Dr. B. K. Gairola, Director General, NIC

VARIndia spoke to Dr. B. K. Gairola, Director General, NIC, to know more about the status of eGovernance. Excerpts…

What is the present status of eGovernance in India?

We have to create a common cyber space because the cyber space does not have a common boundary or sector. When you view from the citizens’ perspective, s/he is looking for a service. S/he does not care whether it is coming from a collector’s office, SP’s office or transport department, etc. So, the cyber space, you need to create, should have to be a unified cyber space.

We have developed a Common Service Centre, which is linked with common data centre, common networks and which ensures all applications running on the systems.

The second part is standardization of applications. For example, driving licence has to be standardized. Most of the countries have single driving licence. India should have the same systems as well. We will resort to enforcement and persuasion for achieving this goal.

There are mission mode projects, which have to be linked to each other. There should be standardized interfaces to be communicated with each other. For example, the Passport Department has to speak to the Visa Department, and the Visa Department should speak to the Immigration Department. So, there should be an upward linkage with each other.

The last component which is important today is to take the technology and governance to the last mile – close to the Panchayats. We have been talking about this for the last many years, but the progress is very slow.

Yes, we have been talking about this for a long time and things are slow. It is not a technology or process issue, but a diffusions issue whether the common man has to accept the technology. It is a mental framework and it will take time. Look at the railway reservation system.

What about addressing the security issue?

It is an evolution process. Security is a cat-and-mouse game. It is in the hands of the common man and they have to be aware of the security issues, which has to happen gradually.