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Our work was initiated with a literature review of numerous initiatives being pursued in using computer networks for
developmental purposes, ranging from simple information systems running on an intranet (as has been done by the MS
Swaminathan Foundation in Pondicherry) to information-cum-transactions systems runing both intranet and internet based
applications (as in Warana). To understand the ground realities in Banaskantha and to determine the scope to which we will
have to confine ourselves, in implementing a project on similar lines in this area, we started with two rounds of surveys: the
first at the villages to gauge the information/ transaction needs of the villagers and the second at various government
departments and offices in Banaskantha district. The consolidated list of vilagers' needs that was prepared, covered over 90
items on government procedures and transactions, dairying, agriculture, health, education and village level procedures.
Survey at various government departments to study how these needs could be satisfied, revealed varying levels of
preparedness across offices to provide on-line dynamic information.
In the light of these findings and in view of the state governments's plans to computerise it's records and procedures in the
near future, the scope of this project has been limited to being more of an integrated information portal rather than an
e-governance network. To start a demonstrable project in this region, rather than merely putting a proposal on
paper it is necessary to start on a small scale and establish credibility; later it could be scaled upwards to
include more applications/ agencies. Our competency should lie in providing connectivity from the taluka downwards to
the villages, which can seamlessly complement the district-taluka network that is on the government's schedule. The thrust
has to be on dairy related applications that are transaction oriented and on the periphery other applications/ information are
to be provided. We identified the dairy, the agri-produce market yard, agricultural university, district information office, NIC
office, Palanpur and the meteorological department as the key agencies that can provide transaction oriented and static
information. In addition, static information on rules and procedures can be provided from government departments, the
details of which have also been explored.
Details of the five categories of services that can thus be provided on this portal (Dairy information & transactions,
Government department related information, district related news/ weather/ information, Internet services and agricultural
prices & technical information) have also been drawn out. These services would be provided over an intranet with a central
server at the dairy and nodes at the societies, through dial-up connectivity. When various government departments set up
departmental portals as part of the state-wide e-governance plans, direct access through internet links can be provided to
the government websites, to gain access to their services. Danta Taluka has been identified for the pilot project wherein 10
specific societies need to be indentified. Good OFC connectivity by DoT and the initiation of NIC's plans to computerise
land records in this taluka were the determining factors, taking into view the possibility of scaling the portal services
upwards to include access to land records at the earliest, thus providing greater value added service to villagers.
Finally, the technical, operational and financial implementation issues have been detailed out. The technical plan covers
network layout, connectivity, hardware requirements and software specifications. Care has been taken to include such
software and hardware which would be easily compatible with the government network, when it becomes operational
(primary source of government related technical plans being the NIC Office). The operational issues include manpower and
content management. The role of NIC as a strategic partner in the long term when it comes to liasoning with the
government increases and that of the e-governance centre at IIMA for procuring software and hardware is critical here.
An estimate of the project cost has also been worked out.
Some key issues that would need more detailed planning as the scale of services is increased in the future, include revenue
generation (advertisements on the portal), expanded service boundary & the need for a centralised structure, scalability of
infrastructure & portal architecture to include services offered by more agencies, traditional channels of information
transfer being bypassed & the need to convince people, service acknowledgement, development of standardised formats
for data transfer between agencies/ departments and authentication of transactions.
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