Book Reviews
| Author | A.P. Saxena |
| Published date | 01 January 2015 |
| Date | 01 January 2015 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0019556120150115 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
BOOK
REVIEWS
/
193
At the end, two chapters separately discuss the role
of
NGOs and
Self- help groups in managing development have enriched this volume on
rural development. Almost all important dimensions
of
the study
of
rural
development are put together. Students as well as practitioners
of
rural
development would be immensely benefited by using this volume which
has been rightly described in the blurb as a ''useful compendium" having
both scholarship and clarity. Such a useful textbook is not easily found in the
market; hence this volume deserves a precious place in academic libraries.
-ASOK
KUMAR
MUKHOPADHYAY
Ethics
for
Governance: Reinventing Public Services
B.P.
MATHUR, Routledge, 2014, India
It is a neat inspiring work by a committed scholar
admi~istrator.
The author's concern for values and ethics in governance pervades
every single seven chapter and necessitates a serious reading. However,
given the limitations
of
a review, there has to
be
a limited, even
selective coverage. But this in no way minimises other areas because
the present work has to be considered in its entirety, as a composite
essay outlining the author's urge for 'reinventing public services.'
Let us start with the inspiring chapters on: Ancient Indian Polity
( 6), The Mahabharata (7) and Kautilya (8). All these are well researched
and even merit a separate monograph to help a serious reader for a deeper
probe in the wider domain
of
Ethics in Governance. The author has
with reverence created a spiritual beading
of
universal values (p.46) .
The
author
has
with his deep
understanding
of
the
country's
budgeting and financial structure and process, devoted nearly 20 pages
to the issue
of
corruption. The effort to explain corruption as
part
of
an
ethical issue is commendable. The references to Kautilya
et.
al
reflect a
moral quest for a value system management
as
part
of
a corruption free
society. But this extended coverage conveys a heavy India-centric problem
which is now universal and not true that Western countries have very low
levels
of
corruption (p.329). A European Union Anti-Corruption Survey
released in February 2004 has 28 county chapters pinpointing the alarming
dimensions
of
the corruption in the most developing countries
of
Europe.
The Report concludes: corruption
cost
the European Economy (28
member states
of
EU)
around 120 billion Euros per year. The Survey shows
that 76 per cent
of
Europeans think that corruption is widespread and over
56 per cent think that corruption level in their country has increased over
the last three years. In several countries successful prosecutions are rare
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