As India celebrates the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 25th, observed as Good Governance Day, it’s a timely opportunity to reflect on the evolving concept of governance in today’s fast-changing world.
Need for People-Oriented Governance
- Events Indicating Failure of Governance: Two seemingly unrelated events—US President-elect Donald Trump’s creation of a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the tragic shooting of a healthcare CEO—highlight a growing realization: the world needs better, more people-oriented governance.
- Lessons From India: India’s experiences offer valuable insights that can enrich global governance discussions.
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Aim of DOGE
- Eliminate redundant or parallel agencies
- Cut wasteful spending
- Introducing accountability
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Critical Need to Revisit Good Governance
- Global Disenchantment with Democracy: In an era marked by increasing disenchantment with democracy, particularly in several parts of the world, it is crucial to revisit the concept of good governance.
- “Unified Theory”: Harvard academic Pippa Norris’s “unified theory” suggests that both the institutions of liberal democracy and state capacity must be strengthened simultaneously for meaningful progress.
- For Instance: While fundamental rights like freedom of speech are crucial, the state must also have the power to protect them.
- For example, the failure of the state to protect a CEO shot in the U.S. highlights the consequences of state incapacity.
- Human Element in Good Governance: The success of good governance depends on the mindsets of those implementing it.
- Over the past decade, discussions in India have emphasized the need for a mindset change to translate governance theory into practice.
- Without this shift, good governance remains a theoretical concept, unable to achieve its goals.
- Integrating Traditional Wisdom: Another important aspect is how traditional concepts, such as the Indian notion of Raj Dharma (the moral and ethical duty of a ruler), can inform modern governance practices.
- Raj Dharma, as articulated in Indian history and scriptures, provides a framework for leadership that is particularly relevant today.
Defining Good Governance
- World Bank’s Definition: The concept of good governance first gained formal recognition in 1992 with the World Bank’s report, Governance and Development.
- Eight Principles of Good Governance: The report outlined key characteristics of good governance, including participation, accountability, transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness, efficiency, equity, inclusivity, and rule of law.
- What the Report Lacked?: However, the report lacks emphasis on the implementation phase, which is critical to the success of governance.
- Importance of Implementation: Effective governance begins with flawless implementation, which depends on the commitment and passion of those at the grassroots level.
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Eight Principles of Good Governance by the United Nations
- Participation: This principle underscores the importance of allowing individuals to express their opinions and become active contributors to the governance process.
- Example: Voters in the Gram Sabha elections participate in decision-making in the policymaking process.
- Consensus-oriented: Encouraging the pursuit of common ground, this principle promotes decision-making that reflects a collective agreement among diverse stakeholders.
- Example: The Paris Climate Agreement, where nations reached a consensus that carbon emissions need to be reduced, and each set its own target for emission reduction.
- Accountable: Accountability holds those in authority responsible for their actions and decisions, ensuring that they answer to the public for their governance efforts.
- Example: RTI is a means of ensuring government accountability.
- Transparent: Transparency ensures openness in governance, enabling citizens to access accurate information about governmental actions and decisions.
- Responsive: This principle underscores the need for prompt and effective redressal of citizen grievances, citizen-focused policies, and the timely delivery of essential services.
- Effective and Efficient: Governance should strive for the optimal utilization of resources, ensuring that public resources are employed effectively and efficiently.
- Equitable and Inclusive: Upholding the principle of equality, governance should guarantee that all segments of society have access to opportunities and benefits.
- Rule of Law: Emphasizing the impartial enforcement of the legal framework and safeguarding human rights, this principle forms the cornerstone of a just and fair society.
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- Role of P2G2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of P2G2 (Pro-People Good Governance), coined during his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister to emphasize sensitivity, commitment, and responsibility at all levels of governance.
- Without these core qualities, good governance remains merely a theoretical ideal.
Innovations in Indian Governance
India has introduced several innovative governance concepts that contribute to global discussions on good governance.
- Democratisation of Technology: Making advanced technologies accessible to all; for example, UPI (Unified Payments Interface) has enabled seamless digital payments for millions of Indians, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
- Lifestyle for Environment: It stresses on mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption to protect and preserve the environment.
- Women-Led Development: It emphasizes empowering women to take leadership roles in driving economic, social, and political progress.
- Sab Ka Prayas: The concept of Sab Ka Prayas (Everyone’s Effort) stresses the importance of collective participation in development, encouraging citizens to take responsibility rather than relying solely on the government.
Wisdom from Ancient India
- Antyodaya: Antyodaya refers to the upliftment of the most marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society, focusing on improving the lives of the “last in line”.
- Raj Dharma in Arthashastra: The idea of Raj Dharma, as articulated in ancient texts like the Arthashastra by Kautilya, emphasizes that rulers should shoulder the responsibility of the most vulnerable members of society—children, the elderly, childless women and the infirm.
- Arthashastra also describes the king as a servant of the state.
- Lessons from Shivaji Maharaj’s Kingship:. The principle of “upbhogshoonya swami” (complete ownership of subjects without personal aggrandizement) used to describe Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s kingship, exemplifies selfless leadership focused on the welfare of the people, rather personal gains
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Conclusion
India’s civilizational worldview has the potential to shape global governance discussions. As a country with a rich tradition of democratic governance, India can lead efforts to reform the apparatus of governance, particularly through the South-South Cooperation model.
December 25, 2024
