as foreign investment survey. The website also presents its output in terms of the most downloaded files so as to predict the future demand. According to the web, Economic survey of the recent financial year usually have the most downloads. The website is user friendly since it provides the search tab. The search tab further enables the user to specifically obtain the desired file by providing three more options that directs the user to the ultimate desired file. These options are search key word, ordering, and search only. In the search key word option, the user inserts the title of the file that one requires, then selects the manner in which the desired files should appear either by specifying whether they desire to obtain results of the newest first, oldest first, most popular and the format in which the desired file should appear. This multiple choices serve multiple needs of the users and as a result ensure efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to the public.” – Joseph Kimani – Nairobi, Kenya

Reference

http://www.knbs.or.ke/index.php?searchword=road%20accidents%20data&searchphrase=all&Itemid=77&option=com_search

Learner’s Submission: E-Government in Nigeria – A Dream Still in Distant Lands

“The world outside has left behind the industrial era and has fully paved way for the era of Information Technology in a world that changes with every tick of the clock.

Vanguard newspaper in Nigeria published an article on July 2nd, 2014 with the headline: ‘UN Ranks Nigeria High in E-Government Development Index’, the article articulated the progress of Nigeria in the area of E-Government, pointing out the steady progress that the nation had experienced in previous years before the 2014 feat. It is a curious thing that these stunning statistics only exist on the pages of our national dailies. As at the time of writing (January, 2015), 99.9% of the entire Nigerian citizens will admit that the implementation of E-Government in the country is non-existent in reality!

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE

First and foremost, the top political office holders must be willing to embrace change; they must be willing to admit that the world has gone beyond heaping numerous files in offices. When this is done, there should be absolute digitisation of government processes, unrestricted access to and delivery of E-Government services which constitutes a significant part of the eluding solutions that are desperately needed in the country. E-Government enables transparency, efficiency, productivity and citizen engagement. This is why any serious government wishing to elicit the support of its citizens must implement the E-system, especially for countries like Nigeria who have had an exhaustive list of issues, ranging from transparency, accountability and irregularities of all sorts.

Making use of the internet strengthens relationship between the government and its citizens, and it encourages interaction between the two parties throughout the period of policy implementation. It is crucial, however, to state that internet is only one of numerous solutions of Information Technology available in the process of governance. When we talk about Information Technology in government, it is not limited to the provision of internet facilities in government organisations. Information Technology is an optimal tool for improving performance and for keeping abreast of contemporary ways of disseminating and securing information.

So, our primary objective as a people should be on a degree to which Information Technology can accomplish large-scale, permanent change for a better and sustainable Nigeria, and by extension, the future of nations throughout Africa.

Importantly, also, the implementation of E-Government is crucial in scrutinising top public officials, like assets declaration and making available the salary structure of public servants in every category of Nigeria’s Public Service. This, without a doubt, is one area where Nigerians have raised uncountable number of questions without success. It is believed that E-Government, if implemented without access restriction, will attract transparency, which will in turn bring about development for all Nigerians.” – Elias Ozikpu – Lagos, Nigeria

Learner’s Submission: National e-Governance Plan in India

“On May 18, 2006, Central Government approved the National e-Governance Plan, comprising of 27 Mission Mode Projects and 10 components. The National e-Governance Plan was designed by the DEITY (Department of Electronics and Information Technology) and DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances).

National e-Governance Plan have the following vision:
“Make all Government services accessible to the common man in his locality, through common service delivery outlets and ensure efficiency, transparency & reliability of such services at affordable costs to realise the basic needs of the common man.”

Application of e-Governance is a complex process requiring facility of hardware & software, networking, process re-engineering and change management. National e-Governance Plan have following elements:
a) Common Support Infrastructure: – Common IT infrastructures like, State Wide Area Networks, State Data Centres, Electronic Service Delivery Gateways, Common Services Centres etc
b) Governance: Department of Electronics and Information Technology do the work of coordinating and monitoring. Institutions like NIC, STQC, CDAC, NISG helps the department in this work.
c) Centralised Initiative, Decentralised Implementation: Its required to develop citizen-centric models
d) Public-Private Partnerships: PPP is used for better and faster implementation
e) Integrative Elements: Adoption of unique identification codes for citizens, businesses and property like Permanent Account Number (PAN), Aadhaar Number of The Unique Identification Authority of India has been initiated.
f) Involvement of the National and State levels: Various Government Departments of Union Government and State Governments are involve for better and effective implementations in a holistic manner.
g) Facilitator role of Department of Electronics and Information Technology: various Ministries and State Governments and also provides technical assistance and DEITY taken the role of facilitator to coordinate all efforts.

Services provided by e-Governance can be categorized by following manners:
i. Services for Citizens
ii. Services for Business
iii. Services for Government

Services for Citizens:
We can access various citizen services such as agriculture services, registration of documents, learner’s licence, vehicle life tax collection, birth certificate, etc. Information about service name, category, degree of enablement, outreach, etc. is available. Some important Services are:

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, Online Passenger Reservation System: Indian Railway is an Indian state-owned enterprise providing Railways Transport system which is a major transport system in India. Through IRCTC Portal (https://www.irctc.co.in/) citizen can book railways Tickets, check availability of Tickets, Trains to their destinations. It’s a major initiative and helps us to get those services online.

Passport Seva Portal (www. passportindia.gov.in): Through it Passport Services become easy. Users can apply for fresh passport. Information on reissue of passport is obtainable. Information on passport requirements and suitability is available. Users can locate passport cell, Passport Seva Kendra, and also calculate fee. Applications status can also be tracked online. Through Downloadable e-forms passport application are made, checking status of it become easily available.

Birth and Death Registration and Issue of Certificate: Those Services are provided by various Municipalities (Local Governments). That is a major example of centralized initiative and decentralized implementation of e-Governance Project. Municipalities are providing online registrations of birth and death and are issue of certificate. Application Download, Online Application, Online Payment of fee/charges are the major features of it. According to Census 2011 lists there are 7,935 towns in India and 31.16% of the total populations are staying there. Cities and Major Municipalities are providing those services through their own website.

Online Employment Service: Both Central Government as well as the State Governments are providing Online Employment Service through their respective portal. Where Job seekers can register their details, those are available to the registered Employers. Physical verifications and validations of information’s are made by the District Employment Exchanges. http://www.employmentservice.nic.in/ is the portal of National Employment Service; it’s the portal of Central Government. Employment bank (http://employmentbankwb.gov.in/) is the portal of Government of West Bengal that is of a State Government.

Services for Business
E-governance services for business are important aspect such as online Registration, VAT/TOT Collection, Tax Payments etc

MCA 21(http://www.mca.gov.in/MCA21/): MCA21 Project, the e-Governance initiative of the Ministry of Company Affairs (MCA). MCA21 is an innovative eGovernance initiative that aims at continuously repositioning Ministry of Company Affairs (MCA) as an organization proficient of fulfilling the aspirations of its stakeholders in the 21st century. For any program to be outcome-based, a paradigm shift in the service delivery is inevitable. A Service Centric Approach by the Government is the principal driving factor to the transformation.

Income Tax E-Filing (https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/): Income Tax e-filing can be done online through the Income Tax Website.

Services for Government:

E-Governance is helping the governments for better governance. It is enhancing internal communications. Like e-Governance in Police departments enable them to exchange crime record in faster and smarter way. Those are important for prevention of Crime.” – Rupak Ghosh – West Bengal, India

Learner’s Submission: E-Services in Bahamas

“In 2011, we launched a government portal with over three hundred (300) government forms, procedures for over three hundred (300) services, and five transactional services online. Those e-services were Real Property Tax, Renewal of Driver’s License, Traffic Fines, Vendor Inquiry, and Online Customer Service. My first attempt at using an e-service was in 2013, and I used two of the transactional e-services.

The first on-line e-service I used was the application for a Passport Renewal.  For this e-service I did not have to be a registered portal user. I chose the passport e-service and then completed the on-line passport application within forty-five minutes. I was disappointed that it took so long, but I found the questions to be ambiguous and not easily understood. I submitted the application and got a message that the transaction was successful and I would receive a confirmation email within forty-eight (48) hours. The confirmation email would include my appointment date to do the interview. Upon receiving the appointment date, I would have to go to the main office and do the following:

1. Submit supporting document (e.g. my expired passport).
2. Pay the renewal passport fee.
3. Complete the interview and get a receipt with a return date to collect my new passport.
4. Return to the main office with the receipt and proof of identification to collect passport.

I am disappointed to say that this first on-line e-service experience was unsuccessful. After waiting two weeks for the confirmation email, I decided to visit the main office to enquire about the status of my application. I discovered that the back-end system was not working and they were unaware of my submission. I proceeded to reapply for the renewal of my passport by filling out the application all over again. I completed the steps one to three above, and then I returned four weeks later to collect my new passport.

The second on-line e-service I used was the Renewal of Driver’s License. The on-line process was easy and flawless. However, again the back-end process presented challenges that made this experience a frustrating one for me.  This on-line e-service requires all users to be a registered portal user. I selected the e-service and it prompted me to login to the portal.  After logging in, immediately my registration and driver’s license information appeared in the required fields. I selected my renewal period, and the payment amount appeared for the renewal.  I then proceeded to make payment by using my credit card. I submitted the payment information, and immediately received an acknowledgement that my transaction was successful. I printed my receipt to take to the main office, and logout.

The challenge came when I went to do the pickup three days later. I discovered that the printing of my new driver’s license had been delayed because the back-end system was mal-functioning. I was able to obtain my new license two weeks later rather than the normal two days when done manually.

Both experiences were frustrating for me, and in each instance the problem was the back-end system because the e-service notified me that both transactions had been successful. Since these on-line services are fairly new (less than five years old) I am hoping that by the next five and ten years when I renew my driver’s license and passport respectively, the experience will be different.” – Lynn Williams – Nassau, Bahamas

Learner’s Submission: District ‘E-Service Center’ at Deputy Commissioner’s Offices of Bangladesh

“District ‘E-Service center’ is a new additon of district admimistration . To reduce public harassment ‘E-Service center’ has been established . All Deputy Commissioner’s office of Bangladesh has started District ‘E-Service center’. People are getting different types of services from here like porcha , khotian , nokol ( types of land record) etc.

How to submit letters and applications :

• Directly: Direct letters and applications are received through counter and then scanned. Applicant’s name , address , phone number , e – mail ( if any) , National Identity Card No. ( if any)  and other data  are also recoded. Then it is sent online to the concerned officials. Applicant gets a receipt with a ID number. People can find the progress of the matter throuh this number.
• By mail: People send their application by mail. Entry process is same as mentioned before. Applicant gets ID number through mobile SMS or email.
• Internet:There are links in District Information Portal, through which people can submit applications. They have to fill a form using link. After submitting form they get notification. They also receive ID number through mobile SMS . People can use this service from everywhere , where internet is available. In rural areas people get this service from UISC*.

Next steps after application :

After getting applications , concerned officials take necessary steps for quick delevary. Officials can see how many applications are pending on their dashboard. Using applicant’s informations ( JL number , dag number etc ) , the original papers are find out .Then those data are recorded using ‘oscs’ software . This is a tough job. When a paper recrod is digitalized, data are stored in server. After completing of duplicate land records, applicants are informed through mobile SMS. In this way, many years old paper data are being digitalized.

These services have reduced people’s time and cost. People had to visit offices many times for land records earlier. But now they have to come once or twice. District ‘E-Service center’ has changed old ideas .” – Khan Md. Hasanuzzaman – Dhaka, Bangladesh

[*UISC-Union Information and Services Centers (UISC) are newly established one-stop service outlets operating at all 4,501 Union Parishads (UP, lowest tier of local government) of the country. Through use of ICT, UISC is able to bring various types of information related to government, livelihood and private services to the doorstep of citizens in rural areas. It ensures services providers and users to save time, cost and has made operations hassle free. Operating under the Public-Private-Peoples’ Partnership (PPPP) modality, these centers are run by local entrepreneurs, hosted by UPs and supported by central administration.]

Learner’s Submission: Online Public Service in Nigeria

”

• The online public service been discussed here is the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria – YOUWIN program.
• This program initiated by the Federal Government of Nigeria is been undertaken as collaboration between the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Youth Development, Ministry of Women of Affairs and Social Development and is been implemented in partnership with the private sector who will provide financial support.
• This joint effort will launch of an annual innovative business plan competition for aspiring young entrepreneurs in Nigeria in line with the federal government drive to create jobs for Nigerians.
• It is aimed at supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youths in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas. The objectives of the program are to
• Attract ideas and innovations of young entrepreneurial aspirants from Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics, Technical Colleges and other Post Secondary Institutions in Nigeria.
• Provide one time equity grant for 1,200 selected aspiring entrepreneurs per batch to start or expand their business concepts and mitigate startup risks.
• Generate 80,000 to 110,000 new jobs for currently unemployed Nigerian youths.
• Provide training support for successful winners.
• Encourage expansion and specialization of existing businesses in Nigeria.
• Enable young entrepreneurs to access a wide array of professional network to improve their visibility.
• Interested Participants are expected to logon on to the website at http://www.youwin.org.ng. This is easy to access from any computer device that has an internet connection.
• On Home Page, Click Register to Access the Personal Information Page. On this page you are expected to enter the following information
  • Email Address
  • Names and Surname
  • Sex, Age and Phone Numbers
  • Address, Local Government and State of Origin
  • Business Location and Qualification.
• After data has been entered, the user clicks submit to register the users data
• Then Click the Proposal Tab and enter the details of the proposed business idea and Submit. Close the site and await further instructions as will be communicated to you by YOUWIN via email.
• The age group as classified by the government to benefit from this program is between 18 to 40 Years.
• Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs within this age bracket have been given special consideration. The second edition of the program was open to only women.
• The program commences with a Presidential Launch, followed by the first stage when applications are opened to interested participants. After they are screened, successful candidates are notified and training is organized for them.
• This is followed by the second stage when applications are opened to another batch of interested participants. Screening takes place and successful candidates are notified and training is organized for the second batch.
• This is finalized by a Presidential Award Ceremony for the selected successful participants. ” – Vincent Hope Okoh – Wudil, Nigeria

Learner’s Submission: Online Application for Birth Certificate in Fiji

“Introduction

1.         The government of Fiji has introduced some of its service online to assist its citizen both locally and abroad to access some of its information and resources.

Aim

2.         The aim of this write up is to explain the online public services in Fiji which I made use of and how it works.

SCOPE

3.         The write up will be presented under the following sub-headings:

• Online application for Birth certificate; and
• Conclusion

Online birth certificate application

4.         The online application for birth certificate is under the Birth Death Marriage (BDM) registry. The BDM is covered under the Laws of Fiji Cap 49 and 50 which are fully responsible for all matters regarding the registration of marriage, births and deaths in Fiji.

5.         Within the BDN online registry, Fiji citizens can obtained services for the following:

• Birth Certificate application;
• Marriage Certificate application;
• Special License to Marry application; and
• Death certificate application

6.         As of the scope of this write up, I will be based only on the procedure of making application for a birth certificate which I have the experience of using the service.

7.         On the application of the birth certificate the following details of the person requesting a birth certificate is needed:

a. First name of the applicants;

• Last name;
• Date of birth;
• Father’s name;
• Mother’s name;
• Place of birth;
• Province (there is a total of 15 provinces in Fiji); and
• District (provinces are made up of a number of districts)

8.         In addition to the persona details of the applicants, the following are also required in regards to the application:

1. Number of copies required;
2. Delivery mode (either courier or counter collection);
3. Address of delivery if required delivery; and
4. Option of Apostille stamp

9.         The cost per copy is FJ$2.30 and an additional FJ$5.00 is charged if required delivery. At present the online payment through credit cards is not yet available.

10.       Once the application is submitted, an application ID will be given to assist in any inquiry in regards to the application. The Fiji government ITC service will also send you an email in regards to the status of your application as it processed further.

11.       Also at the applicants account with the Fiji e-gov online service My Case page can be viewed for the progress of the application.

Conclusion

12.       The Fiji E-Gov online service is available to all citizens for available online services. Registration is free and once registered as a business user or citizen user; you can enjoy the service provided.

13.       From personal experience, e-government service provided by the Fiji government has been very effective and efficient. With the current ICT service in Fiji, the reaction time for any complaints or service needed has been greatly improved in comparison with the manual methods.

14.       The upgrading of ITC services in Fiji migrating to 4G, more service will be provided online and the payment of service through credit cards will surely be an advantage to both business and citizen users.” – Laisiasa Tagicakiverata – Suva, Fiji

Learner’s Submission: Online Public Service in India

“When someone asks me about have you ever made use of any online public service in your country?

My mind start calculating because there are many such kind of online services in my country India for example Online Railways, Banking, and Govt. Job portals and many more. But I specially mentioned these because I used these kinds of services in my daily life Whenever I have to buy anything online I use to pay by net banking also my journey can be planned at any time from any where I do not need to go to the Station to book my ticket or to get information about train time table, running stations. Last but not the least I can apply online for Govt. Jobs especially I had to mention SSC, IBPS.

Earlier I never planned to apply for govt. Jobs because of long queues for payment of examination fees at bank. Now Its been a pleasure to apply for these kind of jobs just go to the right website and then fill up the required information then upload your signature and picture especially within a minute I paid my examination fees instead of waiting at queue that feels me very good.

One more online service I want to include in my list that my Telephone and electricity bills payment. Can you just imagine old day’s bill payment queues oh! Thanks to online services which enables us to pay our online consumer bill with secure and effective ways. While I am thinking about electric bill payment only one area I am little disappointed our states electricity distribution yet not enable online payment specially who distribute electricity in ruler areas.

But with lots of leisure there a few work to do manually by standing in queue for paying my electricity bill.

Another online public service in the globe is Google Map which really helps visitors to roam across the globe without being afraid of losing their way. Just imagine earlier if we planned to go some different country or state we have to buy city directory or hire a personal guide but with the help of Google map not only out of station area even in our city we can go anywhere without any guide or city directory that feels good. I mentioned this global service in my blog because I live in India, the country which have many small towns and cities where different kinds of people live together few are good and few a bad so it is a pleasure for visitors to reached anywhere without being cheated by other.

Last but not the least online public service in India is Passport Seva, with the help of this service anyone can submit their application for new or re-issue of Passport from anywhere but there is one problem in India there are many people who cannot use internet so how can they apply for this. Therefore they reached to some agent and pay them huge money for their sin, not being aware of internet usage.

Any ways every service is not good for everyone and while we talk about online services following points come across our mind are being hacked, some fraudulence advertise, some spam mails etc. But because of these demerits we cannot deny the profit of internet/online services in our daily life.

I am a happy online user and wanted to be a part of this till my last breath with lots of new tricks, tips, websites, social networking sites etc.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Have a nice day!” – Md Tahir – West Bengal, India

Learner’s Submission: Online Public Services in India

“Public Service means any service provided by the specific government either directly or through any service provider, which includes, inter alia, the receipt of forms and applications, issue or grant of any license, permits, certification, sanction and approval and the receipt or payment of money by whether name called in a particular manner.

Electronic/Internet Service Delivery means the delivery of services through electronic mode including inter alia, the receipt of forms and applications, issue or grant of any license, permits, certification, sanction and approval and the receipt or payment of money.

The government of India provided several public services to Citizens, Business Community and also to the government body. India is developing its infrastructure for e-governance in several departments of Central Government as well as State Government by providing online services. Few of them, Services which I used are as follows:

• Indian Railways Online Services: Indian Railways is the most important public transport department. Which provide many online service among them I always used online reservation service. Indian railway provides their services mainly through 2 websites, http//:www.indianrail.gov.in/ and http//:www.irctc.co.in/. Through these websites we can get information’s about Trains between Stations, PNR Status, Seat Availability, and Fare Inquiry by using internet.

http//:www.indianrail.gov.in/ is mainly provides information’s to make a travel plan. It proved beneficial to common public.

Before the introduction of these websites online services, getting information’s was very difficult for public, public have to wait for long hours to get information’s from limited information centers. And today, it can be done by few mouse clicks.

 

Online Reservation can be done by http//:www.irctc.co.in/. Services offered in the websites are booking of E-Ticket/Season Ticket/ I-Ticket; and Cancelling E-Ticket/I-Ticket, Compatible browser, and Tatkal Reservation can be done through it. It is very helpful; we can book ticket from home, internet café, and mobile SMS through Register with http//:www.irctc.co.in and paid money online by using credit card, debit card or net banking and new innovation of services by Indian Railway is SMS service for taking the Reservation. Before the introduction of these services, Booking or Cancellation of Ticket was very difficult. People were compelled to stand in lines at reservation counter for several hours. Lack of information used to make situations worst. And nowadays these services are very productive and are proved very effective and helpful to common people.

•  Right to Information (RTI):

The Government of India, has Passed a Act in Parliament for Government department, any common people can ask information under Right to Information Act. Through online http//:www.rtionline.gov.in/.  It is really a great step towards Right to Information for a common people. This service, I always used for taking the information’s.

•  Income Tax Return e-Filling:

Today Income Tax Return can be filled online by using http//:incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/. This facility is really beneficial for citizen who wants to file their income tax return; this website gives opportunity to fill income tax return from any where you are you can use it.

• Passport Seva: 

http//:passportindia.gov.in/ through this passport seva portal we can apply online application for Passport. Ministry of External Affairs is trying to make passport application process is easier for common citizens of India. However there are many things should be workout to make this process perfectly online.” – Mukesh Kumar – Jharkhand, India

Learner’s Submission: IT Revolution in India

“IT revolution in India took an interesting turn when government owned post offices and banks. These two institutions adopted the Information technology in a big way. Recent studies have proved that there is three fold increase in people opting online post office and banking services for their financial transactions.

Penetration of computers has been steadily increasing. Internet users in India are about 137 million and internet users have been increasing year after year. Indian population has been using Internet for various purposes.

Experience with India posts online services:
Government o India’s- India post consists of well networked Postal Network in the world with over 1, 55,015 Post Offices (as on 31.03.2009) of which 1, 39,144 (89.76%) are in the rural areas. Post office has been in existence since British days in India. Indian post offices are known to operate with less overhead but with serving to poorest of poor. Online services at post offices have been a purposeful utility for those at remote villages who do not yet have bank accounts for financial transactions.

Post offices have adopted Information technology to serve its trusted customers right from major cities to its remote villages. Financial inclusion of poor and less privileged at villages and urban areas through IT enabled post offices is the best example of public online services. Nearly 41% of India’s population are unbanked, 40% in urban and 61% at rural population do not have Bank accounts.

Post office has brought in a new online Instant money order (IMO) transfer scheme to cater the Indian residents to transfer money across its post office network. Process involved very few steps. One who wants to send money has fill up To remit payment-TRP –form d submit the money(Rs.1000 to Rs.50000/-) to the post office obtain a secret 16 digit number and convey this number to the recipient who in turn presents the 16 digit number at the post office with ID proof to receive the money. All this happens in a very short time almost instant. When compared to earlier money order from post office which is to take several days to arrive physically through postman. This has been well utilized by children who are employed at urban areas to send money to their families at villages to meet family emergency fund requirements.

This is one of the best utility ever introduced in India to those who do not have regular bank accounts. In addition to the services to the common local public, post office have introduced online international money transfer through e-payment.
Post offices are serving the commercial organizations with Bill payment called e-payment.

with increasing in percentage of people owning computer all the transactions happening over online can be tracked to the end point.

Banking:
Experience with State Bank of India online services –SBI – government of India owned bank:

Overall, 60 per cent of people surveyed used the web to check their bank account and other financial assets in the past 90 days, making it the most popular use of the interne
SBI which has about 13.60 crore customers has about 13,560 branches spread across the country including some 2017 branches at remote villages of India. Bank’s online money transfer is quite popular among all the services. Online Money transfer facility has been very utilized by youngsters who are employed at Indian cities and abroad, with this facility children are able to send money to their family who live in villages and in remote places. During the days of no internet and online banking sending money to their family was quite complicated procedure. In addition to above mentioned services for a general citizens- online account opening and view account statement is again a purposeful online utility which has saved us precious time and fuel which was otherwise used to physically travel to bank premises to do the same transactions.” – M.S. Rajesh – Bangalore, India