E-Governance in India: From Policy to Reality—A Case Study of Chhattisgarh Online Information System for Citizen Empowerment (CHOICE) Project of Chhattisgarh State of India

Introduction

The concept of electronic governance (e-governance) covers the use of electronic technologies in crucial areas of public action in a democracy, particularly those affecting relations and interaction between public authorities and citizens in the provision and access of public services. It entails the incorporation of digital technology in the exercise of power which could be described as ‘electronic democracy’ and electronic public service delivery system. Thus, e-governance strengthens democratic institutions and processes in that it seeks to involve the public on a more regular basis in political choices so that their needs and priorities are respected and better addressed. This has led to electronic government (e-government), which has also led to the modernization of public administration while bringing it closer to civil society through the use of information and communication technologies. In order that e-governance becomes a reality, e-government must ensure that it involves the largest possible number of citizens through a participatory interaction and to this end employs information communication technologies. E-governance through information technology (IT) enabled services thus involves the re engineering and digitizing government processes, minimizing direct contacts between the government and citizens and institutionalizing transparency and accountability in public administration.