Governance refers to all processes of governing, whether undertaken by a government, market or network, whether over a family, tribe, formal or informal organization or territory and whether through laws, norms, power or language, it relates to processes and decisions that seek to define actions, grant power and verify performance.
Good governance has 8 major characteristics:
1. Transparency
Transparency means that information should be provided in easily understandable forms and media; that it should be freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by governance policies and practices, as well as the outcomes resulting there from; and that any decisions taken and their enforcement are in compliance with established rules and regulations.
What transparency are we talking about in West Bengal? Does anybody know how many CPM cadres got job in Municipality, Corporation and Panchayats during their regime of 34 years? What was the process behind their appointment? Best example of transparency has been set by the present ruling party vide TET 2012 held on 31st Mar 2013. The process became so transparent that whole India came to know the selection process!!
2. Rule of Law
Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced by an impartial regulatory body, for the full protection of people.
We would like to highlight three phrases of the preceding sentence, “fair legal frameworks”, “impartial regulatory body” and “full protection of people”. In last 34 plus 3.5 years we have come across fair legal framework, but have we come across impartial regulatory body and were the full protection of people given? Name it, Police, Education, anything; all are controlled by party cadres – earlier and even now. Did any Regulatory authority work unbiased? Whether full protection of people given or full protection for selective people given?
3. Responsiveness
Good governance requires that government and their processes are designed to serve the best interests of people within a reasonable time frame.
The responsiveness of the earlier Left government had been so atrocious, that person like Mamata Banerjee took advantage of it. She was poking her nose everywhere! She made it her USP and gained huge popularity among the people of Bengal. Her responsiveness during Left regime is hugely sought after nowadays by the people of Bengal.
4. Consensus Oriented
Good governance requires consultation to understand the different interest of departments/ministries in order to reach a broad consensus of what is in the best interest of the entire population group and how this can be achieved in a sustainable and prudent manner.
Consensus!! Taj Bengal was built in front of Alipur Zoo!! Late Jyoti Basu thought it to be the ideal space so he allowed, was any consensus arrived then? Tata Factory at Singur!! Did Mr. Buddhadev Bhattacharya consult with the localites before allotting the land to Tata? Thought he could manage like Late Jyoti Basu, but faltered, which allowed the beginning of “Worst Era of Bengal.”
5. Equity and Inclusiveness
The government that provides the opportunity for its people to maintain, enhance, or generally improve their well-being provides the most compelling message regarding its reason for existence and value to society.
Communists banned English in Bengali medium school and had done an irreparable damage to a generation but where did the ward of commies study? In Bengali medium school? No, of course not!! Then where is equity? Mamata Banerjee is shouting for Madrasas and wants more Madrasas, but did Firhad Hakim’s children ever go to Madrasa to study? What will you term Stipend to Imams and Muazzins? Do you call it equality? Without equality how can you bring inclusiveness in the society?
Good governance means that the processes implemented by the government to produce favourable results meet the needs of its people, while making the best use of resources – human, technological, financial, natural and environmental – at its disposal.
It is only money which enhances effectiveness and efficiency of all the departments of government. Go to any department and to get a job done without money is next to impossible, as if they get their salary to be present at their desk and to do their work they need money from common people! The department which got worst hit for this reason is the Police Department. This department forgot their role and responsibilities and now only accepts GD for lost PAN card and SIM card! Murder, rape, robbery all goes unnoticed! In fact the present government wants the police to function in that way so that murder, rape and robbery done by TMC workers and supporters go unnoticed.
7. Accountability
Accountability is a key tenet of good governance. Who is accountable for what should be documented. In general, a government is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions as well as the applicable rules of law.
Paradigm Shift seems to be an unheard word for both – erstwhile Left and present TMC government. Increase in awareness among common people regarding education, healthcare, etc, and personal aspirations has put the Government into enhanced accountability pressure and adding fuel to a fire, the decline in the quality of politician have made a mess of the situation.
8. Participation
Participation by both men and women, either directly or through legitimate representatives, is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation needs to be informed and organized, including freedom of expression and assiduous concern for the best interests of the government and society in general.
Panchayats in West Bengal was termed as model during the early days of Left regime. But gradually it lost the basic purpose and became a boxing ring to claim supremacy in that locality. The whole idea of participation has gone haywire. Nobody imagined when Panchayati Raj was established, the way the panchayats are doing Salishi Sabhas nowadays. Panchayats have started giving verdicts for criminal cases like murders and rape! And Verdict like gang-raping a girl by pancahyat members for inter-caste love!!!!
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