e-Governance: Implementation of e-District Application: A Case Study in the District of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Democratic governance mechanisms are becoming more receptive to the potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to achieve good governance in its implementation during the last two decades in India. In rural India, with the inception of NeGP initiatives and Digital India, the e-services are maximising and served at the doorstep of the citizen. It is also not only improving responsiveness of public service delivery mechanisms but also augmenting citizens’ participation in governance mechanism especially through Lok Mitra Kendra’s/Citizen Service Centre or through web portals. The Government of Himachal Pradesh has launched the e-District application under NeGD initiative. The average scores which have been arrived by aggregating the dichotomous replies given by each sample respondent are close to their respective maxima of the Digital penetration and LMK utility which are 3.34 and 3.47 respectively out of 4 and whereas for Portal features an average computed score is 4.41 out of a maximum score of 5 units which indicates that the actual implementation status of e-District portal at Kangra District is high. Through this case study, it is intended to study and document the process of implementation and effectiveness of e-District Application in the hilly district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh which is the largest populated district in Himachal.