Panchayati Raj: Towards Good Governance “Just as the whole universe is contained in the self so is India contained in the villages”1” Mahatma Gandhi

International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention
ISSN (Online): 2319 – 7722, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 7714
www.ijhssi.org ||Volume 5 Issue 11||November. 2016 || PP.57-59
www.ijhssi.org 57 | Page
Panchayati Raj: Towards Good Governance
“Just as the whole universe is contained in the self so is India
contained in the villages”1” Mahatma Gandhi
K. Madhavi
Research Scholar, Department of Public Administration, Osmania University, Hyderabad.
ABSTRACT: This paper discussed about the Rationale of Good governance in present era of Globalization at
Grassroot level. It discuss about the Rural India and 73rd
Amendment act of 1992 and how Panchayati raj
Institutions and the need of transparency and accountability through good governance . For the upliftment of
rural village there is a esurience of delivering better service by using information technology and giving better
quality of life at grass roots. For this there is need to strengthen democracy through good governance. The
issue of governance at the forefront of the development agenda and states “good governance is one of most
crucial factor for development”. Governance is wider than government which ensures the responsibility and
accountability of various community i.e government, the civil society and the corporate sector.
Keywords: Good Governance, Transparency, Accountability
I. INTRODUCTION
Rural India is where ¾ of our countrymen live. The Nation can, therefore, be strong and prosperous
only when all villages are fixed from backwardness and poverty. Panchayats have been the backbone of Indian
villages. Rural development is not a mechanical development. It is a human process it requires hard work,
dedication, responsiveness and accountability of both official and non-officials to make rural development a
success. Inspite of strong trends of urbanization, the vast majority of the population is in rural still lives below
the poverty line.
In recent, the emphasis in regard to development has shifted to rural development on account of the
obvious failure of the earlier planned development effort to bring about an appreciable improvement either in
the living conditions of the weaker sections of the rural population or in reducing the poverty and
unemployment.. In order to ensure a balanced economic development the fruits of development should percolate
to the grass-root levels. It requires changes in the economic, social, political and psychological behaviour of
rural people who are illiterate and ignorant. Democractic decentralization aims at developing rural areas by the
people themselves with the support of good governance by local bureaucracy. Panchayati raj institutions are the
instruments to carry out the programmes of rural development. Good governance is of great significance in
making Panchayati raj institutions functional and efficient.
The constitution of India promulgated in Jan, 1950 for setting up democractic and semi-federal system
also includes a provision relating to the panchayat”2” . Even after providing constitutional status to Panchayati
raj institution through 73rd
Amendment Act of 1992, it was necessary for the states to devolve adequate powers
and functions to them. The Good governance which strengthens the grass-root democracy to be efficient and
effective.
Rationale of good governance in panchayati raj institutions:
Good governance is an essential ingredient for socio-economic development of the country. The
concept of governance is simple “ The way those with power use that power”. It centers around the
responsibility of government and governing bodies to meet the needs of the masses as opposed to select groups
in society. It is seen as a set of values, policies and institutions through which the society manages economic,
political as well as social process at different levels.
The issue of good governance in recent time, emerged at the forefront of the agenda for sustainable
human development. According to the UNDP policy, Governance for sustainable human development, the
concept relates to the quality of relationship between the government and the citizens whom it serves and
protects. It is a fuzzy concept. According to World Bank’s document 1992 governance is the manner in which
power is exercised in the Management of a country’s economic and social resources for development. Any
government to rule effectively and in a citizen-friendly manner has to ensure good governance. Governance has
emerged as one of crucial issue in the country. We can plan, Mobilize investment, train personnel, raise
financial resources, induct the modern technologies and set for ourselves the goals for economic development,
equity, social justice and better quality of life for all. Good governance should demonstrate the capacity to usher

in decentralization of powers that would prevent the sense of alienation among the elected representatives. It
would promote welfare state in its true connotations where in people would be looked after by government as
part and parcel of government machinery. It demands transparent administration by letting both not only
decision making criterion and programmes drawn up open to the public but also by involving them. A good
governance is epitomized by and can be secured by sound, responsive and competent administration , respect to
basic human rights and values, strengthen democractic, institutional as well as structural frame work to ensure
accountability and transparency.
Governance needs to be citizen-oriented, citizen-centric, citizen-friendly. In order to being new
developments in the system, it is much called for the governance system to include the required kind of changes,
keeping in mind the need of the day. The government is primarily an information processing system, analyzing
and interpreting data and making decisions based on them. We need to recognize that the goals of modern
government are much more than economic efficiency. The need and demand for good governance has increased
with the rapid expansion of the economy and the growing awareness and assertion of rights by an increasingly
educated population, Accountable, Participatory . Good governance is critical for ensuring social inclusion, only
through Panchayats which are Constitutionally mandated local democratic institutions, can ensure public, people
participation and accountability. State governments regarding devolving more programmes and activities to
panchayats is that panchayat have poor capacity and will not able to deliver, because of the weakness in terms of
administrative and technical capacity with in panchayats leads to low capacity , inadequate devolution ,
disempowered institutions. Developing strong panchayati raj institutions it is essential to improve good
governance and delivery of services which involves redistribution of power, institution building and
development process that improve accountability to the people. Development is looked upon as holistic in
nature, which creates an environment to foster a long, healthy, creative life among people and make the
governance process which are locally relevant, democractic, participative and responsive.
Ensuring transparency and accountability in good governance:
The State has always occupied a significant role in our country. There has been an increasing concern
evinced towards administrative reforms. Governance is wider in nature which encompasses, the achievement,
goals of economy, efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. Initiates towards ensuring accountability through
transparency, disclosure of information to the public by bureaucracy and politician have started gaining wider
acceptance. To achieve the objectives of economy and efficiency under a good governance the term governance
was replaced with conceptualization associated with public administration. The idea is embedded in the concept
of liberalization which places explicit emphasis upon the dominance of the individual over collective
preferences. They want their freedom and rights to be protected. Issues of accountability, responsiveness,
Transparency are important as economic efficiency in running the affairs of the state. Accountability involves
the existence of mechanisms that ensures the public officials and political leaders are answerable for their
actions and use of public resources and which will require transparent government and a free media.
Competence in making and executing appropriate policies and delivering efficient public services is essential,
while respect for law and respect for human rights should buttress the entire system of good government
recognized that secrecy and lack of openness in transactions is largely responsible for corruption. We can
prevent number of scams occur in governments. The public will know what the government is doing, framing
policies, what their rights, wages etc. It was a step towards responsive governance. If the mindset of politicians
and bureaucrats undergoes a change and share the information and power with the people, rendering financial
assistance, technical support and political advice , the IMF also lays great emphasis on good governance by
ensuring accountability of their public sectors. The challenge of good governance would certainly require
government to be re-invented, bureaucracy to be re-positioned, non-government business sectors to be re-
invigorated with a social motive for all this there is need to shift to normative model of managing government.
A reinvented government must have both ethical consistency and organizational flexibility to remain faithful to
the goals of public service. It has function in a more missionary, have less machine-like and less hierarchical
structure and procedures. Governance demands transparent administration by letting decision and policy –
makers not only decision making criterion and the programmes drawn up open to the public but also by
involving people.
Present status of good governance in panchayati raj institutions:
Recently our country celebrated the 20th
Anniversy of the panchayati raj day on the 24th
April, 2013.
Inspite of number of recommendations made by various committees , know what is the status of P.R.I in the era
of globalization ……. Is it developing or lagging behind?3”
 In Andhra Pradesh after a gap of 7 years elections were held in three phases in the month of July, 2013. We
analyze the following points.
 Devolutions of 3Fs i.e. Functions, Finances, Functionaries are far from the letter and spirit of constitution.

 Aritcle 243G with A243ZD have not been progressed except in few states.
 Panchayati raj is not followed by structured, scientific, consistent and sustained process of devolution which
is leading to poverty and inequalities.
 The 12th
plan failed to prioritise the role of panchayati raj institutions and in adversing inclusive growth.
 The new reforms were lagging.
 Panchayati raj unables to influence the human development out comes.
 Video-recording was absent.
 there was lot of cynicism and hearsay for the failure of panchayati raj institutions.
 Aggressive in implementing plans.
 Remove the perception among the people and ensure there is no shirking responsibility by panchayati
member.
 The attendance of Grama Sabha and ward members meeting was poor.
 The new initiatives will make the elected representative more responsible and it will encourage women but
neglected the group to voices their views.
 Devolution is essential for human development but the support of the factors like:
Accountability in delivering mechanism.
The clear delineation of roles and responsible of officer.
Stringent monitoring mechanism
Increase public awareness and capacity building of public
Functionaries at all levels.
II. CONCLUSION
Hence, the need for periodically rethinking on and even remodeling of the concept of Good governance
is possible if our policies are implemented with the quality of manpower, sincerely and efficiently. We need to
change the perspectives, poor training, procedures and encourage good people. Unless and until the mindset of
bureaucracts is hard to change and set of procedures are re- oriented towards self decision-making a good
governance is impossible with transparency and accountability.
REFERENCES
[1]. Local Government in India : Manoj Sharma
[2]. Panchayati raj movement in India: Retrospective and Present status: P.D.Kaushik
[3]. Good Governance and Initiatives: S.L.Goel

Panchayati Raj: Towards Good Governance “Just as the whole universe is contained in the self so is India contained in the villages”1” Mahatma Gandhi

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Panchayati Raj: Towards Good Governance “Just as the whole universe is contained in the self so is India contained in the villages”1” Mahatma Gandhi