Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Governance
used in Andrha Pradesh. The wide network of NIC, as well as coordination between
employees and a standardized central data structure has made the transferability of
the project exceptionally smooth and fast. It takes only a few hours to install the
system in a new district, but strategically it takes time to implement. This system can
be made operational by conducting a Lokvani meeting once a week under the chairmanship
of the District Magistrate.
Lessons Learned
The Lokvani initiative has proved that a low literacy rate, financial constraints, and
power shortages are not a barrier for implementing a successful e-Governance project.
Sitapur has a 38.6% literacy and negligible computer literacy rate. However, this
did not prove to be a deterrent to the project since the existing kiosks were used as an
interface between the system and the citizens.
A key learning point from this solution is that word of mouth is the most effective and
efficient mechanism for generating awareness among rural and semi-urban citizens
that have low literacy rates. Rural people have lost trust in advertisement due to false
promises made to them. Hence, trust can be built only by offering services that satisfy
their needs over a period of time.
By charging the kiosk operator an annual fee for hosting government services instead
of subsidizing kiosks, the Lokvani initiative has proved that e-Governance
projects can be a source of revenue for governments even in a district where 88%
population is rural and the average per capita income is very low. The project has
succeeded despite several odds such as extremely poor literacy, only six to seven
hours availability of power in rural areas, minimal computer literacy, poor connectivity
and an inert socio-political atmosphere. It has demonstrated that e-Governance/ICT
can succeed without electricity also in rural areas, provided a good business
model is built around it. Kiosks are managed using generators/invertors/solar
devices. This shows that profit motive and competition can overcome many infrastructural
inadequacies. The large success of the project has created an e-Governance
friendly atmosphere in the state.
Another important lesson learned is that widespread awareness, as well as a more
informed public opinion can go a long way in the fight against corruption. People
were unaware of their rights as well as of the various services offered by the government.
Lokvani has brought about a well appreciated transparency by displaying the
performance of officers on the web (sitapur.nic.in/lokvani/stp/officerwise_detail.
asp). This kind of openness cannot be found yet in any other government organisation
in the country.
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