Governance has over time become the concept that is very
closely related with driving the societal developments. The term good
governance has been abused by so many factors that it has become next to impossible
to achieve it. The governments are engulfed in conflicts which make them
vulnerable to take right decisions which would lead to good governance. Also,
it is not self-evident that good governance will lead to alleviation of
societal and managerial problems. Certain reforms and innovations may prove to
be effective in short term but may not be sufficient in long term. All said and
done, good governance depends largely on efforts of the government and its
activities. In the context of India, the following concerns must be worked
upon:
Holistic approach:
States must ensure that whatever development programs they
sponsor, focus on poverty alleviation, improvement of productivity levels and
involvement of poor people.
Proper utilization of
funds:
Government at state and national level needs to ensure that
public expenditure is properly utilized and somebody takes responsibility for
that.
Corruption:
Measures need to be taken to lessen corruption at least at
the central level. This covers civil services. The government must ensure
safety of civil servants and see to it that they work towards the betterment of
society rather than take bribes to get things done. This requires safety also
as in our country; whistle blowers are either transferred or murdered. This is
a deplorable condition and it has been plaguing our country for a long time.
Representation of
Women:
For good governance, women form a crucial part. With an
increase in the women representatives in democratic institutions, there has
been some stability in the policies. Women can bring socially sustainable
policies to the table. They can act as leaders, teachers and policy makers.
Good governance stems from these.
Electoral process:
We have to ensure that contestants with serious criminal
records don’t get to stand for elections as these representatives sometimes
incite a mob to indulge in riots which can lead to communal violence and are
personally involved in similar incidents also.
The government needs to focus on employment, empowerment of
people and also delivery of services which would be the outcome of quality of
civil servants in the judicial and administrative system of our country.
By Rahul Sharma | Great Lakes Institute of Management
By Rahul Sharma | Great Lakes Institute of Management