Financial Times

Corporate Affairs
E-government ICT and Development- India launches Knowledge Commission
By Sunil Karunanayake
Our columnist looks at the advantages of e-Government and promoting the use of IT in schools and villages. During the last two to three decades Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has made vast strides and dramatically affected the way in which societies function.

These technologies have already had their effects on the operations of government and it is likely that a greater impact will happen as the use of such technology becomes more widely accepted. The governments of many countries now promote and deliver Internet based information and services to address the needs of business (G2B), citizens (G2C) and government agencies. The interest in the Internet within the public sector has been extended from control and regulation to use and service provision.

These timely remarks came from Julian Teicher of the Department of Management Monash University Australia in a recent lecture delivered at the Centre for Banking Studies of the Central Bank on "E-Government: Current Issues and the relationship of the experience of developed nations to Sri Lanka."

Developed nations such as Australia and the US have invested heavily in the hardware and software necessary for such transformation. The Australian federal government spends about $3.5 billion on ICT annually. ICT plays a key role in the fast emerging knowledge economy today through Internet knowledge which is within access of many where telecommunication facilities are available.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing the Asia Society's Asian Corporate Conference said that Bangalore, the Indian silicone valley, symbolized the arrival of India on the global stage in the knowledge economy. Global companies hired Indian professionals to secure global markets. Dr Singh further said countries that made good use of Indian talent benefited and remained competitive. Products of the Indian Information Technology Industry offered a range of services that have found growing markets worldwide.

Quoting India's impressive performance supported by the ICT the Prime Minister is hopeful that the present 8% growth will rise to 9 to 10% in the next two years. This comes in the wake of improved savings rate of 29% of GDP and investment rate of 31% GDP. These platforms no doubt will attract more foreign direct investment.

Delivering his address at the launch of the Knowledge Commission, the Indian Premier noted that youth would be an asset only if a nation invests in their capabilities while stating that India is now to set to embark on a "Second wave of Institution building."

Speaking further on the much spoken "Knowledge Century" in the 21st century, Dr Singh elaborated that this concept implies it is not military or economic power that will in fact determine a nation's place in the world now in the making but its brain power.

Sri Lanka has been living through the 5 to 6% growth regime during the best of times in the past few decades. This is neither sufficient to provide employment nor to move further from a middle income level country. A shift of paradign is a necessity. The Information and Communications Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka is the government body responsible for implementing the e- Sri Lanka development initiative.

ICTA now working directly under the President's office is the apex body involved in ICT policy, direction and development for the nation. E-Sri Lanka is a stakeholder led, multi-donor funded national development initiative with the objectives of using ICT to alleviate poverty, promote growth and foster social integration and peace. In living in a knowledge economy, information means everything. ICTA acknowledges that if rural areas are not empowered by denying access to information conflicts will broaden leading to conflicts.
In India it's publicly said that gone are the days of the "Bombay Club".

ICTA is now working through identified initiatives to accelerate the growth of the knowledge economy. Some of the major moves are the establishment of Regional Telecommunications networks (RTN) to provide linkages between the northeast and the deep south where youth unrest and economic hardships have led to serious conflicts causing heavy economic damage.

Tele-centres styled Vishwa Gnana Kendras (VGK) within these two centres will be established to provide relevant information on agriculture, weather and education, etc.

e-Government must move rapidly within the public sector to provide the kick start for accelerated growth. Public institutions like Post Offices, District secretaries, land registries, revenue collecting agencies and Police stations must necessarily be strengthened with IT support to serve the public more efficiently and expeditiously. These are the extra catalysts that could provide potential for growth as well as reduction of poverty leading to a conflict free society.

Given the resourceful manpower base Sri Lanka must follow the Indian example of making education institutions seats of world- class learning.
The introduction of IT to GCE O/L and A/L is praiseworthy but the schools must move with enthusiasm to reap the benefits of such measures.
Setting up of universities in the under developed Uva-Wellassa and Eastern province are now paying dividends. Empowering the youth with capacity & modernizing the public sector with ITC should be our direction in the "Knowledge Century"

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