Current Affairs Topic

GS Paper – II, Governance, Topic – Important Aspects of Governance
Relevant for UPSC Mains Examination

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Streamline governance process, provide time-bound services

 

Note: - Refer Bright Career Maker IAS Class notes of Governance ,Unit-II

 

Question- “Getting basic services should not be a struggle for the common man”. Discuss.

 

Objectives of Good Governance

·         The ultimate test of good governance is the improvement in the quality of life of the people.

·         Democratic governments should be close to people, be very responsive to their needs and adopt a caring and facilitative role.

  Need for Good Governance

·         Difficulties encountered by the common citizen in public offices, considering that essential services should be streamlined and citizen charters, like RTI, must clearly specify the time within which any service can be availed.

·         “Getting basic services should not be a struggle for the common man”.

 

Measures to be taken -

·         The inordinate time-taking processes are the main reason people get hassled in public offices, this should change by -

a) better streamlining, for greater accountability and time-bound disposal of grievances, using mechanisms like Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).

·         There is an introduction of  a new ‘ease of common man’s interaction with government index’.

·         There is a need for more ‘trust based governance’, in order to improve facilitation of services.

·         Complimenting the government for the improvements in this regard, self-attestation is deemed sufficient for many documents now, as are digital documents. For instance, tax reforms, which brought in faceless assessment and appeals, eliminates the physical interface between tax authorities and taxpayers.

Changes so Far

·         It has been observed that technological advancements have brought governments closer to people. With initiatives like-

o   Digital India,

o   Aadhar-linked bank accounts,

o   The use of geo-tagging to monitor schemes like Swachh Bharat,

o   technology has proved to be a game-changer in governance.

·         Advocating an ‘outcome-oriented approach’ to governance called for bridging the gap between the Government’s intent and implementation.

·         The adoption of this real-time outcome-measurement approach like

o   In the DISHA platform for schools and

o   The Saubhagya portal for rural electrification, among others.

·         The objective of reforms, is to perform better in public life and bring a transformation in people’s lives.

Suggestions to overcome challenges

·         Corruption as a major factor in impeding service delivery, it is possible to eliminate corruption in public offices only through a streamlining of procedures and greater accountability to the public.

·         For governance issues in

                                 I.            urban areas, we must create happy living spaces for all classes of society in a city, along with infrastructure. The focus should be on ‘liveability’,

                               II.            As regards rural areas, major governance issues pertain to-

a) obtaining copies of land records,

b)      matters pending in courts,

c)       assured electricity,

d)      delay in pensions and

e) access to healthcare and education.

·         The notable initiatives like-

a)       the digitization of land records,

b)       improved road connectivity,

c)  access to cooking fuel through Ujjwala Yojana that are making ease of living in our villages better by the day.

·         The role of legislators,that they should take initiative in reviewing the implementation of the policies, highlight efficiencies and deficiencies, and make suggestions in the legislatures.

·        The best governance practices be shared, given publicity and replicated widely.

·         The Central and State governments to make a comprehensive documentation of governance practices and projects implemented so as to gain insights into successes and failures. This will make way for better implementation elsewhere.

·         For meeting the 21^st century aspirations of the people and making Indian governance a global model, it is important to make citizens active partners in national development, people’s involvement in programmes like Swachh Bharat and the country’s response to COVID-19. “Good governance becomes a reality when people are seen not merely as recipients of benefits but as agents of change”

 

·         The ultimate test of good governance is the –

a)       quality of life of the people,

b)      the happiness quotient,

c)       the wellness quotient,

d)      the ease of living index.