Bangalore might be a technology hub at the global level. But the local body that governs the IT City is still miles away, as far as using technology in delivering service to its citizens, is concerned.
Consider this: It will take at least three years for a Bangalorean to get an e-birth and death certificate from the local body, four years to get e-building plan sanctioned, three years for trade licenses, three years to monitor grievances... The list goes on.
This is the information that Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has furnished to the Union Urban Development Ministry, while signing the memorandum of understanding under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Mandatory
The local body has committed itself to completely adopt technology, in both providing various service to citizens, and in managing its day-to-day affairs in the specified time frame.
JNNURM mandates a local body to implement e-governance in all facets of administration and service delivery.
The MOU document also reveals that BBMP does not have e-procurement system and its accounting and property tax system are not integrated yet. The Union government has, therefore, asked BBMP to implement all these e-governance initiatives in a specific time frame for each of the services, prepare a Municipal e-governance Design Document in two years’ time and appoint a State-level Technology Consultant in two years.
This is not all. The BBMP in the MOU document has boasted about its achievements that are a flop in reality.
For instance, the local body has talked about enforcement of “Protocol for Road Opening” in the City, a scheme that was launched five years ago to ensure that City roads are not damaged.
The protocol mandated any individual or organisation digging roads to lay cables or any pipes for their own purposes, to either restore it or pay for the damage. But the protocol, in reality, is confined only to paper, BBMP official sources said.
Ward committees
BBMP has also mentioned about ward committees and claimed that it is one of the achievements of e-governance in ensuring citizens’ participation.
The truth is that there was hardly any ward committee in any of the 100 wards of erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, officials said.
As per the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, it is mandatory on the part of any local body to set up local ward committees, envisaging citizens’ participation in local governance.
LONG WAY TO GO
nBBMP takes three years to issue e-birth and death certificate
nFour years for e-building plan
nFour years for e-trade license
nFour years to e-monitor public complaints