Dataquest awards for e-governance 

The

best e-governed states in India were 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 Sept and Oct 2005.

The full findings of the survey would be published in the Feb 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).

Panelists addressing the gathering during the Dataquest e-Gov Summit 2006 in Delhi.

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 Centers.

The individual citizen services survey looked at applying for vehicle

driving licenses 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 recognize 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 were also presented at the awards

shows.

DQW News Bureau New Delhi,

Feb 20