What do you understand about the concept of “Inclusive governance”? How does it make the polity more democratic? (HPAS Mains Question Paper 2022 – GS 1, Q.8)
“Inclusive governance” refers to a governance paradigm in which all members of a society have an equal say in decision-making processes and policies, regardless of their background or identity. Inclusive governance seeks to foster social, economic, and political inclusion, as well as equitable access to resources and opportunities for all members of society.
The following are some of the ways that inclusive governance improves democracy:
1. Increased Participation: Inclusive governance encourages all members of society, including marginalized and vulnerable groups, to participate. It ensures that they have a say in the Government’s decision-making processes, which leads to increased participation and inclusivity in the polity. This contributes to the Government becoming more representative and responsive to the needs of the people.
2. Transparency: Inclusive governance ensures transparency in the Government’s decision-making processes. This means that the Government is answerable to the people, and its actions are transparent to the public. This contributes to a more democratic government by ensuring citizens have access to information and can hold the Government accountable for its actions.
3. Access to Resources is Improved: Inclusive governance ensures that all members of society have equal access to resources such as education, healthcare, and employment. This contributes to the reduction of inequality and the promotion of social justice, both of which are necessary for a democratic polity.
4. Empowerment: Inclusive governance allows people to participate in government decision-making. It equips them with the information and resources they need to make sound decisions and hold the Government accountable for its actions. This contributes to the Government becoming more democratic by ensuring that people have a say in decisions that affect their lives.
5. Conflict Resolution: Inclusive governance promotes conflict resolution by providing a forum for dialogue and negotiation among various societal groups. This aids in the prevention of violence and the promotion of peace, both of which are necessary for a democratic government.
6. Rights Protection: Inclusive governance ensures that the rights of all members of society, regardless of social status, are protected. This contributes to promoting human rights and democratic values, which are necessary for a democratic polity.
Initiatives for Inclusive Governance in India:
Right to Information: RTI Act, 2005 marks a significant shift in Indian democracy. It gives greater access to the citizen to the information, which in turn improves the responsiveness of the Government to community needs. The right to information promotes openness, transparency, and accountability in administration by making the Government more open to public scrutiny.
E-Governance: E-Governance effectively delivers better programming and services in the era of newly emerging information and communication technologies (ICTs), which herald new opportunities for rapid social and economic transformation worldwide. E-Governance has a direct impact on its citizens, who derive benefits through direct transactions with the services offered by the Government. Programs launched under e-Governance: Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI), Digital India Program, MCA21 (to improve the speed and certainty in the delivery of the services of Ministry of Company Affairs), Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), online Income tax return, etc.
Aspirational Districts Program: The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) was launched in January 2018 to transform the lives of people in the under-developed areas of the county in a time-bound manner.
NITI Aayog: Centralized Planning Commission was abolished, replacing it with the think tank called the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), which would usher in an era of “cooperative federalism”.14th Finance Commission increased the tax devolution of the divisible pool to states from 32% to 42% for years 2015 to 2020. It provides more freedom to states to initiate schemes based on local factors.
Good Governance Index: The Good Governance Index Was launched on Good Governance Day on 25 December 2019. The objectives of the Good Governance Index are to provide quantifiable data to compare the state of governance in all shapes and Union Territories, enable states and Union Territories to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving management and shift to result-oriented approaches and administration.
To promote the idea of Inclusive Governance, the Government has adopted the concept of Good Governance in India.
Good Governance:
- In the 1992 report entitled “Governance and Development”, the World Bank set out its definition of Good Governance. It defined Good Governance as “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development”.
- Good governance has 8 significant characteristics.‘It is participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law.
