First Step Towards Predictive Governance

Dr. Santhosh Babu IAS

Executive Director & Chief Mission

Director Information Kerala Mission

As the saying goes Governance should be felt, it should not be seen. This government believes that public need not see the government offices; rather they should be able to experience the quality of its service delivery.

The best form of governance is that which needs the least interaction between the common man and the government. When the governance is done right, we create joyful citizens and joyful employees. In the current scenario, the ideal mode of administration would be one in which people can access all the government services through a smart phone or computer at their own comfort. Even after computerization was introduced in government offices, the public was forced to visit government offices numerous times to avail government services.

Kerala is relatively better in the delivery of e-services. Over the years, Kerala has earned the reputation of being the best e-governed state in the country. Every government office in Kerala, even Panchayat office and Village office, is connected through e-office. Nearly 900 government services are accessible online. But the hassle here was that a citizen needs to access multiple platforms to elicit the online services.

Introduction of ILGMS

In the early days of computerization, Information Kerala Mission had developed around 20 software like Sanchaya, Soochika, Sachithra, Sulekha etc. The development of these applications was a huge landmark in the e-governance history of the state. However, since these applications were not connected to each other, the citizens had to visit separate online platforms to avail each service. This made the job of the government officers too tedious, since they had to scan through numerous software to complete their file work. In order to make their work easy, Information Kerala Mission introduced the web-based application software Integrated Local Governance Management System (ILGMS). This software integrated all the activities of the Department of Local Self Government and made it transparent and efficient. T his software, now used in 934 Grama Panchayats, makes the functioning of Panchayat offices more effective and improved the speed and quality of service delivery.

K-SMART, A Ground-breaking Initiative

In order to get rid of multiple platforms for various government services, all the software applications for online service delivery have been integrated into a single mobile-based application called K-SMART. Kerala- Solution for Managing Administrative Reformation and Transformation or K-SMART is a data centric solution for Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs) using latest, cutting edge technologies. It is a single app, with a single sign-on, and a dashboard for every citizen & employee. K-SMART, available both on mobile and web platforms, replaced the various existing independent software. T he application has been developed by Information Kerala Mission on behalf of the Local Self Government department. It is based on Java Technology and employs the micro services architecture and DevOps engineering.

K-SMART offers both iOS and Android platforms, providing seamless access to its e- Governance services on mobile devices.

Smart & Swift Service

K-SMART has, in effect, realized the government promise to make service delivery available at the fingertip of citizens.

Citizens are now able to apply for all services online through K-SMART without visiting the local bodies and using the acknowledgement generated, they can track the status of their application online and receive services through SMS and WhatsApp. Citizens can avail services such as online payments, certificates, permits, and other file & administrative functions.

Kerala is one of the first states in the country to successfully implement digital building plan mapping. K- SMART facilitates the expedited issuance of building permits to the public by digitally preparing information on plots and buildings using GIS technology. Almost 70% of the buildings come under the low-risk category (Below 10 meters in height and 330 sq.mts in area) and permits are issued in under 10 seconds on K- SMART.

Before planning to purchase a plot, the general public is able to know within seconds about the various spatial regulations that are applicable to that particular plot through the ‘Know your land’ module in K-SMART.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative anywhere in the country, K-SMART facilitates online mass petitioning by the public using the Public Grievance Redressal module. Under this provision, a person will be able to share a petition prepared by him/her with others in the form of a link. People can become part of that petition by simply clicking on the link. T he status of the petition and details about further action taken on it will be delivered to each petitioner individually through a dedicated messaging system.

K-SMART has been a boon to Non-Kerala Residents who were earlier forced to come to Kerala every time they needed a government service.

On a Mission

K-SMART is envisaged to have over 23 functional modules covering the entire gamut of services and functionalities of local governments. The process of making all the modules functional is progressing at a steady pace. T he vision of K-SMART is to create a comprehensive, integrated & intelligent data centric e- governance platform having combined features of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) and Citizen Relationship Management (CRM) to establish a well governed & sustainable, people centered & service oriented, efficient & responsive, accountable & transparent, financially sound & competitive, smart & digital local governments towards ensuring Ease of Living for the people, Ease of Doing Businesses and Ease of Working for Employees. Additionally, cutting edge technologies ike Geographic Information System rule engine, Block Chain Technology, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Cloud Analytics have been integrated into K-SMART application.

Logon to:https://ksmart. lsgkerala.gov.in/ ui/web-portal for K-SMART Web Platform

Predictive Governance

T he next step for K-SMART would be applying emerging technologies in governance. The government can put its enormous repository of data to greatest public advantage using these technologies. The servers of Information Kerala Mission store data of the Department of Local Self Government since 1947. Through Machine Learning, we can derive new patterns from these data and create new algorithms. The Block Chain Technology can be utilized for data security.

From e-governance, we can leap to Predictive Governance. T his implies that the citizen need not apply for a service, the government, through data management, can know beforehand his need and deliver the service on time. Once all the 23 modules of K-SMART become operational it will be a full-fledged application and will become capable of achieving predictive governance.

Guruvayur Municipality is famed for giving the maximum number of marriage certificates, owing to the scores of weddings taking place every day in Guruvayur temple. The majority of the couples getting married are from outside the district or even state. The Municipality had set up a dedicated counter in the premises of the temple to apply for marriage certificate. The newly-weds, straight after the ceremony, used to approach this counter or else they would have to revisit the city for this. After the introduction of K-SMART, it has become super easy for youngsters as they can apply from anywhere in the world.

Functional Modules 1. Civil Registration (birth-death-marriage registration) 2. Business Facilitation (licenses for trade and industries) 3. Public Grievance Redressal 4. Citizen Welfare (including social security pension) 5. Tax (Property, Professional, Entertainment and other) 6. Building Regulation (Building Permits) 7. Know Your Land (Spatial Regulations) 8. Financial Management (records financial transactions in real time, making all transactions transparent) 9. HR Management (Employees Service Mapping) 10. Digital File Management 11. Meeting Management 12. Feedback