The Indian Theory of E-Democracy and E-Governance and Its Linkages with the Smart Cities Mission

Abstract

A theory is a simplified cognitive construct of a certain aspect of the reality built for the purposes of explaining that reality in a reasonably simplified form. Internal coherence is a central feature of a structure of any theory. One significant aspect of today’s city and urban planning in India is the reality of the smart city. Government of India is steadfast in developing 100 smart cities. A large number of seminars, conferences, and panel discussions are held since the last two years in the major cities of India involving global and local policy makers, business people, and academics examining and presenting policy elaborations, assessments, analyses and critiques. In view of this author, so far a theory of E-Governance specifically in the context of the Indian Smart Cities Mission has not been built and this paper is an attempt to fill this gap. One caveat however is necessary—a unique E-Governance theory for a smart city is necessary and possible for the Indian city given the special circumstances of Indian urbanization and its unique historical and cultural settings. The E-Governance theory for a smart city can be constructed in the form of a number of prominent nodes including use of information and communication technologies for enabling economic, social and political transactions, selective commodification and intense development of places within cities, intensification of inequalities within the city as conceived and defined by census, and development to be carried out through projects disconnected from city plans. In the understanding of this author, E-Governance theory should prominently focus on issues such as fairness of decision making processes in governments, businesses, NGOs, and most importantly decisions taken by the private sector and decisions taken by governments under the influence of the private sector. Second, E-Governance in Indian cities should focus on the nature of the technological agenda being pursued by governments and the private sector supported and promoted by big national and international think tanks. Third, the Indian E-Governance theory should also focus on reducing the material inequalities in the cities specifically related with access basic services such as clean drinking water, sanitation, education, health, and decent housing for all citizens. Fourth aspect of E-Governance theory is that it should encourage and promote economic activities that involve the city’s urban poor. No smart city can have an adequate theory of E-Governance without simultaneously looking after its citizens because E-Governance theory in a smart city is essentially for citizens’ welfare.