Good Governance Day

Governance: Transparency, Accountability,
and Effective Administration

Governments must exercise their power to develop and manage resources for their citizens’ well-being. Governance starts with individuals ensuring that they exercise their responsibility and contribute to their well-being and that of their communities and society through it. Good governance becomes paramount for a country like India, which is very diverse in culture and traditions and has an uneven distribution of natural resources. India observes the “Good Governance Day” every year on 25^th December. It is to commemorate the birthanniversary of former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who contributed to the ethos of good governance. Being responsive to the needs of the people (all the citizens, both poor and marginalised and aspirational generation) is essential. India has launched the Good Governance Index to assess the country’s governance quality. It is Christmas Day, too. Santa must come out doling gifts to bring responsibility to those who govern and ensure the well-being of those governed.

In the happiness of the people lies the ruler’s happiness, in their welfare, his welfare. The ruler shall not consider what pleases him but what pleases his people.     
Chanakya in Arthashastra

Governments must exercise their power to develop and manage resources for their citizens’ well-being. Governance starts with individuals ensuring that they exercise their responsibility and contribute to their well-being and that of their communities and society through it. Diversity has set in with the increase in the population and people moving to different places, often to other countries, diversity has set in. With it, the availability of resources and services has not remained equitable, and the need for governance has become necessary. With the power invested in few, who are to govern to ensure well-being, it has become a challenge. That is why we talk about good governance. Good governance becomes paramount for a country like India, which is very diverse in culture and traditions and has an uneven distribution of natural resources.    

India observes the “Good Governance Day” every year on 25^th December. It is to commemorate the birthanniversary of former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who contributed to the ethos of good governance. He has often been called “a role model for excellence for all legislators”.  It was established in 2014 to honour him. The day emphasises the importance of transparency, accountability, and effective administration in governance. The governments must be accountable. Hence, being transparent is paramount. The leadership should be ethical to ensure fair and just governance.

The focus should be on the use of technology and initiatives such as digital governance. Delivering quality public services in a timely and resource-efficient manner is necessary. Being responsive to the needs of the people (all the citizens, both poor and marginalised and aspirational generation) is essential.  

India has launched the Good Governance Index (GGI) to assess the country’s governance quality. It evaluates the performance of governments in various sectors and encourages healthy competition to improve governance standards. The index includes the assessment of progress in all the major sectors, from agriculture, health, environment, and governance. The country is divided into big, northeast, hill states, and UT to bring parity.

There are international indexes, like the “Chandler Good Government Index” (India ranked 49 out of 113) and the World Bank’s “Worldwide Governance Indicators” (India needs to improve its ranking). Another important index is the “Human Development Index”, reflecting life expectancy, education, and per capita income (India is 132 out of 191). India has shown considerable progress in the “Ease of Doing Business Index” of the World Bank (discontinued in 2020)

A leader’s greatness is measured by their people’s prosperity and happiness.
 Thiruvalluvar

Ancient Indian scriptures provide a wealth of knowledge about governance, ethics, and the duties of rulers and administrators. Texts like the Arthashastra, Manusmriti, Mahabharata, and Ramayanaemphasise principles that align with modern ideas of good governance, such as accountability, justice, and welfare.  

Governance should be citizen-friendly and corruption-free.
That is when true development happens.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee

The strengths of India’s governance are a robust democratic framework with free and fair elections, strong institutions, a stable judiciary, and progressive initiatives like “Digital India” and citizen-centric governance reforms. The Indian government has taken initiatives concerning good governance. Panchayat Raj, the Right to Information Act and the National e-Government Strategy are some of them. These are still challenges for good governance in India. Women’s Empowerment, a hindrance to exercising the “Right to Prompt Justice”, the criminalisation of politics, and the unholy alliance of politicians, civil servants, and commercial interests are harming policymaking and governance.  

While government should provide good governance,
the process of making decisions is essential.

It is Christmas Day, too. Santa has to come out doling gifts to bring responsibility to those who govern and ensure the well-being of those being governed.

Toons: Reema
Logs: M Sai Baba
ToonLogs