The concept of governances is complex and still remains elusive for any concrete definition. However, accountability, transparency, speedier delivery of public services, cost effectiveness, accessibility and citizen orientation are the centre focus of the governance. Citizens are the end users and thus beneficiaries of E-governance initiatives. Information Technology and resultant necessity to reform and reengineer the government processes, need for efficiency, transparency in approach and growing aspirations of the people--all made the information society and E-governance as the inevitable transformation.

All over the world E-Technology has emerged as a viable and accessible tool for serving the citizens. At all levels of Government- local, municipal, regional and national level governments have adopted E-Governance for transparent, effective and cost reduced delivery of public services to the citizen. The traditional government apparatuses are now equipped with computer-networks and laptops and the digitalization of government machinery extended government services to the various service centres or kiosk located in remote and even in inaccessible areas. E-governance fosters the partnerships and collaborations of those who have a stake in enriching these processes.

E-governance, especially, access to information and knowledge about the government functioning make the citizens more aware and well informed and enable them to acquire knowledge about policy programme and dynamics of the government processes. Hence the interface between the citizen and government has become easier and the gap is reduced which makes the citizens to legitimately support the government’s E-governance initiatives in several respects. On the other hand complex value system of the government, communication gap, stagnant government which unable to implement citizen-oriented policies exclude the citizens from decision making processes. In this context the public private and civil society inclusion for more viable, transparent and empowered society is possible only by adopting and implementing
E-governance. Digitalization of administration and inclusive policies would focus on citizen friendly administration, the need of the hour.

Digitalizing Administration encompasses more than technological infusion and digitalization of governmental activities. It plays a crucial role in the process in which public sector organizations provide services to the citizen. Democratic renewal and citizen empowerment are two significant factors in e-governance.
The main objective of the proposed conference is to identify and specifically analyse various issues and challenges involved in digitalizing administration, which remains seldom researched. After the impact of globalization on public administration e-governance became an inevitable agenda for both national and global actors. As far as India is concerned, as a developing nation, it has to reengineer its governance agenda through e-governance strategies to involve its citizens and make them concerned in governance and provide optimum legitimacy to the changing aspects of governance. Hence, Government of India has designed National Policy on E-governance, which would also be discussed in the proposed seminar. A comparative perspective analysis will be done with the available literature on e-governance from various countries. It will result in citizen specific, action oriented e-governance programmes.

In this context, the proposed International conference will focus on the following themes.

•  world bank’s governance agenda, funding for e-governance projects and enabling environment
•  e-governance, transparency, accessibility and citizen interaction-capacity building,
   right to information and anti corruption movement
•  re-engineering democracy, role of ICT in e-governance-internet, mobile and online services
•  multilevel e-governance strategies – global, national, and grass roots level
•  national e-governance plan
•  fusing administrative reforms for e-governance
•  knowledge society, access to information and community empowerment
•  designing and development of e-governance policies and programmes-role of e-groups, NGOs and    community organizations
•  digital divide, empowerment and entitlement of marginalized groups for inclusive growth through
   e-governance
•  re-modeling and re-designing government machinery for e-governance – orientation, innovation,    infrastructure and training
•  national informatics centre, state information centre, district and rural information centres – citizen    linkages and networking service delivery system
•  e- governance initiatives and programmes in various states of India- digital literacy and awareness    building
•  optimization of citizen government interface
•  e-democracy and e-voting – enhancing citizen participation and stake holder accountability
•  municipal administration and urban e-governance projects in developing and developed nations
•  delivery of citizen services through innovative e-governance strategies
•  e-governance at grass roots – e-districts and e-panchayats
•  e-banking, e-finance, e-money, e-business and e-commerce – revolution in financial administration
•  GIS, natural resource management system(NRMS) and e-mapping – enriching and enhancing     environmental administration through e-governance
•  e-agriculture and e-markets – involvement of farmers in e-governance
•  impact of ICT on judiciary – delivery of justice through teleconference
•  ICT and health administration – telemedicine and telecounseling
•  data resources and data mining for digital administration
•  virtual university, schools, e-learning – transformation of educational systems
•  ICT – early warning system and disaster management and rehabilitation
•  performance of e-governance projects and impact assessment – suggestion for inclusive
   model of growth and development
•  challenges for e-governance – cyber terrorism and cyber crime, financial scams, technological gap and    limitations, privacy and security risk, e-waste and recycling
•  developing infrastructure, employment opportunities and advocacy for good e-governance Vs human    touch in administration– ethical issues and legal implications
•  case studies, best practices and success stories of e-governance applications in developing and    developed nations

CALL FOR PAPERS
Papers relating to above theme are invited from academia, industry, professional bodies, NGOs, research scholars and students.
Prospective scholars interested in attending the conference may kindly send the research papers to the www.digiadmin.com. The research papers may not exceed more than 15 pages (in A4 Size-M.S.Word-Times New Roman-Font size 12-Line space 1.5). An abstract of the paper not exceeding more than one page (Not more than 500 words in 1.5 line space) Acceptance of abstract will be notified on 18th February 2008. Each registered participant may present only ONE paper. Author whose abstracts are accepted will be invited to submit a full paper that will be peer-reviewed. An editorial committee constituted for reviewing of the research paper will evaluate the papers and select the papers for publication. The book will be released at the inaugural session of the seminar. The official language is English. Authors are invited to submit complete, original and unpublished research papers.

ONLY ONLINE SUBMISSION
Only online submission of abstracts, papers and registration is accepted. Since it is decided to display the profile of the participants and delegates, those who are sending the abstracts must also send the recently taken passport size photograph along with 200 words about their Bio-data, interest and area of research. Registration closes on March 5th 2008. Only registered participant will be allowed to participate and present the paper in the conference. For more details and updates about the conference please visit the conference website www.digitadmin.com

DATES TO REMEMBER
18th February 2008 - Submission of abstracts
20th February 2008 – Intimation on acceptance of abstracts
1st March 2008 – submission of full paper

Registration Fee
A registration fee of Rs.1000 (Rs.500 for research scholars and students) is applicable to all the participants, which entitle them admission to all the sessions of the conference, two working lunch and conference materials. Only outstation participants are eligible for accommodation by prior request.

Demand Draft can be taken at any branch of nationalized bank in favour of
P.Maduraiveeran, Organizing secretary, digitadmin, Chennai-5