Ethical Governance and Society
| Published date | 01 July 2013 |
| Author | V.P. Kapur |
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556120130308 |
| Date | 01 July 2013 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AND SOCIETY
V.
P.
KAPUR
Governance and administration were almost on an even keel
during first fifteen years
or
so after Independence. But, there
has been progressive deterioration in the type
of
political
leadership,
working
atmosphere
and
the
quality
and
performance
of
government officers
in
the last three decades.
The crumbling structure
of
governance since then is quite
apparent. It is an uphill task to affect any improvement in the
present circumstances and the dismal scenario. What is needed
most
is
strict
enforcement
of
time-boand
programmes,
transparency
in
public administration and accountability
of
political leaders and officers and a credible agency to enquire
into allegations
of
corrupt practices against them. The changes
can take place only if there is relentless pressure by the right-
thinking members
of
society and ethical opinion leaders.
THE TOPIC chosen for this special issue is indeed laudable and crying
need
of
the hour to restore confidence
of
the people in the democratic set
up, which has been shaken rather badly during the ·last few years with
serious scams involving national resources and public funds; increasing
proportion
of
criminal elements amongst the members
of
legislatures -
some
of
them even becoming ministers; attempts at polarisation
of
people
on communal, caste and regional lines and distribution
of
'freebies'
including subsidies, waiver
of
loans, free supply
of
electricity and even
outright distribution
of
cash without bothering about strain on the budget
and adverse effects on the economy. Reversal
of
these destructive trends
to achieve even a modicum
of
the ideal indicated by the title would mean
observance
of
Raj Dharma
as
envisaged in our Dharma Shastras and no
less than a miracle to usher in Ram Rajya, as dreamt by father
of
the nation
Mahatma Gandhi.
It
would be pertinent to recall the last two lines
of
author's article on
the topic
of
Controlling Corruption in India: Various Approaches and their
Efficacy published in the Special Issue
of
the Indian Journal
of
Public
Administration, July-September, (2011):
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