Good Governance

Governance refers to the system or manner the government works in. According to the World Bank 'using political power for the management of various affairs of a state is governance'. Governance describes the process of decision-making and process by which its decisions are carried out. Good governance maintains that decisions are taken and carried out in a fair manner. The decisions are directed towards the promotion of public welfare.

The concept of good governance was developed with the demand that political power should be used in favour of people. Donor nations and international financial institutions like IMF, ADB or World Bank impose good governance as 'aid conditionally' They agree to offer aid and loans on the condition that reforms for good governance are made. Good governance, in a broader sense, is to rule according to the need and wish of people as well as for their welfare.

Characteristics of Good Governance

1. Participation

   

   
   Good governance maintains the reasonable participation of both men and women in all affairs of the state. Freedom of association and expression gives way for public participation. People get enough chances to participate in administration and development process of their country. They elect their lawmakers and rulers, and in administration and development process of their country. Organized civil society works towards negotiations in decision making and representation in the mechanism of both decision making and implementation.
   
   
2. Accountability
   All government and private institutes along with civil societies are essentially responsible to respective groups of people for their decisions and actions. Accountability is the soul of a democratic government. For instance, the executive is responsible to legislative (parliament) and bureaucracy directly to the general public whom it enters.
   
   
3. Responsiveness
   Service authorities are committed to serving people in a convincing and justified time frame. Bureaucracy is honest and its functions help promote public- welfare. The malpractices such as service delay, overcharging and bribery is so rare. All service providing bodies keep their citizen charters.
   
   
4. Transparency
   In good governance, the process of decision-making and the process of implementation of the decisions is fair, lawful and informed. Concerned individuals or bodies are duly valued and have access to free and direct information on decisions and their implementations.
   
   
5. Rule of Law
   The government runs according to the set of rules. It ensures the full protection of human rights enough consideration upon those minorities, independent and impartial judicial system and incorruptible police force contribute a lot to maintaining the rule of law. Laws are properly implemented and offenders are duly entertained with the support of the police and the court.
   
   
6. Consensus
   A broad consensus can be achieved through meditation and discussion on the matter of the best interest of the whole community. The consensus is also reached on how to meet goals of sustainable human development.
   
   
7. Equality and inclusiveness
   There are policies and practices for enabling all members in society to feel that they all have a share in its regulation. Opportunities are provided for all and essentially more to the most disadvantaged ones to raise their level. Reservations, for example, give second chances for the people who otherwise would not be able to rise.
   
   
8. Effectiveness and efficiency
   As competent and efficient people are in power and leadership, realistic and practicable efforts are made for the best utilization of resources so as to meet the needs of society. Such efforts are effective and efficient in reaching the goals. So, sustainable development and environment protection are ensured.

Importance of Good Governance

Good governance is important because of the following reasons:

• It helps to mobilize the means and resources properly.
• It helps in the proportionate distribution of the natural resources.
• It helps to control corruption.
• It helps to make people patriotic.
• It helps to promote public confidence in public administration.
• It helps to deliver speedy, efficient and people-oriented services.
  
  

Challenges of Good Governance

The following are the challenges of good governance:

• Corruption
• Lack of public pressure
• Weak civil society
• Mean feelings
• Lack of political commitment
• Procedural administration
• Inability in policy matters
  
  

Solutions

• People should be provided with speedy, cheap, easy and quality service.
• The public administration should not be only process oriented system, it should also be result oriented system.
• The welfare of the people should be kept into consideration for strengthening good governance.
• There should be combined efforts of the government, private sector and civil society for balanced and integrated services.