e-governance is a must but not without safeguards. “Even in e-governance data can be manipulated. Government is planning to introduce digital certificate (signature) to the government employees who are in charge of maintaining the records under the Bhoomi project,” said Rajiv Chawla, director,  Survey Settlement & Land Records, Government of Karnataka.

While speaking in a seminar on ‘Challenges and Solutions for Indian National Cyber Space Security’ in Bangalore on Wednesday, Mr Chawla said that in the Bhoomi project, government is planning to give digital certificates to 10,000 village accountants to ensure that records are not manipulated.

Tampering

He added that without appropriate safeguards, there’s a greater danger of more data getting lost and tampered with in e-governance. “The danger is much high in e-governance than in physical files. We need cyber security in governance. Also there should be exemplary punishment for officers in government and private set-ups indulging in malpractices, like stealing or corrupting the data and hacking into the system,” he added.

Mr Chawla warned that even in public-private-partnership there’s a need for counter checks. “Lack of knowledge is no excuse. Officials should be well versed in rules and regulations,” he added.

Technology

Director General, Karnataka State Police Housing Board, R Sri Kumar spoke about the importance of technology in policing.

“Though there’s no dearth of qualified and eager-to-learn personnel in the police force, the fact is that the internal technical cadre in police is non-existent or sidelined and demotivated,” he said.

Policing

“We need top class and technology-oriented policing to deal with crime and law and order. Unfortunately there are road blocks, of red tapism, resistance to change and a mindset that thinks that police is an agent of the government and not of law,” he added.

He said the police has time and again used technology to detect crimes and retrieve valuable data.

Cyber crime

“Karnataka took a lead in setting up a cyber crime cell and police station in the country. There’s enough talent but a lot needs to be done in the area of cyber security. Outsourcing is necessary but it’s important to develop our own expertise,” he added.  The seminar was organised by the Computer Society of India, Digital Society Foundation of India, IT Professionals Forum and RV College of Engineering.