Dataquest awards for e-governance

NEW DELHI: The best e-governed states in India would be presented the 'Dataquest Best e-Governed State Awards 2005' at a special series of Dataquest e-Gov Summit 2006 shows.

The winners were judged on the basis of a survey of e-governance projects, which the Dataquest magazine and IDC conducted in September and October 2005.

The full findings of the survey would be published in the February 2006 (Vol. II) issue of the Dataquest.

The e-Gov Summit shows would be conducted in the four metros: Delhi (Feb 21), Mumbai (Feb 24), Chennai (March 1) and Kolkata (March 3).

Dataquest said that the survey had short-listed 18 major states based on their Human Development Index.

The first phase of the survey involved a survey of the state IT secretaries/heads of state nodal IT agencies of 18 major Indian states, to seek their inputs and assessment of the efforts of their respective state governments in reaching good governance to the masses as well as industry and trade users.

Over 1,300 users (common citizens as well as business/industry heads) across the 18 states were surveyed in the second phase.

This citizen-centric survey was meant to get feedback on a wide range of government services, including those being rendered through various forms of Citizen Service Centres.

The individual citizen services survey looked at applying for vehicle driving licences and registration certificates, applying for and certification on real-estate deals, applying and receiving statutory certificates, payment of utility bills, etc.

Business/industry services survey covered the online process of receiving certificates of registration/incorporation, registration for service tax, VAT or sales tax, assessment and payment of statutory government taxes, etc.

The survey aimed at identifying states that are clear leaders in terms of citizen and trade/industry feedback. The survey was also aimed at identifying states that had notable IT policies and innovative PPP (public-private partnership) schemes.

Dataquest magazine has also instituted a separate process to identify, evaluate and recognise individuals with the Dataquest e-Gov Champion Awards 2005 for their contribution to championing the cause of e-governance in India.

The Dataquest e-Gov Champion Awards 2005 would also be presented at the awards shows.