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Tensions and Synergies in

Karnataka, India: A Study in


E-Government
Shefali Virkar
Oxford Internet Institute
University of Oxford
shefali.virkar@oii.ox.ac.uk

A Brief Discussion of the Concept of EGovernment

Government possibly the single largest user,


producer, holder and collector of information
(Ronaghan 2002)

New ICTs potential to facilitate the electronic


production, transmission , processing and
consumption of increasingly vast quantities of
information

Focus on the use of ICTs to streamline internal


processes and improve managerial efficiency

E-Government in the Indian


Context

India: one of the largest investors in eGovernment initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region

Central government spending on e-Government


is estimated to have grown 60% between
2002/03 and 2003/04
Projected

to touch US$ 3.3 billion by 2008/2009


(PSTM Report, 2004)

Consequences for development?

The Indian Experience with EGovernment

Can be broadly divided into two distinct phases


1960s early 1990s: Centralised planning,
focus on the use of ICTs in Central Government
Departments (Madon, 2004)

Late

1990s present: Revival of interest in local


government, move towards applying ICTs to a
wider range of applications within urban and rural
local bodies.

Early

Three Factors Responsible for the


Shift
Devolution of
centralised
power to state
and local-level
bodies

Bureaucrats
and politicians
with
computer
vision

Growth of
the Indian IT
industry

Property Tax

Currently the largest source of revenue for local


government bodies, particularly in urban areas

Problems with the tax collection system


Administrative inconsistencies
Legal issues and multiplicity of tax laws
Corruption
Distinct lack of accountability and transparency
Political Interference
Poor Data

The eGov Property Tax Application

Partnership between the eGovernments


Foundation, the Directorate of Municipal
Administration and the Survey of India

Launched in 56 towns and cities across


Karnataka

Improved property tax record keeping

Detailed digital GIS mapping

Process Re-engineering at a
Glance
Step 1: Writing up the Property Register

Step 2: Street Naming and Property


Numbering
Step 3: Digitising Property Tax Records
Step 4: GIS Mapping of Locality

Components of the System


Use of standardised data structures and
collection methods
Accurate street surveys and GIS maps

Data

People

Technology

Process

Public acceptance through awareness


campaigns and legislation
Political will at top levels
Training of Government IT personnel
Simple software interface for both Government
staff and citizens

Easy-to-create daily reports


Rigorous monitoring and measurement systems
Value added services for citizens

Rubber Hits Road: Summary of


Initial Results

Modest increase in Nominal Revenue in real


terms
However

data predicts that the system would


eventually lose money

If the system in theory can overcome the design


- actuality gap (Heeks 1999), then what is the
real problem?

Barriers to Effective
Implementation

Lack of Good Data

Legal barriers

Opposition from Stakeholders

Technological Barriers

Differences in Skills and Capacities

Conclusions: Synergies and


Tensions

Low revenue partly to do with multiplicity of


methods and measures used to calculate tax

Political will to bring tax rates in line with inflation


and periodically revise tax rates key

Only then will the eGov Property Tax System


really take off, promoting rigorous tax
compliance and significantly contributing to an
increase in revenue

Synergies and Tensions (contd.)

e-Government applications possess the


potential to improve internal managerial
efficiency and quality of public services

Reality for the India is that resources to fund


development projects are scarce, instant
success is not guaranteed

Is administrative reform important enough to


justify the risks and opportunity costs incurred?

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