E-governance in Nepal 2011

1. E-governance
Use of information system on the government sector so that it helps to automate the system to
provide services to citizens is called e-governance. Activities done by the government at digital
form so that citizens can use government services online by using internet system.
Basically, there are three components:

• E-administration:

Use of full-fledged MIS on institution so that we can exchange inter-departmental and inter-
ministry data for decision making process. It helps to integrate all government bodies to
automate internal administration.

• E-services:

Government have provide all types of services on digital form by using online system.
For example, online tax payment, online issue of the citizenship, online enrollment on different
service sectors etc.

• E-democracy:

Involvement of citizens for government activities and policy making using online system is
e-democracy. Government should provide various types of discussion forums and social sites to
involve citizens for policy making.

E-governance Model:

C2G
G B2G

Citizen Business
2
G2C
G G2B

Fig: e-governance model

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According to the above diagram we have three stakeholders to implement the e-

governance. These are citizen, business house and another body of the government. On the basis
of transaction we have G2G model that deals with e-governance activities between the
government and different departments of government. G2B and B2G model deals with the e-
governance activities between business house and government. It describes the activities like e-
tender, online quotation, e-tender bidding, online tax payment.
G2C and C2G model deals with e-governance activities between the government and
citizen. It describes different activities online to facilitate government activities and citizen’s
request and queries.

There are four stages of e-governance:

Stage 1:
Use of online system and website to distribute information to the concerned stakeholders.
All the participants are allowed to get updated information from the government side. They are
allowed to download required information and format from government websites.

Stage 2:
Use of websites in a dynamic way where concerned stakeholders are allowed to interact
using websites. They are allowed to download information and high speed data (audio, video,
text, etc.). Government will authenticate the user and source of data by using digital signature
and certificate. To use such controlled application government will formulate supporting rules
and laws and integrate third party so that online activities will be secured on transaction.

Stage 3:
Use of dynamic website sufficient cyber and IT laws, security policies so that
government can provide major services online by using high speed internet infrastructure. They
are allowed to perform online services like online payment with the integration of financial
institution, online recruiting with integration of recruiting agencies etc. Government will provide
its 80% services online.

Stage 4:
Use of high speed internet structure dynamic websites, online payment and integration of
third party for security management. Users are allowed to access all types of dta and government
services to for e-governance too. For e-governance developed countries are progressively
moving towards the fourth stage of e-governance.

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2. Available Systems and Resources in the Country

Institutional and Legal Framework of IT in Government

Already, Ministry of Science and Technology has established the concept of IT park is
developed and going ahead. Cyber laws formulation is in progress. Some sectors in government
are using IT applications, generally speaking not enough Utilization of IT in the government.
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has recently installed a VSAT to give Internet
connections and develop government network between the government Ministries and
Departments. With minor upgrading it will be able to provide access to rural areas up to Village
development committee level. Mainly there are two high-level legal government committees,
The National Information Technology Development Council (NITDC) and National Information
Technology Co-ordination Committee (NITCC) are responsible for making IT plan and strategy
in Nepal.

Private Sector Activities

More than 500 Private training Institutes exist in operation but the quality and standard
varies drastically. There are more than fifty private firms involved in the development of
software for domestic market as well as foreign market for the last few years. Recently a number
of foreign firms have started outsourcing their work into Nepal.

Association
Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) was established in December 1992. The
association has been formed as an autonomous, non-political, non-profit making service oriented
organization with the involvement of professionals, specialists, vendors, software developers,
manufacturers and information technology experts within the country.

Telephone and Internet Infrastructure

Without telephone or Internet no one can imagine E-governance mechanism. Telephone
service is available to all the headquarters of the 75 districts. More then 15 ISPs are operating in
main cities of the country. Average internet connection speed available to consumer are 33.6
kbps to 56kbps. The current international bandwidth (b/w) of Nepal for Internet is 12 Mbps

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downlink and 5Mbps uplink. Nepal Telephone Corporation is providing 9.6Kbps to 2048Kbps of
leased line connectivity. ISPs of Nepal are providing e-mail, web designing, domain registration,
web Hosting, Fax to Fax, GIS, e-commerce etc services

3. Opportunities

The following are IT opportunities in Nepal:

• Global shortage of IT manpower.

• Employment shortage of IT manpower.

• Manpower available at cheaper rates.

• Geo Politically suitable industry for exports.

• If properly utilized it could induce reverse brain drain.

• Domestic market.

• Outsourcing.

• Attracting international business transactions.

• Access to the Internet to deliver information and service via the internet.

• Could be able to develop data communication infrastructure using the latest technology.

• Virtual Private Network of the Government to deliver the product to different ministries.

• Space segment available.

• Ministry of Science and Technology to be the focal point in the execution and policy
implementation for E-Governance and computerization of the government.

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4. Constrains (Obstacles)
There are various obstacles to the promotion and implementation of IT in the Government.
Some of the major problems faced in the implementation of IT to increase the efficiency in the
government are as follows.

Infrastructure

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Although infrastructure specially, telecommunication power has been improving lately

but it is not yet adequate in most parts of the country. It is only available in headquarter of the
districts. It is PSTN line and main focus is given to the voice communication infrastructure. But
here is not yet develop Data Communication parallel with equal importance. Even here is not
concept of T1 and E1 line. Recently NTC (Nepal Telecommunication Center) is providing ISDN
service. But existing telephone line also does not have sufficient bandwidth. Recently the
government is processing for implementing fiber-optic connection in East-West Highway. Still
government does not have the concept of backup connection, which is the most important part of
network.

IT literacy
In aggregate here is low level of IT literacy. Very few people who are working in
government are known with IT and its importance. So there is an urgent need for widespread IT
training for the employees on government in all over the country. Yes, recently there are lot IT
institutes and collages are opening but they are also providing theoretical knowledge of IT. All
should be aware with the practical benefits of the ICT.

Lack of Coordination
Lack of coordination between G2G departments are generating the problem. Here is not
coordination and integration among the IT professionals from the government, industry and
private sector. It is essential because IT utilization and acquisition particularly in developing
country like ours needs to interplay among all the stakeholders.

Training
The curriculum of the various training Institutes should be designed to meet the human
resource requirements for the conditions in the market and the Government as well. Or the
government should have its own Training Institution catering the IT training needs of the
government. Specially IT training institutes should lunch professional training courses and those
should be practical oriented too.

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IT policy
Although government has declared IT policy in 2000. But it is not implemented so well.
Policy should be appropriate and ensure that the policy addresses the IT problems from the grass
root level.

IT Funds
To provide effective and efficient service delivery we must use well infrastructure. To
build well infrastructure we must invest sufficient fund. Providing ISDN, fiber-optic service need
lot investment. Building server warehouse, keeping power backup by UPS and dedicated lines as
well as backup line to increase connection speeds to allow the users to send both voice and data
transmissions is really challenging for fund generating.

Political Situation
Political situation should be stable for development of e-governance. Changing
government day by day is not good symptoms for IT development in country. Also the terrorist
attack on the NTC infrastructure has become the main obstacle of this country. Government
should give fully security to all its infrastructure.

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5. How can we Success?

This is the big question that has been tried to answer here. Looking at the obstacles and
barriers that hinder E-Governance, it has to be understood that management of technology in the
public sector is a difficult task to say. Given that most government IT projects fail due to poor
management and self-evaluation, a detailed list of criterion and factors in addition to the need for
a concrete set of goals and objectives are discussed below:

Start from Simple and Small Project

Initially from a fairly simple gateway should be implemented. With development of
infrastructure and acceptance of E-Governance among the various entities, functions can be
added in stages in future.

Promote Awareness
Public and employees have to be convinced of the importance and potential of E-
Governance. Show its real benefits for their daily lives. Actively promote awareness of new
services and how the user community can benefit from them.

Encourage and Support Departments

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The government should encourage and support its departments to make use of the
Internet in their everyday work.

Involve top Leadership

A strong leadership that firmly espouses the benefits of E-Government has to exist. Given
the risks and losses, the leaders should firmly believe in the larger sphere of achievable gains.
Strengthened with the necessary monetary and political influence, the leaderships belief and
conviction have to be passed down the hierarchy of the government, and into the public

Monitor Assessment
As we move into more sophisticated phases, providing deeper interaction, each milestone
crossed should be an opportunity to reassess the gains achieved, the losses and reassert the
objectives.

Standardize
The government should adopt established Internet standards and protocols minimizing
customization thereby reducing the risks of software and compatibility problems. Also
outsourcing of software application development and training allows for standardization.

Ensure Security
To win the trust of the public and businesses in their transactions with the government, a
national level security mechanism has to be instituted to combat cyber- crime and fraud. As part
of this policy, a body of security professionals should be setup to respond to threats and
breaches. Also the need for a certification authority and a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
encryption system has to be given top-priority.

Think Globally
Plan locally first, but keep the global user community in mind. Sample customers would
be other governments, multinational companies, tourists, etc

Improve E-Readiness
Self-assessment of the government is mandatory to measure the readiness aspect in e-
governance. These include human resources, budgeting resources, inter/intra departmental
communication flows, etc. Factors to measure society’s readiness include national infrastructure,
economic stability, education, public/private sector, etc. are important as it will help in assessing,
how prepared a society is for e-governance. Other key factors for readiness that demand
consideration are:

• Telecommunication infrastructure

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Certain e-government applications require considerable investment in national IT

infrastructure. However, the level of this infrastructure depends on the type of projects at issue.

• Current connectivity

This will help in understanding the governments readiness in managing the projects, as well
as, if the global standards are met.

• Governmental human resources

Apart from the human resources in private sector, sufficient number of skilled personnel
within government is required. Accordingly, changes in the management issues need to be
addressed.

• Budget resources

It is necessary to ensure the availability of the existing and expected budgetary resources, in
order to achieve these goals. Also, crucial is the location of funds, i.e. centralized or not &
allocation, i.e. a single agency or many departments.

• E-Business atmosphere

With respect to e-business, the criteria for assessing readiness include legal framework and
security of the information.
Plan Nationally
` The governments evolution into E-Governance should be part of a larger comprehensive
IT framework creating a common drive towards integration of technology.

Encourage Private Sector

Government should play the role of facilitator and encourage private E-Governance development
and implementation. However it must protect the consumer privacy and security.

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