Moa Jamir
Dimapur | December 9
Since June 2017, The Morung Express has been evaluating the websites of government departments and agencies under the Government of Nagaland. Despite commitments to leveraging technology for transparent governance, many of these websites remain outdated, failing to achieve their intended goals.
In 2023, a more comprehensive assessment was conducted, focusing on government websites listed on Nagaland’s official State Portal (https://nagaland.gov.in) as well as others available in the public domain. The assessment was based on five key parameters (see box). The evaluation aimed to determine whether these websites facilitate free access to information—a cornerstone of transparency, accountability, and good governance.
To ascertain any changes since then, the 2024 assessment was conducted using data available as of December 9, 2024. The findings aim to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in the digital governance framework of Nagaland. The list of departments assessed is not exhaustive, and omissions or commissions cannot be ruled out.
General results
A total of 45 departmental websites were assessed in the current exercise. On a positive note, 24 websites improved upon their performance from last year. However, five websites showed no improvement, and 15 performed worse than last year. (See table)
Based on the total score out of 50 points:
Two departmental websites—CEO Nagaland and DIPR—were categorised as ‘Very Good,’ down from four last year.
Twelve websites were designated as ‘Good,’ scoring between 31 and 40 points.
However, 33 websites were rated either ‘Average’ or ‘Below Average,’ with 16 falling in the ‘Average’ category and 11 in the ‘Below Average’ category.
Three websites were deemed ‘Poor.’
Overall, the assessment reflects a token attempt at e-governance, lacking seriousness and a dedicated policy approach. It should be noted that this evaluation is limited to government departments.
It must be noted here that the assessment made is limited to Government departments only and separate would be made for statutory bodies, commissions and business-related entities etc in the coming days.
Parameters The evaluation framework is based on the following six parameters, with a cumulative maximum score of 50 points:
Scoring and Outcome Each parameter carries a weighted score, and the websites are categorised into a five-level ranking system based on the total points scored:
|
