FROM INLINE TO ONLINE

The instructions issued by Central Vigilance Commission regarding making available status of applications on the website also contains an advise for enabling online filing of applications by people. Many State Government agencies have made attempts in past to allow people to file applications. Statistics shows that these have not become popular. This is in contrast to increasing popularity of e-biz applications in private sector or filing of tax returns. The main difference between these two categories is the requirement of attachments to be submitted along with applications.

Copy of election photo identity card or ration card is generally asked in most of the cases as identity proof or proof of residence. Also signature of the applicant is a must on all applications. In many cases, photographs are also required. While switching over to online system, the requirement of attachments, signature and photograph was continued in most of the cases. In some cases online software generates a printout of the application form based on the data fed. The applicant is required to sign that and send to department along with copies of election card or ration card etc. This means more work to be done by applicant i.e. sending data online as well as sending the paper based application. In other cases government agencies ask the applicants to send scanned image of supporting documents. Scanned image means increased requirement of bandwidth and large files to be sent over public network which is difficult on dialup access. Government departments also have to have ability to handle such large databases. These factors have inhibited such online systems from becoming popular.

Can we eliminate the need of enclosures to be attached? Can we change the processes? The answer is yes. Under manual system, the copies of ration card or election card are sought for cross verification. If details of ration cards or election identity cards are available in electronic format then verification can be done online. Today database of election photo identify cards is available in all States/UTs. Similarly database of ration cards is available in many States/UTs. If applicant provides the unique number of election card or ration card then verification can be done from database and thus the need of enclosing scanned images can be done away with. Photo of applicant and signature will not be required as these are also available in these databases. Thus the only requirement will be of making available such databases to all departments for online verification.

Making use of database of election card and ration card will also reduce the number of columns in the application form as many details will be readily available with the government. This could also become a source of revenue from telephone companies, credit card companies etc. who need verification of residential address of the applicants. They will then be able to do this online as a paid service and the revenue so generated could be used to finance maintenance of such large databases as a public private partnership (PPP) project. If arrangement of recording details of certificates/license issued in the same database is also made then, in future, details of all certificates/licenses will also be available in one database. This will in turn help other agencies in online verification of licenses/certificates issued and will eliminate need of making reference by them to issuing authority. This arrangement will also reduce chances of issue of duplicate licenses/certificates and could become added source of revenue for the project.

The challenge lies in making databases of election photo identity cards, ration cards, passports etc. at one place and enabling other agencies to access the same.