GOVERNANCE AND BUREAUCRACY
Government is for governance. The primary function of any government is governance nothing more and nothing less. In a democratic set up the government is for an effective and stable governance.
1. Outline
Governance is effective when transparent system, procedures and processes are in place to make time bound decisions by decision makers to achieve the delineated goals and objectives.
Bureaucracy in government is the linchpin to give effect and stability to governance. It sees and ensures rule based procedural correctness within the set out legal framework. The legal framework may be by statues or by common law, i.e. legal rulings by judges in a court of judicature.
2. Governance
Ancient scriptures and Upanishads place emphasis on Dharma (no equivalent English translation) as means and end of good governance. The duty of the king was to uphold Dharma. The legitimacy of the state and of the king derived from Dharma.
Governance includes the tripod of system, procedures and processes. The tripod is more or less common to various types of governance, whether democratic or non-democratic.
However, in a democratic system, the governance is inclusive, transparent, participatory, shared, responsive and accountable so as to make responsible management of public resources in a judicious manner within the framework of the law of the land.
Governance is more about power process, resource allocation, security, people’s participation, equity, justice, empowerment, affirmative and corrective action.
The distinctive aspect is the persons who hold public positions and take decisions are trustees of the people and accountable for all of their action and inaction to the designated office holder in the governance process.
3. Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy is key to the capacity of the governance process. The capacity is much more enhanced on its knowledge, skill, abilities and attitude. The more light weight more is the effectiveness. However, a ponderous bureaucracy can make the progress slow and delay the achievements of governance goals and objectives.
The bureaucracy has its roots in ancient India and derived much of its contents and working from British India.
Kautilya (Chanakya) in his treatise Arthashastra conceptualizes the state to have seven elements: Swami (Monarch), Amatya (Officials), Janapada (Population and Territory), Durga (Fort), Kosa (Treasury), Bala (Military) and Surhit (Ally).
India inherited the modern bureaucracy from British Colonial rule in 1858, when sovereign control transformed from East India Company to British Crown and the Indian Civil Service was established.
An efficient bureaucracy strengthens the governance mechanism by reducing red tape, enhancing, superintendence and delegation.
Simplifying the rule based procedure is essential.
Bureaucracy gives stability, continuity and security to the governance system subject to ensuring the rule of transparency, on time, oversight and accountability, and delegation of responsibility in decision making.
4. Training Intervention
Bureaucracy is the necessary linchpin to ensure that necessary procedures and rules are followed and not derailed in the governance processes. The crucial role of bureaucracy in developmental administration requires necessary knowledge, skill, abilities and attitudinal orientation on the part of members of the bureaucratic apparatus.
4.1. Knowledge: The key requirement is knowledge of the laws of the land along side time to time rules and regulations to give effect to the laws.
4.2. Skill: abilities and skills that are pre-acquired to carry out the job in hand both manual as well as mental.
4.3. Abilities: Here competency comes into the picture that involve planning, coordination, target setting, resource mobilisation and evaluation.
4.4. Attitude: Proactive and positive endeavour is essential for advancing the cause of gender focused empowerment of the underprivileged, ensuring equity and justice in the implementation of governmental policy decisions.
In all these cases training may be on the job or deputation to a formal institutional set-up.
However, at a minimum a logical framework needs to be pace at every stratum of governance and bureaucracy for ensuring necessary oversight, assessment, monitoring and evaluation governance objectives and layers.
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