"From Access to Impact: An Empirical Study of E-Governance Effectiveness in Andhra Pradesh"

Abstract

 The rapid proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) across India has created unprecedented opportunities for transforming public service delivery. Andhra Pradesh, among India's most digitally progressive states, has undertaken ambitious e-governance initiatives including the Meeseva platform, AP Fibernet, e-Pragati integrated governance framework, and the Gramasachivalayam Ward Volunteer System (GSWS). This study is empirical, based on primary survey data on the level of e-governance adoption and its effect on administrative efficiency and citizen-centric service delivery in six districts of Andhra Pradesh, which includes 420 respondents. The study relies on structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and secondary administrative data to evaluate various factors, including access to services, turnaround times, satisfaction of citizens, corruption, and digital inclusion. The findings reveal that a lot of the opportunities for rent-seeking within the bureaucracy have not been taken away by the e-governance platforms, but there are some differences between the rural and urban areas and between different socio-economic classes. The study found that the major bottlenecks to the widespread use of e-governance at the national level are the absence of digital literacy, lack of last-mile connectivity, and the complexity of procedures. Specific steps in the direction of digital skilling, investment in infrastructure in underserved mandals, and institutionalised grievance redressal mechanisms are suggested as steps to build on the achievements of Andhra Pradesh in e-governance.