We all aspire that our Government should be good and effective and, perhaps, this is the desire that has led to the formation of the concept of the good governance. It is an established proposition that the State came into existence with the purpose of securing condition for safe and happy life; and, therefore, its continuity must be justified in terms of promoting and preserving the quality of life. Kautilya, though he does not belong to the group who defined ‘State’ in the modern sense, considered ‘Good Governance’ as the bounden duty of the government to act in manner that realizes the material, mental, and cultural well being of the people.

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Meaning of Good Governance

The concept of Good Governance can be comprehended only when we understand the idea the word ‘Governance’ suggests. Governance has been defined as ‘the use of power and authority by those in Government to provide goods and services to the aspirations and requirements of the common man. Governance, it can be presumed, is concerned with power, strategies, policies, plans and projects that intend to improve the quality of life.

Governance becomes good when the actions and decision of the Government are based on the consent of the people, legitimacy and accountability. Even in ancient and medieval India, a king, although not a democratically elected authority, was supposed to be conscientious and responsive to the needs of the subjects. However, in modern times the phrase good governance implies enlightened citizenship as well as accountable and constitutional government.

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Features of Good Governance

It has been accepted almost unanimously that governance has to be based on the principle of accountability of these who are responsible for it. Accountability means that the bureaucracy should be answerable for what they do or do not do. In a parliamentary system, like ours, it is administered through questions debates, discussions budgetary approvals, committees and such other methods method by parliament.

Second, accountability is also ensure through judicial review of the Governmental decision or lows. The citizens can also demand judicial intervention through Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for proper and prompt action on certain issues affecting the common life. The idea behind such practices is to change the bureaucratic culture to incorporate people friendly attitudes in place of patriarchal, indifferent, casual, and callous behavior of citizens.

An accountable system of Governance that is the main ingredient of good governance, implies the following functional and behavioral characteristics of the civil servants:

• Judicious use of authority,
• Use of reason and experience as the basis of decision,
• Time bound implementation of Policies and Plans,
• Achievement oriented behavior,
• Pursuit of happiness of the people,
• Shirking of work to be identified and punished
• Strength of character, intelligence perseverance and extensity of civil servants,
• Capacity for doing a work which should be supplemented by the skill-in-action and question for perfection, and
• Uprightness, friendliness and firmness of devotion in dealing with others.

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Obstacles to Good Governance

Although most of the countries, including India, have registered their seriousness, through their steps, about good governance, they have not been finding it so easy to cater a just, equal and free social order to all their citizens. The major threats to good governance are: Corruption, Population and Culture of Violence.

Corruption

Generally, Corruption is defined as ‘an illegal use of authority for personal gains. As a universal disease it is causing serious harm to this people and government across the World. However, in India corruption has taken the shape and intensity of a cancer. The exposure of the scams and the demand for action against corruption is now increasing.

Some most essential steps to be taken to confront the threat of corruption to good governance are:

• Ensuring a cost-effective administration of justice.
• Mobilizing the society to assist the system of rate of law.
• Eliminating the nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and criminals.
• Making ‘Right to Information’ more effective.
• For feature of the properties of the corrupt immediately after the charges are framed. Such a property can be released only after the person is proved innocent, that is acquittal in the court.
• Setting up Public Interest Litigation courts at the national, state and local levels.
• Strengthening law enforcement agencies in terms of autonomy, skills attitudinal change and awareness of the social problems.
• Enhancing bureaucratic functioning by simplifying rules, regulations and procedures of work.
• Abolishing the system of patronage and nepotism from government organizations.

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Population Growth

With the phenomenal growth in population, the aspiration of achieving the goal of god governance is becoming almost a herculean task for any government in India. The data displaying that from a population of 35 crores at the time of India’s Independence to more than 100 crore now is a cause of serious concern.

Due to this ‘population explosion’, as one of the important factors, the eliminate poverty, unemployment and illiteracy and to secure equitable access to even primary education and health, food, water and a house to all citizens. The rapidly growing population, de facto, is a means to a breakdown of good governance population can be stabilized only through spread of awareness, education, people’s involvement, health education and development etc.

Culture of Violence

According to the principles of good governance the first step to attain development is the prevalence of peace and order. Strikes, riots, terror attacks, etc represent the harmful culture of violence. No government can focus on economic, social and political development it is not free from the anxieties of threat to public safety and security in terms of life and property.

Moreover, terrorism, the greatest threat to the rule of law because terror replaces rule of law, is a hindrance to progress, that is the soul of good governance.

On tacking terrorism, the need of the hour is to have a clear vision, courage and comprehension to deal with this menace, a threat to the humanity itself, through dialogue with the violators of law, assuring them the redressal of their genuine grievances, involvement of the neighbours and far way international governments in the first against terrorism. It is the only way to achieve the quality of life envisaged in the concept of god governance.

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Digital India is a program to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Digital India Campaign is far more serious and realistic than just providing free internet compromising net neutrality. Let’s have a look at what actually this campaign is all about.

Digital India – History

Digital India campaign is restructured version of National e-Governance Scheme which started in 2006 under Mission Mode Project.

The modest beginning of e-Governance started in India in the early 90s but since those initiatives were yielding no or little results so in 2006 government decided to launch National e-Governance Program on Mission Mode basis but even under NEGP results were on slower pace so that new Government decided to restructure the Program into Digital India Campaign.

The government came with slogan IT + IT = IT which says Information Technology + Indian Talent = India of Tomorrow

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Three Key areas under Digital India Campaign

1. Digital Infrastructure as a utility to every citizen
2. Governance Services on Demand
3. Digital empowerment of Citizen

Pillars of Digital India

1. Broadband Highway
2. Universal access to mobile connectivity
3. Public interest access program  – National Rural Internet Mission
4. e-Governance
5. e-Kranti: Electronic delivery of services
6. Information for all
7. Electronic manufacturing
8. IT for jobs
9. Early Harvest Program

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Effective monitoring system

Strong monitoring strategy of the program is one of the key features that need to be appreciated, because, in our country, most of the ambitious plans fail due to lack of monitoring and control. There will be three types of committee with well-defined responsibilities. These are –

• In the form of a monitoring committee
• In the form Digital India Advisory committee
• In the form of a committee of Apex committee

The chairman of Monitoring committee by the Prime Minister himself, the advisory committee will be headed by Minister of Communication and IT, Apex committee will be headed by Cabinet Secretary.

Budget and Target Duration

An amount of Rupees 1,13,000 Crore is the total budget of the campaign.

Targets under the campaign to be achieved between 2014 to 2018.

Concerns

Program till so far is very slow thus we may miss most the targets by miles.

We are not focussed on Integrating technology with language. India is a diverse country – in language, culture, laws – which varies from state to state.

Lack of inter-ministerial, inter-departmental, inter-governmental (among states), inter-agency collaboration and collaborative effort.

The initiative started under Nation Optical fibre Network which is very vital and important for Digital-India campaign. need to be accelerated because till so care progress is dead slow.

Internet and cyber crimes are inseparable entities and steps being taken for safe, protected, secure use of cyberspace are not adequate. Digital India must be clubbed with cybersecurity.

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Net Neutrality vs Digital India

There is no way we can allow any compromise with the principle of net neutrality or let anyone redefine it as per convenience. Even if it can give rise in the number of internet user in short-term but in the long run it is not going to help and trigger larger issues such as ownership of the internet.

It is a worth cost to pay for the greater gain in future if net neutrality is slowing the pace of the Digital India Campaign to reach closer to the last user.

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