Revolutionizing Trust: Unmasking Nagaland’s Government Websites’ Shortfalls in Tech Transparency | Empower with MorungExpress

Since June 2017, The Morung Express has scrutinized the websites of government departments and agencies in Nagaland, assessing their role in promoting transparent governance. Despite initial promises, many of these digital platforms remain outdated and fail to fulfill their purpose. The 2023 assessment, focusing on websites listed on Nagaland’s official State Portal and other public domain sites, used five key parameters to evaluate whether these websites enhance free information access—an essential element of transparency, accountability, and good governance. By December 9, 2024, a follow-up assessment was conducted to track progress and identify digital governance improvement areas.

The evaluation covered 45 departmental websites. Positively, 24 websites showed performance improvement over the past year. However, five remained stagnant, and 15 fared worse than before. Notably, only two sites—those of CEO Nagaland and DIPR—achieved a ‘Very Good’ rating, down from four in the previous year. Twelve websites were marked ‘Good,’ scoring between 31 and 40 points. Meanwhile, 33 were categorized as either ‘Average’ or ‘Below Average’, with 16 and 11 sites respectively falling into these categories. Three websites received a ‘Poor’ rating.

Scored out of a possible 50 points, the evaluation was based on six parameters: Departments’ Own Information, Data Quantity and Quality, Suo Motu Disclosures, Public Notices and Tenders, Latest News and Updates, and Direct Links to Social Media. The assessment revealed that many sites failed to meet standards, particularly in social media integration.

This analysis illustrates a token effort towards e-governance lacking seriousness and committed policy implementation. Importantly, this review exclusively pertains to government department websites, with future assessments planned for statutory bodies and business-related entities. The findings present a clear opportunity for Nagaland’s digital governance to enhance and evolve, driving truly transparent and accountable governance in the digital age.

Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/tech-for-transparency-most-nagalands-govt-websites-fall-short
Category : Morung Exclusive , Nagaland
Tags:
Publish Date: 2024-12-09 23:58:00