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ORIGIN, IMPORTANCE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN INDIA Ajaz Ahmad Dar
Doctoral Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, Bhagwant University, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India 305004
Dr. Dinesh Mandot
Registrar, Bhagwant University, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India 305004
Abstract - The term "governance" is not a new one. It's as old as the government. Both words come from the old French words gouvernance and governement, respectively.
Initially, their definitions were fairly similar, referring to government acts or procedures. In recent years, the concept of good governance has garnered attention around the world. It has now become a keyword in the jargon of political and administrative change, owing to the global community's focus on it. Good governance refers to a participatory form of government that works in a responsible, accountable, and transparent manner formed on the basis of efficiency, legitimacy, and consensus for the purpose of promoting individual citizens' rights and the public interest, indicating the presence of political will to ensure society's material well-being and long-term development.
Keywords: Governance, Administration, Equitable, Accountable.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Origin of the Concept of Good Governance
The term "governance" is not a new one. It precedes the establishment of government. Both the words are deduced respectively, from the old French words gouvernance and governement. Their meanings were initially extremely similar, relating to government acts or procedures. Government, on the other hand, came to signify a “system by which something is governed” by the mid-16th century, and by the early 18th century, it had evolved to indicate a “governing authority.” The term governance was steadily neglected as a result of this process, and by the nineteenth century, it was thought to signify an impending archaism. It would seldom be used as a political epithet for the next 100 years. Government was defined by dictionaries as a ruling authority that included the political order and its institutional framework, whereas governance was defined as the agency and process of governing and was generally considered archaic.1 However, throughout the 1980s, as a result of economic reforms, particularly globalization, the term governance became prominent, with its emphasis on the process and approach. Meanwhile, the IMF, NGOs, the UN and its agencies, the World Bank, and the international media were quick to adopt the term and apply it in a number of contexts. The catch-all phrase governance, along with its derived term, good governance, has subsequently become a buzzword in the vocabulary of political and administrative reform in developing nations that rely on international development organisations for assistance.2 In recent years, the concept of good governance has become increasingly popular around the world. It has become a buzzword in the lexicon of political and administrative change, owing to the international community's emphasis on it. In fact, the word "governance" has come to be associated with good development management. The term "good governance" was first coined in the mid-1980s to describe governability with a focus on respect to the rule of law. Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the term "governance" was used to describe the reimagining of public administration, particularly in developing nations, to make it more responsive to globalization's demands.
2 MEANING OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
The term "government" was originally used to express the need for institutional reform and a better and more effective public sector in Sub-Saharan African countries in the World Bank study "Sub-Saharan Africa-from Crisis to Sustainable Growth" published in 1989. It defined governance as "the use of political authority to oversee the affairs of a country."3 It did not, however, clearly refer to the meaning of „good.' Former World Bank President
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Barber Conable (1986-1991) only used the term „good governance' in the foreword, describing it as “an efficient public service, a reliable legal system, and an administration that is accountable to its citizens.”4 In 1992, the World Bank published „Governance and Development,' which expanded theconcept of governance. Governance was described in this article as "the way authority is applied in the administration of a country's economic and social resources for development."5
“Governance is epitomised by predictable, open, and enlightened policy making (that is, transparent processes); a bureaucracy imbued with a professional ethos; an executive arm of government accountable for its actions; and a strong civil society participating in public affairs; and all behaving under the rule of law,” the Bank clarified later in 1994.6 Following that, the World Bank's annual report Governance in Asia: From Crisis to Opportunity, published in 1998, gave a more comprehensive definition of good governance.
Accountability, openness, predictability, and involvement are four fundamental components of good governance, according to the research. 7 Governance is defined as "the use of political authority and exercise of control in a society in relation to the management of its resources for social and economic development" by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).8 Governance is defined as "the exercise of political, economic, and administrative authority in the management of a country's affairs at all levels" by the United Nations Development Programme. Citizens and groups express their interests, exercise their political rights, meet their obligations, and mediate their disputes through the procedures, processes, and institutions of governance.”9 So, Good Governance denotes a participatory form of governance that operates in a responsible, accountable, and transparent manner based on the principles of efficiency, legitimacy, and consensus for the purpose of promoting individual citizens' rights and the public interest, indicating the presence of political will to ensure society's material well-being and long-term development.10
3 GOOD GOVERNANCE IN INDIA: ANCIENT AND MODERN
The concept of good governance may be traced back to the dawn of Indian civilization. The kings were bound by dharma, often known as „Raj Dharma,' which meant ensuring that the people were well-governed. Even while monarchy reigned supreme, there was no room for theories of monarchs' divine claims or arbitrary authority. Raj Dharma was a code of conduct or rule of law that governed all of the ruler's activities and was superior to his will.11
This portrayal of Good Governance may be found in the Jataka stories, Mahabharat'sShantiParvaAnushasanparva, Shukracharyas'Nitisar, Panini's Ashtadhyayi, AitreyaBrahmana, Valmiki's Ramayana, and especially in Kautilya'sArthashastra. While emphasising the principle of good government, Arthashastra asserts,
“In the happiness of his people lies king’s happiness, in their welfare his welfare, whatever pleases himself he shall not consider as good, but whatever pleases his people he shall consider as good.”12
Mahabharat's Shanti Parva has devoted a significant amount of attention to Raj Dharma13, which attempts to build Good Governance in society. It emphasised that it is the king's responsibility to seek and promote the welfare of his subjects.
The monarch must be empathetic to individuals from all walks of life and focus on the people's well-being.14 “The cornerstone for successful governance is justice in public affairs,” says BhishmaPitamaha, who had mastered the art of governing and dedicated himself to the throne of his country. Hastinapur,The monarch, his son—including relatives—his ministers, and State employees who have taken the oath of office to defend Dharma and meet public needs must not act unjustly or unethically, for doing so will not only destroy the moral basis of government, but also convert the State into a hell”.15
The Rig Veda says, "Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha," or "Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha," or " Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha," or "
Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha." As a result, the public good should be the welfare of society; or, to put it another way, the private good or self-promotion should be
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subordinated to the greater good of everyone. While recognising the need of effective government, the Brihadaranya Upanishad stated that it is the king's job to defend Dharma, the public welfare, so that all citizens have equal opportunities and the poor are not exploited and tormented by the powerful. Good governance is also called Raj Dharma in Indian scriptures, i.e. the King's righteous responsibility. It means that those engaged in governance must respect justice and do justice to the public. The link between social well- being and inclusive growth is inseparable. The lack of competent administration has been cited as the primary cause of many social shortcomings. It takes away the social and economic rights of citizens. Good management means fundamental dimensions like the rule of law, the participatory decision-making system, transparency, accountability, response, equity and inclusivity. These principles must be followed by the management of the country. This calls for a reorientation of the public services approach.16
When the World Bank brought up the subject of governance in the 1990s, it instantly became a subject of concern in India. A chapter on "Implementation, Delivery Mechanisms, and Institutional Development" was included in the text of the Ninth Five Year Plan (1997-2002), which was launched in April 1999. A review of the implementation of five-year plans in India was conducted in this chapter with the goal of identifying weak points in the creation and implementation of plan programmes and finding solutions to those flaws. Decentralization of development planning, accountability of implementing agencies, and programme monitoring and evaluation were all discussed.
In the Tenth Five Year Plan, this was followed by a more detailed chapter headed
"Governance and Implementation" (2002-2007). It defines governance as "the management of all such processes that define the environment in any society that permits and enables individuals to raise their capability levels, on the one hand, and provide opportunities to realise their potential and expand the set of available choices, on the other."
These processes, which encompass political, social, and economic aspects of existence, have an impact on every level of human enterprise, from the individual to the home, village, region, and nation. It covers the state, civil society, and the market, all of which are necessary for human development to continue.
4 GOOD GOVERNANCE IN INDIA: ANCIENT AND MODERN
The state is responsible for fostering a favourable political, legal, and economic climate in which individuals can develop their potential and private initiative can flourish. People might expect the market to provide them with opportunities. Civil society helps people participate in economic, social, and political activities by mobilising public opinion.”17 “The exercise of legitimate political power; and the creation and execution of policies and programmes that are egalitarian, transparent, nondiscriminatory, socially sensitive, participative, and above all accountable to the people at large,” it continued.18The aim of inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and bridging the numerous divides that continue to fracture our society will only be realised if governance quality improves significantly, according to the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012). There are numerous definitions of good governance, but most agree that it must be widely defined to encompass all aspects of the interface between individuals and enterprises on the one hand, and government on the other.19 Good governance is defined as a vital component of any well-functioning society in the twelfth five-year plan (2012-2017). It ensures the efficient use of resources and the provision of services to citizens, as well as giving the system social legitimacy.20
REFERCES
1. Mikhail Ilyin, “Governance: What is Behind the Word?”, IPSA, Participation, Vol. 37, No.1, May 2013, p. 4.
2. Ibid
3. World Bank 1989, p. 55 4. Ibid., p. XII
5. World Bank 1992, p. 1
6. World Bank 1994, VII also see World Bank 1994: Governance: The World Bank‟s Experience 7. World Bank, “Governance in Asia: From Crisis to Opportunity,” Annual Report 1998
8. OECD, 1995, p.14 9. UNDP 1997, p. IV
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10. Surendra, Munshi, Good Governance, Democratic Societies and Globalization, Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2000, p. 15
11. Subhash C Kashyap, Concept of Good Governance and Kautilya‟sArthashastra, in Good Governance:
Stimuli and Strategies, (ed) Rajiv Sharma, Ramesh K. Arora, Aalekh Publishers, Jaipur, 2010, p. 31 12. Arthashastra, Book I, Chapter XIX, p. 39
13. Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Good Governance in Ancient India: Remembering Kingship in Shantiparavam of Mahabharat, Meerut Journal of Political Science and Public Administration, Meeurt, Vol. VI, No-1, January- June 2003, p. 109.
14. The Mahabharata, Book12, SantiParva, Section-V (There is one huge Rajdharama section discussing various aspects of governance besides Sabhaparvam and Vanaparvam.
15. The Mahabharata, Book 12, SantiParva, Section-V also see O.P. Dwivedi and D.S Mishra, Good Governance:
A Model for India, in Handbook of Globalization, Governance, and Public Administration, Ali Farazmand and Jack Pinkowski, (ed), Taylor and Francis, New York, 2007, p. 711
16. PranabMukherjee, Speech by the President of India on the Occasion of Fourth UPSC Foundation Day, “Governance and Public Service” New Delhi: November 29, 2013.
17. Planning Commission, Government of India, Tenth Five Year Plan (20022007) Vol-I, p. 177 18. Planning Commission, Government of India, Tenth Five Year Plan (20022007) Vol-I, p. 177 19. Planning Commission, Government of India, Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) Vol-I, p. 223
20. Planning Commission, Government of India, Twelfth Five Year Plan (20122017) Faster, More Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, Vol-I, 2013, p. 286
