FOSS based integrated software framework for E-Governance and sustainable development of village panchayats. - Presentation

1. FOSS based integrated software framework for E-FOSS based integrated software framework for E-
Governance and sustainable development ofGovernance and sustainable development of
village panchayats.village panchayats.
Jaisen NedumpalaJaisen Nedumpala
School of Environmental Sciences,School of Environmental Sciences,
Mahatma Gandhi University.Mahatma Gandhi University.

2. SustainabilitySustainability
Sustainability is aSustainability is a model for futuremodel for future in whichin which
environmental, social and economic considerationsenvironmental, social and economic considerations
are balancedare balanced in development activities. It includes anin development activities. It includes an
improved quality of lifeimproved quality of life as well. Sustainableas well. Sustainable
development is a way within whichdevelopment is a way within which many processes andmany processes and
pathways to achieve sustainabilitypathways to achieve sustainability say, sustainablesay, sustainable
agriculture, sustainable production and consumption,agriculture, sustainable production and consumption, goodgood
government, research and technology transfergovernment, research and technology transfer, etc, etc
(Unesco 2013).(Unesco 2013).

3. The Rio Declaration (Earth Summit)The Rio Declaration (Earth Summit)
19921992
Contains 27 principles, including:Contains 27 principles, including:
●
People are entitled to a healthy and productive life inPeople are entitled to a healthy and productive life in
harmony with nature;harmony with nature;
●
Eradicating poverty and reducing disparities in livingEradicating poverty and reducing disparities in living
standards in different parts of the world;standards in different parts of the world;
●
Environmental protection is an integral part of theEnvironmental protection is an integral part of the
development processdevelopment process and cannot be considered inand cannot be considered in
isolation from it.isolation from it.

4. Global sustainability dialoguesGlobal sustainability dialogues
●
Emphasizing the role ofEmphasizing the role of public participation inpublic participation in
community and governmental decision-makingcommunity and governmental decision-making..
People whose lives will be affected by decisions mustPeople whose lives will be affected by decisions must
be involved in the processbe involved in the process leading to the decisions.leading to the decisions.
●
Calling forCalling for greater transparency and accountabilitygreater transparency and accountability inin
governmental decision-making.governmental decision-making.

5. Legal obligations to have scientificLegal obligations to have scientific
and planned activitiesand planned activities
●
Kerala Panchayat Raj Act 1994:Kerala Panchayat Raj Act 1994:
●
Section 162.A The standing committee for development -Section 162.A The standing committee for development -
responsible to carry out theresponsible to carry out the development planning,development planning,
socio-economic planning, spatial planningsocio-economic planning, spatial planning etc.etc.
●
The standing committee for health and education -The standing committee for health and education -
responsible forresponsible for environmental protectionenvironmental protection in villagein village
panchayat.panchayat.
●
Grama Sabha - powers to formulate schemes to impartGrama Sabha - powers to formulate schemes to impart
awareness on matters of public interest likeawareness on matters of public interest like cleanliness,cleanliness,
environmental protection, pollution controlenvironmental protection, pollution control etc.etc.
●
Village panchayats - general function toVillage panchayats - general function to inculcateinculcate
environmental awarenessenvironmental awareness and motivating local action forand motivating local action for
environmental upgradationenvironmental upgradation..

6. Legal obligations to have scientificLegal obligations to have scientific
and planned activitiesand planned activities
●
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,
2005 Section 16. (3),2005 Section 16. (3),
●
Every Gram Panchayat shall,Every Gram Panchayat shall, prepare a development planprepare a development plan
and maintain a shelf of possible works to be taken upand maintain a shelf of possible works to be taken up
under the Schemeunder the Scheme as and when demand for work arises.as and when demand for work arises.
●
Village Panchayats need toVillage Panchayats need to prepare a watershed basedprepare a watershed based
master plan, as detailed in Watershed Works Manualmaster plan, as detailed in Watershed Works Manual
published by the Ministry of Rural Development, GOI.published by the Ministry of Rural Development, GOI.
– Two chapters:Two chapters: 5. Mapping5. Mapping and 6.and 6. Technical Surveys ofTechnical Surveys of
a Watersheda Watershed, details the techniques of mapping., details the techniques of mapping.

7. Legal obligations to have scientificLegal obligations to have scientific
and planned activitiesand planned activities
●
The Kerala Town and Country Planning Act, 2016The Kerala Town and Country Planning Act, 2016
●
Enacted for theEnacted for the promotion of planned developmentpromotion of planned development andand
regulation of growth of urban and rural areasregulation of growth of urban and rural areas in thein the
state with focus onstate with focus on scientific spatial planningscientific spatial planning and toand to
secure their present and future inhabitantssecure their present and future inhabitants,, sanitarysanitary
conditions, amenity and convenienceconditions, amenity and convenience and for otherand for other
matters connected therewith.matters connected therewith.
●
It makes theIt makes the village panchayat into a local planningvillage panchayat into a local planning
area.area.
●
Section 30 mandates the panchayat to develop aSection 30 mandates the panchayat to develop a mastermaster
plan, execution plan and a detailed town planningplan, execution plan and a detailed town planning
schemescheme..

8. Legal obligations to have scientificLegal obligations to have scientific
and planned activitiesand planned activities
●
CircularCircular - to constitute- to constitute “Sevagram” Gramakendram“Sevagram” Gramakendram, and an, and an
●
OrderOrder - framing the detailed- framing the detailed work chartwork chart for Gramakendrams.for Gramakendrams.
●
An extension centre of Village Panchayat in eachAn extension centre of Village Panchayat in each
wardward,, important statistics, various maps (political,important statistics, various maps (political,
resource, social, drainage, land use)resource, social, drainage, land use) relating to that wardrelating to that ward
should be displayed for public information.should be displayed for public information.
●
There is a need of maps depicting ward-level details.There is a need of maps depicting ward-level details.

9. Legal obligations to have scientificLegal obligations to have scientific
and planned activitiesand planned activities
●
The village panchayats are in a phase:The village panchayats are in a phase:
●
Seriously stepping onto the field ofSeriously stepping onto the field of scientific spatialscientific spatial
planningplanning andand scientific data managementscientific data management..
●
The acts, guidelines etc. mandates the need of scientificThe acts, guidelines etc. mandates the need of scientific
spatial planning at the village panchayat level.spatial planning at the village panchayat level.
●
It is high time to use GIS and remote sensing techniques,It is high time to use GIS and remote sensing techniques,
and immensely use the geospatial data while preparingand immensely use the geospatial data while preparing
plans.plans.

10. Business Process ReengineeringBusiness Process Reengineering
(BPR)(BPR)
●
The routine business process in the administration of villageThe routine business process in the administration of village
panchayats should be optimised so as to improve the overallpanchayats should be optimised so as to improve the overall
performance and increase the quality of service. In addition toperformance and increase the quality of service. In addition to
it, anit, an optimised software based frameworkoptimised software based framework should also beshould also be
developed to achieve this goal.developed to achieve this goal.
●
Reengineering (BPR) is the fundamental rethinking and radicalReengineering (BPR) is the fundamental rethinking and radical
redesign of the business processesredesign of the business processes to achieve dramaticto achieve dramatic
improvementsimprovements in critical,in critical, contemporary measures ofcontemporary measures of
performance, such as cost, quality, service and speedperformance, such as cost, quality, service and speed'.'.
(Hammer and Champy 2009)(Hammer and Champy 2009)

11. A technological framework forA technological framework for
sustainable developmentsustainable development
●
TheThe present e-governance programme is inadequatepresent e-governance programme is inadequate --
almost all of thealmost all of the mandatory and statutory functions of themandatory and statutory functions of the
village panchayats are still carried out in an archaicvillage panchayats are still carried out in an archaic
manual decision making processmanual decision making process, with less use of intuitive, with less use of intuitive
technological support.technological support.
●
As a result,As a result, most of the obligations village panchayats aremost of the obligations village panchayats are
entitledentitled, as per the Rio Declaration (Earth Summit) and global, as per the Rio Declaration (Earth Summit) and global
sustainability dialoguessustainability dialogues are not efficiently followedare not efficiently followed..
●
But many of the insights to follow these obligationsBut many of the insights to follow these obligations can becan be
achieved by BPRachieved by BPR and theand the effective integrated use ofeffective integrated use of
techniquestechniques namely Enterprise Resource Planningnamely Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)(ERP),,
Remote Sensing and Geograhical Information Systems, ContentRemote Sensing and Geograhical Information Systems, Content
Management SystemManagement System (CMS)(CMS) and Business Intelligenceand Business Intelligence (BI)(BI)..

12. ERP – holistic approach.ERP – holistic approach.
●
The term ERP stands for the idea ofThe term ERP stands for the idea of all the information andall the information and
operations needed for an enterprise is coordinated in aoperations needed for an enterprise is coordinated in a
computer systemcomputer system with the help of hardware and software.with the help of hardware and software.
●
ERP is aERP is a business process management softwarebusiness process management software that allowsthat allows
an organization to use a system of integrated applications toan organization to use a system of integrated applications to
manage the business and automate many back officemanage the business and automate many back office
functionsfunctions related to technology, services and humanrelated to technology, services and human
resources. Itresources. It integrates all facets of an operation, includingintegrates all facets of an operation, including
product planning, development etc.product planning, development etc. (Beal 2016).(Beal 2016).

13. Content Management SystemContent Management System
●
It is possible to store, share and contribute information for aIt is possible to store, share and contribute information for a
large number of people via CMS.large number of people via CMS.
●
A content management system (CMS) is aA content management system (CMS) is a computercomputer
applicationapplication that supports the creation and modification ofthat supports the creation and modification of
digital contentdigital content using a common user interfaceusing a common user interface and thusand thus
usually supporting multiple users working in ausually supporting multiple users working in a
collaborative environment.collaborative environment.

14. Business Intelligence (BI)Business Intelligence (BI)
●
Business Intelligence (BI) can be described as "aBusiness Intelligence (BI) can be described as "a set ofset of
techniques and toolstechniques and tools for the acquisition and transformationfor the acquisition and transformation
ofof raw data into meaningful and useful information forraw data into meaningful and useful information for
business analysisbusiness analysis purposes" (Turner 2016).purposes" (Turner 2016).
●
There are BI softwares available, which can be used forThere are BI softwares available, which can be used for
acquiringacquiring better insights on the stored databetter insights on the stored data using ERP, GISusing ERP, GIS
and CMS. This willand CMS. This will give more precision in the mandatorygive more precision in the mandatory
activitiesactivities of village panchayats.of village panchayats.

15. Integrated FOSS based software forIntegrated FOSS based software for
Panchayat / Local AdministrationPanchayat / Local Administration
●
Government of India has released the mandatoryGovernment of India has released the mandatory 'Framework'Framework
For Adoption of Open Source Software In e-GovernanceFor Adoption of Open Source Software In e-Governance
Systems'Systems' on April 2015.on April 2015.
●
In village panchayats and in their integral institutions and inIn village panchayats and in their integral institutions and in
the department of panchayats,the department of panchayats, a FOSS based integrated anda FOSS based integrated and
centralised software systemcentralised software system should be developed andshould be developed and
deployed, which essentially having andeployed, which essentially having an ERP, a GIS, a CMS, andERP, a GIS, a CMS, and
a BIa BI component.component. Free and Open Source SoftwareFree and Open Source Software must bemust be
used as mandated by the GOI framework as well as that will beused as mandated by the GOI framework as well as that will be
the sustainable solution for long-term use.the sustainable solution for long-term use.

16. Integrated software for Panchayat /Integrated software for Panchayat /
Local AdministrationLocal Administration
●
Accounting, Budget, Income and Expenditure, Human ResourceAccounting, Budget, Income and Expenditure, Human Resource
Management, Project Management, Meetings, Purchases,Management, Project Management, Meetings, Purchases,
Collaborative file management etc can be managed usingCollaborative file management etc can be managed using
centralisedcentralised ERP.ERP.
●
Assets, Taxation, Licensing,Assets, Taxation, Licensing, Land and Water ResourceLand and Water Resource
Management, Building rules, Data bank of wetlands andManagement, Building rules, Data bank of wetlands and
paddy fields,paddy fields, etc can be managed using an integratedetc can be managed using an integrated GISGIS
framework.framework.
●
Online distribution of various certificates, informationOnline distribution of various certificates, information
dissemination, publication of notices, consolidation of acts,dissemination, publication of notices, consolidation of acts,
rules, orders, circulars, guidelines etc can be managed usingrules, orders, circulars, guidelines etc can be managed using
integratedintegrated CMSCMS..

17. Integrated software for Panchayat /Integrated software for Panchayat /
Local AdministrationLocal Administration
●
The CMS can be configured as the tender notices, notifications,The CMS can be configured as the tender notices, notifications,
project plans, biodiversity registers etcproject plans, biodiversity registers etc can be published incan be published in
a decentralised manner from the concerned officesa decentralised manner from the concerned offices
respectively.respectively. The information and statistics which areThe information and statistics which are
consolidated in this integrated software can be arranged suchconsolidated in this integrated software can be arranged such
as those are published automatically,as those are published automatically, satisfying the section 4satisfying the section 4
of the RTI Act.of the RTI Act.
●
BIBI can be generated from the data and information stored incan be generated from the data and information stored in
thethe ERP, GIS and CMSERP, GIS and CMS components of the integrated softwarecomponents of the integrated software
system.system.

18. Integrated software for Panchayat /Integrated software for Panchayat /
Local AdministrationLocal Administration

19. MethodologyMethodology
●
Operate inline with theOperate inline with the RGPSA SchemeRGPSA Scheme (Rajiv Gandhi(Rajiv Gandhi
Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan)Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan)
●
RGPSA Scheme is forRGPSA Scheme is for strengthening the Panchayati Rajstrengthening the Panchayati Raj
SystemSystem across the country andacross the country and address the critical gapsaddress the critical gaps thatthat
constrain it.constrain it.
●
Existing and and widely used FOSS based softwareExisting and and widely used FOSS based software
frameworksframeworks will be customised and used as the components ofwill be customised and used as the components of
the integrated software programme, which willthe integrated software programme, which will reduce the effortreduce the effort..
●
Coding part will be handled with the help of theCoding part will be handled with the help of the Free SoftwareFree Software
CommunityCommunity in the state.in the state.

20. ReferenceReference
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21. ReferenceReference
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22. Thank you..Thank you..