VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 2 | JANUARY 2022

ROLE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

IN
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FORUM

PRAYATNA
 MEET THE TEAM

EASHNA NIDHI
J A I
N PANDEY
"Even the darkest "What defines us is
night will end and how well we rise after
the sun will rise" falling"

MADHUMITHA NAINESH
R SORATHIYA
"Everything will fall into place.

"Rest if you must, but don’t

You just got to be patient and you quit"
trust the process"

SHANKAR SINAM
M E N
O N AGARWAL
"The best way to cheer "We can each change
yourself up is to cheer the world, with genuine
someone else up" acts of kindness.”
 MEET THE TEAM

MUSKAAN CHIRAG
SIWACH JHA
"You do not find the happy "To be wise, you have to
life. You make it" start by being a fool"

VANSHIKA VAISHNAVI
BANSAL
RATHI
"Alone we can do so little;
“The world can’t tell you who
together we can do so
you are. You’ve just got to figure
much"
out who you are and be there,
for better or worse”

SANSKRITI
SARANGI
“It’s never too
late – never
too late to start over,
never too late to be
happy.”
MEET THE AUTHORS

DEVADRI KASHISH
BHATTACHARYA DUNGAR
BMS College of Engineering Thadomal
Shahani
Engineering College

YASHDEEP NIVESH
LAKRA THEPADE
University School of Law SBM, NMIMS

Mumbai
& Legal Studies

PARUL
SINGH
Dr.B.C Roy Engineering College
Academy of Professional Courses
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 03 07 09
Editor's Note Introduction Subtheme 1: Subtheme 2:
Empowerment of Criminalisation of
government at lower political process
levels

10 12 15 17
Subtheme 3: Subtheme 4: Subtheme 5: Opening Up to
Justice & Role of civil societies Transparency & Reconcile
development in promoting Public -DEVADRI
governance Accountability BHATTACHARYA

20 23 25 28

P
Ambit and Scope of Sustenance of Pitching Diversity in Thought
R Accountability of a Sustainability Sustainability in through Diversity in

A Public Officer in India

- YASHDEEP LAKRA
-KASHISH
DUNGAR
Business
- NIVESH THEPADE
Teams
-PARUL SINGH

30 32 35 38
Y
A
T
N Contribution Interview with Events End Note
of changemaker
A Stakeholders
 EDITOR'S NOTE
Good governance has always been recognised as a crucial element to be incorporated into
sustainable development strategies in a society still searching for solutions for sustainable
development.

The struggle to restore sustained growth during the developing-country debt crises of the 1980s
inspired a focus on good governance. Rather than rethinking the current economic policy
approach, international development organisations went after the easy targets: developing-
country governments. Advising those governments on how to carry out their duties became a new
vocation for these institutions, which developed new "technical" approaches to governance
reform quickly.

Good governance supports long-term commitment and strategic goals, policy coherence through
vertical and horizontal coordination, an open, transparent process of involving and consulting
stakeholders, and bringing sustainable development strategies closer to local communities and
people.

In a globalised world, good governance improves economic benefits and speeds up economic
transitions.

Because the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, the consequences of the

international financial crisis, the effects of climate change, the impacts of state-internal conflict,
crime, and terrorism have heightened interest in developing a governance model that takes into
account new dimensions. It is now widely accepted that a single governance model cannot and
should not be imposed. The main reason for this is that governance differs between contexts and
P cultures, and has evolved in response to a variety of socio-cultural and economic factor

R The importance of good governance in the development process cannot be overstated. There are
now widespread views that governance should play a larger role in the SDG agenda. Indeed, in
A order to ensure the economic, social, and environmental needs are met, good governance must be
established by first identifying the mechanisms, processes, and outcomes.
Y
A Against this backdrop, it is our paramount duty to raise awareness about the various ways in which
a proper governance system can benefit society. The theme “The Role of Good Governance in

T Sustainable Development '' embarks upon the journey to understand the repercussions of an
improper governance system on society. Students have shared their opinions and perspectives in

N the form of articles and poems, followed by some initiatives that various stakeholders have taken
up as the flag bearers for the change we wish to see in the world.
A 01
 Social Responsibility Forum (SRF) primarily focuses on the alignment of the events conducted
throughout the year with the prevailing social issues and causes to sensitize the students about
the holistic development of society. This year when the entire world is grappling with the force of
the pandemic, SRF didn’t shun away from its cause and stepped forward to help the society by
conducting various events like Joy of Giving Week, Vigilance Awareness Week, A December to
Remember. The reports of these events conducted by SRF are presented in this issue. Hope you all
will enjoy reading the magazine!

Thanks,

Eashna Jain,
Editorial Head,
Social Responsibility Forum

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 02
 INTRODUCTION
The main question that arises from this concept is whether it's about the people or is it about the
government?
Before we dive into “Good Governance”, let us understand what Governance is first. Governance is a
term everyone has heard or experienced in some form or the other ranging from corporate
governance to national governance to international governance and so on. There is a form of
governing in all organizational bodies. Putting it into words, we have governance defined as “the
process of decision making and the process by which decisions are implemented.” Considering the
breakdown of governance, there are many formal and informal actors and structures that constitute
and implement the process. Considering a simple example, at the rural level, actors may include
landlords, associations of farmers, cooperatives and NGOs. When we come to urban level, the
structure becomes more complex. At the national level, what most are familiar with, besides the
government, we have major actors such as media, international donors, MNCs that play a vital role
directly or indirectly in governing the country. All such actors besides the government are grouped
under “civil society”.

The terminology “good governance” is being widely used in development literature and has a vital
role in shaping society. Bad governance is being coined to be one of the major causes for all evil
within our society. Major international financial institutions lend on the condition that good
governance reforms be undertaken.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of good governance. According to the United Nations, they comprise
8 major pillars. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective
and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. The relevance of these pillars is that
it ensures voices of the minority, vulnerable, and most undermined are heard while decision making. If
implemented right, it can decrease corruption and misuse of resources. Responsive governance to the

P needs of the society is ensured.

R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 03
 What is being “accountable”? What is being “transparent”?

Public officials must be answerable to the Any decision making and implementation
actions of the government and respond in a should be clearly visible to all stakeholders
timely manner. This does not just pertain to involved. This is a vital part as it ensures no
government institutions but also private sectors corruption and misuse of resources. This also
and civil society organizations. implies information is freely available to all to all
who are affected by it.

What is being “consensus oriented”? What is being “effective and efficient”?

As many voices and factors are involved in Ensuring that all resources available are used in
decision making, a uniform consensus has to be the best possible manner with zero wastage in
reached in order to satisfy all stakeholders good governance. It also covers the concept of
involved and everyone’s best interests are sustainable usage of resources and protection
covered. It also requires a broad and long-term of the environment. Good governance is
perspective on what is needed for sustainable functioning at its optimal capacity when they
human development and how to achieve the produce results that meet the needs of the
goals of such development. society while being effective and efficient.

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 04
 What is being “equitable and inclusive”? What does being “responsive” mean?

A good government ensures that all its members Good governance ensures that institutions and
and stakeholders feel included and have a stake the actors involved try to serve and respond to
in all the processes involved including decision all the stakeholders within a reasonable time
making. In particular, the most vulnerable frame. While being responsive to the numerous
groups should be prioritized in getting equal voices involved is a hard task, it requires a
opportunities in improving their well being. vigilant and stringent structure to ensure it is
done.

What does “following the rules of law” mean? What does being “participatory” mean?

The need for a fair legal framework that enforces In a way, this is an offshoot from the concept of
justice impartially while fully protecting human being inclusive. Ensuring all genders participate
rights and the interests of the minority is is a sign of good governance. Participation can
something that has yet to be fully achieved in be direct or via intermediate bodies such as
modern society. legal institutions or public representatives.
Participation has to be informed and organized.
What this means is that liberty of expressing and
associating on one balance while an organized
P civil society on the other.

R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 05
 All in all, good governance is an ideal situation that all nations strive to reach. This
does not mean achieving it is impossible. Many nations have reached a semblance of
good governance after ardent efforts over the years such as Denmark. Our own nation
is currently off the mark in many ways but we have our own hurdles to face which
make it even more difficult. We keep striving until one day, we too, reach total good
governance.

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 06
 SUB-THEME 1:
EMPOWERMENT OF
GOVERNMENT AT
LOWER LEVELS
There are three tiers with respect to the system of governance. Namely Central, state, and local
governments. The Local governments consist of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayati Raj
Institutions (PRIs) for urban and rural areas respectively . The 73rd and 74th Constitutional
Amendments were instrumental in decentralizing India’s governance system thereby strengthening
the local government. The Amendments which gained momentum in 1992 envisaged decentralization
of powers, duties, and resources from the state government to local government and mandated the
establishment of PRIs and ULBs.

The act was passed more than 25 years ago, yet the true potential of local government has yet to be
tapped. The state government wields the majority of power, while the local government receives little
attention and the public is unaware of the benefits of a strong local government. Local governments
have the best understanding of their citizens' problems and needs and are thus best equipped to
make policies, make decisions, and implement projects. This is in accordance with the subsidiarity
principle, which states that the central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only
P those tasks that are not efficiently performed at the local level by smaller bodies. Local governments
have the finest grasp of their inhabitants' concerns and needs and are hence best suited to establish
R policies, make choices, and implement initiatives.

A
Y
A
T
N
A 07
 Corruption Perceptions Index, 2020
Published by Transparency International
Source: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020

180 COUNTRIES WERE SURVEYED

RD COUNTRIES SCORED
2/3 BELOW 50

SCORES FROM SOME COUNTRIES

(OUT OF 100)

88
N
E
W
D

Z
E 43
E
A
N
M
40 AVERAGE SCORE
A I OUT OF 100
L
R N
A
N
K D
I
12 Most corrupt
D
A SUDAN country

Least corrupt
countries

Let us look at the measures that can be taken to empower the government at lower levels. Firstly, it is
crucial to make sure that the people that constitute the government are well qualified and are
competent enough. Also, it will be more effective if there is a fair representation of people in power.

P The government will be more effective if there is diversity with respect to gender, caste, and economic
status. For that, it is important to give the municipal corporation the power and the decision-making

R rights with respect to selecting their candidates and not the central or the state government.

A Secondly, the elected representatives need to be continuously evaluated and monitored for their
performance and robust laws have to be implemented so that the members exercise their services

Y diligently and efficiently. Thirdly, for a government to function properly, it is very important to have
effective participation from the people. Only when people voice out their grievances and discussions

A happen, the government will get the people’s perspective, analyse the situation from the root cause
and work on solutions effectively. And finally, financial independence has to be given to the local
T governments. Presently, local governments are heavily dependent on the state government for funds.
Funds take a lot of time to be sanctioned and this results in delay in action. Financial independence
N will result in quick action and people will be benefitted. If these measures are taken diligently, India
will prosper.
A 08
 SUB-THEME 2: राजनीति
का अप्राधिकारण
2020 तक भारत में 4000 से ज्यादा सांसदों के खिलाफ आपराधिक मामले दर्ज किए गए हैं। सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फरवरी 2020 के निर्णय के
अनुसार सभी राजनीति उम्मीदवारों को अपना सम्पूर्ण आपराधिक इतिहास की जानकारी स्थानीय और राष्ट्रीय समाचार पत्र के साथ पार्टी के
सोशल मीडिया हैन्डल पे प्रकाशित करना चाहिए। यह निर्णय 2020 के बिहार चुनाव के लिए लिया गया। सुप्रीम कोर्ट इस बात से हैरान था
की भारत में कितनी तेजी से चुने गए नेताओं में आपराधिक मामले बढ़े हैं। 2009 से 2020 तक इसमें तेजी से बढ़ोतरी हुई है।

भारत के राजनीति में बार बार कहा जाता है जिसके हाथ में बल है , उसी के पास राजनीति की चाभी है। वे लोग जिनके पास धन है , ताकत
है , वही चुनाव जीतते हैं। इसी क्रम में हम बिहार और उत्तर प्रदेश जैसे राज्यों में “ बाहुबली ” नाम सुनते हैं। यह लोग अपने पार्टी के लिए वोट
तो लाते ही हैं , चुनाव जीतने पर सरकार में नेता भी बनते हैं। सत्ता में बने रहने के लिए अपराध करना भी उचित समझा जाता है। बिना
जांच पड़ताल करके जनता धन के लोभ में मान लेती है की ऐसे ही लोग नेता बनने लायक हैं।

निर्वाचन आयोग के नियमों के तहत सारे उम्मीदवारों को अपनी संपत्ति , शिक्षा , आपराधिक मामले , सजा आदि का खुलासा करना चाहिए।
परंतु , ये नियम नहीं माने जाते। आपराधिक उम्मेदवारों का चुनाव होने का एक और कारण कोर्ट में लंबित मामले भी हैं – औसतन , एक
मामले को सुलझाने में कोर्ट को 15 साल लगते हैं। राजनीतिक पार्टियों भी इन सब बातों से भली भांति परिचित होके ऐसे ही उम्मीदवार
उतारती है।

यह समस्या आज की नहीं है।

भारत के दूसरी आजादी के लड़ाई के करता , लोकनायक जयप्रकाश नारायण ने 1970 के दशक में देश में बढ़ते राजनीतिक अप्राधिकरण
के खिलाफ आवाज उठाई थी। जनता में चुनी हुई सरकार के खिलाफ आक्रोश देखके उन्होंने देशभर में यात्रा की और सबको एक स्वर में
विरोध करने की प्रेरणा दी। 1975 में पटना के गांधी मैदान में राष्ट्रकवि रामधारी सिंह दिनकर के संरचना द्वारा उन्होंने पूरी दुनिया में आव्हान
दिया की जनता ही जनार्दन है , और वह अपना हक लेना जानती है। आज के समय में हमे यही याद करने की जरूरत है।
P
R मानो , जनता ही फू ल जिसे अहसास नहीं ,
जब चाहो तभी उतार सजा लो दोनों में ;
A अथवा कोई दूधमुंही जिसे बहलाने के

Y जन्तर - मन्तर सीमित हों चार खिलौनों में।

A लेकिन होता भूडोल , बवंडर उठते हैं ,

जनता जब कोपाकु ल हो भृकु टि चढाती है ;
T दो राह , समय के रथ का घर्घर - नाद सुनो ,
N सिंहासन खाली करो कि जनता आती है।

A 09
 SUB-THEME 3: न्याय में
देरी, विकास से वंचित
सुशासन प्रक्रिया में शामिल प्रत्येक हितधारक की भागीदारी के विचार का प्रचार करता है ताकि यह सुनिश्चित किया जा सके कि अधिकारों
का प्रयोग किया जा रहा है और हर संदर्भ में समान रूप से लाभ प्राप्त किया जा रहा है। विभिन्न देशों की जनसांख्यिकी और मौजूदा
राजनीतिक माहौल को देखते हुए , यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए विभिन्न संस्थान मौजूद हैं। ' कानून का शासन ' जो पारदर्शी , न्यायसंगत और
समावेशी , प्रभावी और कु शल और अत्यधिक उत्तरदायी है , आवश्यक है जो एक निष्पक्ष और न्यायपूर्ण प्रणाली के निष्पादन में मदद कर
सकता है। हालांकि , विभिन्न बाधाएं हैं जो प्रभावित कर सकती हैं कि देशों की न्यायपालिका कै से काम करती है।

भारत को देखते हुए , सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में वर्तमान में प्रति वर्ष 193 कार्य दिवस हैं , जबकि उच्च न्यायालयों में 210 दिन और निचली
अदालतों में 245 दिन हैं। 2018 के नीति आयोग के रणनीति पत्र के अनुसार , हमारी अदालतों में मामले के निपटान की वर्तमान दर पर
बैकलॉग को साफ करने में 324 साल से अधिक समय लगेगा। और इस समय 29 मिलियन मामले लंबित थे। सुप्रीम कोर्ट में लगभग
73,000 मामले लंबित हैं और सभी भारतीय अदालतों में 449 लाख से अधिक मामले लंबित हैं। न्याय देने में देरी के कई कारण हैं , उनमें
से कु छ इस प्रकार हैं -
• बुनियादी ढांचे की कमी और खाली रिक्तियां
• मेडिकल रिपोर्ट मिलने में देरी , फोरेंसिक रिपोर्ट , सबूतों से छे ड़छाड़ , धमकियों के कारण गवाहों के मुकर जाना
• सरकारी कानूनों द्वारा बढ़ते प्रतिबंध न्यायिक प्रक्रिया में और देरी करते हैं |
• कु छ देशों की बढ़ती जनसंख्या
• अपर्याप्त बजट

धीमी अदालतें अपेक्षित अदायगी में देरी करके , लागत में वृद्धि करके अर्थव्यवस्थाओं की आर्थिक विकास क्षमता को बाधित कर सकती हैं।
इसके अलावा , कानून प्रकृ ति में अत्यधिक गैर - समावेशी हैं और विविध सामाजिक जनसांख्यिकी की पहचान करने में विफल हैं। उदाहरण
के लिए , इज़राइल में , ज्यूइश कानून पर आधारित , महिलाएं अपने पति को तलाक के लिए फाइल करने की अनुमति देने के लिए अपने पति
P से एक हस्ताक्षरित कानूनी दस्तावेज प्राप्त किए बिना तलाक नहीं दे सकती हैं। गरीब और हाशिए पर पड़े लोग अदालती देरी से बहुत
अधिक प्रभावित होते हैं क्योंकि वे जीविकोपार्जन करने में असमर्थ होते हैं और जेल में अपनी सजा काट रहे होते हैं या मुकदमे की प्रतीक्षा
R कर रहे होते हैं | वे अपने परिवारों का समर्थन करने में असमर्थ होते हैं। प्री - ट्रायल मनी बेल द्वारा बनाई गई असमानता को निजी जमानत

A
​ अगर वे दोषी पाए जाते हैं , तो जो लोग अपनी पूरी बांड राशि का भुगतान करने के लिए
एजेंसियों द्वारा बढ़ा दिया गया है। यहां तक कि
पर्याप्त संपन्न हैं , उनका मामला समाप्त होने पर इसे वापस प्राप्त किया जाता है। न्याय की मांग करने वाले हाशिए के समूहों में विभिन्न

Y बाधाएं हैं।

A • जागरूकता की कमी और अत्यधिक तकनीकी और बोझिल प्रक्रियाओं

• दूरस्थ क्षेत्रों में स्थित लोगों के लिए भौगोलिक बाधाएं

T • विशेष रूप से कमजोर समूहों द्वारा उनके लिंग , आर्थिक स्थिति , जाति , धर्म के कारण नौकरशाही की असंवेदनशीलता का सामना करना
इससे पहले से ही हाशिए पर पड़े लोगों की स्थिति और भी खराब हो जाती है। इन सबके सामने देश के समग्र विकास का मूल विचार निहित
N है। प्रक्रियाओं में देरी से उप - विकल्पों की स्थिति कम हो जाती है और संविधान में निहित मौलिक अधिकारों और कर्तव्यों को बेमानी बना
दिया जाता है |
A 10
 कई खामियों और गतिरोधों के बावजूद , भारत की न्याय प्रणाली में बदलाव की जरूरत है। इस बदलाव को लाने के कई तरीके हैं।
• कानूनी व्यवस्था के सभी स्तरों पर न्यायाधीशों की संख्या में वृद्धि
• फास्ट - ट्रैक कोर्ट , ट्रिब्यूनल और अर्ध - न्यायिक संगठनों की स्थापना
• लालफीताशाही देरी का कारण बनती है और अंतराल को चौड़ा करती है , इस प्रकार इसे प्रौद्योगिकी के बुनियादी ढांचे से बदला जाना
चाहिए जिसमें व्यक्तियों के लिए उपयुक्त प्रशिक्षण और समर्थन शामिल हो।
• मध्यस्थता और मध्यस्थता जैसे वैकल्पिक विवाद समाधान के लिए सिस्टम मौजूद हैं।
• समाज के सभी सदस्यों को उनके कानूनी अधिकारों और दायित्वों के बारे में शिक्षित करने के लिए सामूहिक गठन करना
तत्काल आवश्यकता कु शलता से काम करने और लंबित मामलों की संख्या को शून्य करने की है। कानून का शासन बनाए रखने और अच्छी
सरकार प्रदान करने के लिए त्वरित न्याय की आवश्यकता होती है। अदालती व्यवस्था की समस्याओं के समाधान के लिए न्यायिक सुधारों
और समिति की सिफारिशों को गंभीरता से लिया जाना चाहिए।

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 11
 SUB-THEME 4: ROLE OF CIVIL
SOCIETIES IN PROMOTING
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Civil society is the set of civic rights, including primarily everyone’s right to participate in Public life.
Civil society forms the backbone of democracy. Civil society derives its strength from the Gandhian
tradition of volunteerism, but today, it expresses itself in many different forms of activism. Civil society
refers to formal as well as informal entities and includes the private sector, the media, NGOs,
professional associations, and informal groups of people from different walks of life.

P
R
A For today's multi-stakeholder-led model of good governance, a well-functioning civil society is a

Y boon.
Good governance refers to a government that is inclusive, consensus-oriented, and rule-bound

A while still being sensitive to citizens' pressing demands. NGOs can assist governments in
improving the quality of governance by using their knowledge and goodwill.

T Civil society organizations act as advocates for the interest groups they represent by addressing
specific demands.

N Lobbying the government and legislators on such topics improves the likelihood that their
concerns will be addressed in future legislation and executive decisions.
A 12
 The active participation of women's rights organizations has caused the government to reconsider
a number of measures.
Groups like Bachpan Bachao Andolan, whose founder Kailash Satyarthi was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize for his efforts, have raised awareness about the rights of trafficking children.
LGBT organizations have secured transgender rights in India thanks to the Supreme Court's
progressive rulings.
Minority groups whose views may be drowned out by majoritarian discourse can effectively attain
due prominence if they are represented at the highest levels of government by capable interest
groups. This ensures equity, which is an important aspect of good governance.
Civil society is a vital tool for maintaining effective checks and balances on the state when it has
authority over public resources.
In numerous situations, activism has compelled the government to rescind hurriedly enacted
legislation, such as the Land Acquisition Bill.
When politicians attempt to abuse electoral provisions, NGOs such as the Association of
Democratic Reforms (ADR), the Public Interest Law Center (PUCL), and others have effectively
used the PIL and judicial route to regulate them.
Only as a result of these efforts, an electoral candidate is required to declare his assets,
educational qualifications, and prior convictions (if any), allowing voters to make an informed
decision. Elections, which mark the beginning of a democratic cycle, have been modified thanks to
the tireless efforts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and proactive media.
Internally, thanks to changes like the Right to Information Act (RTI) instituted by Rajasthan's
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), an element of transparency and accountability has been
introduced.
This revolutionary legislation, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, has exposed
numerous scams and diversions.

Challenges faced by them:

The challenge is multidimensional and is compounded by the ‘unorganized’ nature of the sector,

P lack of regulatory frameworks, and the fact that India boasts of more than a million NGOs of
different roles, structures, and sizes.
R The general lack of transparency in the functioning of a large proportion of civil society
organizations leads to an aversion to donating funds for charitable causes since the general public
A is largely cynical about the ‘genuineness’ of the non-profit spirit of the sector.
Recently, the Union Home Ministry has identified some NGOs as a security threat to the country.
Y Such security considerations have underscored the rising need for improving the governance
practices in the Indian NGOs and exercising better regulatory mechanisms, disclosure norms, and
A management processes including financial management and budgeting systems as well.

T
Recently decades have seen a spurt in civil society organizations across the country; many of them
do not serve the larger interests of society such as lobbying for industrial groups or foreign nations

N by advocating a policy.

A 13
 What Can Be Done:
The state must respect the articulation of the politics of voice and not just the politics of the vote.
The promises of democracy can only be realized through collective action in civil society.
A democratic state needs a democratic civil society and a democratic civil society also needs a
democratic state. They mutually reinforce each other.
A regulatory mechanism to keep a watch on the financial activities of NGOs and voluntary
organizations is the need of the hour.
The stringent governance standards of civil society groups will facilitate the effective management
and increase the accountability to its stakeholders including donors, the government, and the
community.
It is in the self-interest of civil society to realize the fact that implementing a structure of ‘corporate
governance principles would provide real value to the stakeholders.
Also, this would enable tracking the potentially dubious sources of funding coming in for the
voluntary sector – an aspect that has gained impetus in the wake of the increased number of terror
attacks and extremist activities.

We are entering a critical period in which the administration aspires to achieve a number of goals with
the active participation of civil society. Efforts must also be made to distribute information about the
policy and its goals to small civil society groups as well as government officials. The need of the hour
is for everyone to work together for the benefit of the underprivileged, as Mahatma Gandhi's ideal has
yet to be realized.

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 14
 SUB-THEME 5:
TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC
ACCOUNTABILITY-
FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD
GOVERNANCE
The World Bank in its 1992 report entitled “Governance and Development”, 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 at its core has 8 major characteristics:
participation, consensus-oriented, accountability, transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness
and efficiency, equity, and inclusion.

Among the above-mentioned 8 characteristics, two of them, that is transparency and accountability
are the fundamental pillars for good governance. Transparency highlights the need for accessibility to
information and how it should be understandable and monitored. It also implies the presence of free
media and access to information to them. Under Accountability, Good governance aims towards the
betterment of people, and this can not take place without the government being accountable to the

P people. Governmental institutions, private sectors, and civil society organizations should be held
accountable to the public and institutional stakeholders for the fair functioning of society.
R
The fundamental step that was taken in order to ensure better access to information, was the RTI Act
A 2005, which grants greater access of the citizen to the information which in turn improves the
responsiveness of the government to community needs. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Y “Improving Transparency and Accountability in Government through Effective Implementation
of the Right to Information Act” was launched in August 2010. The Goal of the Scheme was to
A contribute towards a more accountable and transparent government. The Purpose of the Scheme was

T the effective implementation of the RTI Act.

N
A 15
 GOOD
GOVERNANCE

V/S

BAD
GOVERNANCE

In order to address the challenges related to accountability, certain e-governance initiatives were
launched to provide for an accountable administration. It includes a framework for efficient handling of
public grievances through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System which is
already in place. E-Governance also effectively delivers better programming and services in the era of
newly emerging information and communication technologies (ICTs), which herald new opportunities
P for rapid social and economic transformation worldwide. Certain programs such as Pro-Active
Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI), Digital India Program, MCA21 (to improve the
R speed and certainty in the delivery of the services of Ministry of Company Affairs), Passport Seva
Kendra (PSK), online Income tax return, etc. have enabled in improving governance.
A
Though governance also has its own sets of challenges like criminalisation of politics, corruption,
Y gender disparity, centralisation of administrative system, marginalisation of Socially and economically

A
backward people, delay in justice etc. This can be potentially addressed through effective functioning
of a governance system that is transparent and accountable. While the governance measures have

T improved in the past years, it also requires a shift towards an inclusive and sustainable governance.

N
A 16


Opening Up To Reconcile
- Devadri Bhattacharya

Ever since humans first set foot on our planet, history has been permeated with countless instances of
power struggles. The birth of civilization was organically supplemented with the advent of political
institutions based on varying ideologies - some conservative, and some radical
- that profoundly shaped the course of mankind for millennia and continue to influence politics in
modern society. The institutions of monarchy, oligarchy, democracy, aristocracy, etc. have been and
continue to be ubiquitous forms of a broader definition of individuals or a body of individuals that head
a state i.e. governments.

The role that governments play in the development of its subjects is not an alien matter for someone
living in the 21st century. Historical examples serve as testament of the inadequacies of regimes
throughout the ages, wherein they failed to honour the ethics of good governance required to sustain
the welfare of its citizens. There are numerous causes behind these dents in most establishments,
subject to both the time period and historical context. While they vary vastly from generation to
generation, they often echo the fragility of human power structures no matter how disparate they may
be. If we were to hold democratic societies as our frame of reference, then the degeneration of a state
could probably be pointed out to two seemingly distinct yet related factors: the lack of transparency
and public accountability of the incumbent government, and the adherence to violent conduct as a
means to an end.

Transparency and Public Accountability is at the Core of Good Governance

P
The participation of a state’s citizens in its internal matters - either directly or
R indirectly - lies at the very heart of a constitutional democracy. In a post-
colonial world, it is widely acknowledged as one of the most indispensable
A traits for the welfare of a state, so much so that the right to access information
held by both national and state level governments by the general public is
Y recognized as a fundamental rightin most democratic republics. The United
Nations lists public access to information as one of its targets under the
A Sustainable Development Goal 16.

T This raises the question: what makes the right to information, or in other words, transparency of
government such an integral and desirable objective for the development of a state?

A 17
 To answer this from a philosophical and historical perspective we must turn to the 18th century, a
period that witnessed two vital moments in the history of republics; the birth of the United States and
the French Revolution. Both events were a manifestation of the new age of Enlightenment that primarily
came out of Europe during the 18th century, spreading the ideas of liberty, equality, and the social
contract tradition echoed of thinkers such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine
in America, and Jean Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire and Montesquieu in France. They are
considered seminal in laying the groundwork of a modern republic. However, the first instance of a right
to information and press freedom being passed as legislation was the Freedom Of Press Act in 1766
by the Swedish Riksdag (national legislature) under the reign of Adolf Frederick during the “Age Of
Liberty”; a highly transitory period in Swedish history that saw the rise of civil rights and the decline of
the Swedish Empire, much like the first French Republic. The focus on individual freedom, happiness
and knowledge led to the realization that every human is born with certain inalienable natural rights,
and eventually the need for transparency was legislated into constitutions across the world over the
next two centuries.

India’s relationship with transparency of the

government has always been a tumultuous
one, from the times of the British Raj till date.
Whether it’s the Indian Press Act of 1910 which
clampeddown on several editors for publishing
“anti-government” editorials, or the recent
controversy surrounding the PM CARES Fund,
wherein the Government of India refused to
disclose information regarding the amount
collected, names of donors, expenditure incurred, or details of beneficiaries despite the country being
mired in a heap of economic and structural problems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the
struggle for transparent institutions and public accountability has plagued India for ages, taking a toll
on its already existing challenges of lack of resources for infrastructure, healthcare, education, food and
nutrition.

Violence: A Big Hurdle In The Way Of Good Governance

P The first half of the 20th century saw the dreadful nature of the World Wars which had an impact on

R most of the modern world, as they were the first set of conflicts to have touched the lives of millions
from all around the globe. The widespread exposure to the brutality of man had scarred the minds of

A many, and with the ending of World War II, came the beginning of a new era of striving for peace
through the establishment of the United Nations. There hasn’t been a global conflict nearly as

Y cataclysmic as the World Wars in the last 70 odd years, but the adherence to violence hasn’t completely
declined. There have been multiple insurgencies and bouts of internal altercations, some of the notable

A instances being the Cuban Revolution, the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa, and the various
military coups in both Central Africa and Latin America, both from the side of the governments and the

T dissidents.

N
A 18
 It is fairly imperative to expect outbursts of violence amidst social unrest, but to hastily take up arms
without reconsidering the cycle of damage it perpetuates has proven to be naïve in more instances than
not. Violent conduct often breeds a culture of insecurity, volatility and lack of empathy, instead of
alleviating whatever it initially aimed to. The economic growth of a violent community is also hampered
as violence diverts the public’s attention and resources instead of spending it on more constructive
developments. The Institute for Economics & Peace annually releases a report titled “The Economic
Value of Peace” in which it estimates the total economic impact of violence in on the world
economy. In 2015,it was estimated to be $13.6million.

The intrinsic link between the two

While the most radical regimes of recent history viz. The Third Reich or Stalin’s USSR, were built on the
foundations of strict deference to authority and promoted harsh treatment of any form of dissent; it is
intriguing enough to speculate whether a link existed at any point of time between lack of transparency
and violence in developing economies post WWII. The immediate and most intimate example that
comes to mind is the Indian Emergency that was enacted in 1975. Faced with charges of electoral fraud
that exposed her dishonest election practices, excessive election expenditure and usage of government
machinery for party purposes, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi requested President Fakhruddin Ali
Ahmed to declare an emergency citing “prevailing disturbance” of the nation. What followed was the
Prime Minister’s rule by decree, allowing the cancellation of elections and suspension of civil rights. It
exposed a darker side of the otherwise charming and highly respected “Iron Lady” of India, as the next
21 months saw stringent censorship of the press, a forced sterilization campaign and multiple arrests of
political opponents and protesters. Voices of dissent were crushed, and at the end of the debacle
nobody was held accountable for the excesses, as none of the allegations could be proven, with Mrs.
Gandhi silently burying the report of the Shah Commission - a probe set up by the opposition
government in 1977 to inquire into the excesses of the Emergency.

This serves as a classic example for the case in point, the link between violence and a lack of
transparency and public accountability. Other examples, such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests,
or the reign of Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori drew attention to similar issues and how they tear
apart the socio-economic fabric of a nation. They stand as a reminder to us of what we should strive for
as a society in an increasingly globalized world, and which methods to be wary of while participating in
P a cause. The path to a just and virtuous polity is a long one, and as citizens, being constantly aware of
what we’ve come from is a step towards the right direction and away from an Orwellian dystopia.
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 19
 2

Ambit and Scope of

Accountability of a Public
Officer in India
-Yashdeep Lakra

When Confucius disciple Zigong questioned him about governance over 2000 years ago, he
responded that a government requires three things: weapons, food, and trust. If the ruler can't keep
hold of all three, he should give up weapons first, then food, according to him. Trust, on the other
hand, should be guarded till the end since “ without trust we cannot stand.”

Unfortunately, in contemporary times, though there is too much talk about public accountability, too
little coherent institutional response is available. It runs contrary to our system of government,
wherein those in public offices, entrusted with all the powers and responsibilities of running this
diverse nation are required to exercise them in the public interest fairly and according to law.
A public officer, by the virtue of his public office, is bound to foster this hallmark of a democratic
governance as it naturally connects to almost every conceivable aspect of good governance.

The failure of a public officer in upholding the sanctity of his office is in sheer dereliction to his duty,
and it is the public who bears the brunt. Their basic rights stand violated, and for this reason it
P becomes imperative to ensure that the public officers carry out their duties properly and are held

R responsible if they fail to do so.

A The Concept of Accountability/Liability

Y Accountability simply means that if a public official abuses his position, whether via omission or
commission, and as a result causes injury to an individual or the general public, he must be held
A responsible for it.

T It refers to a system of internal and external checks and balances designed to ensure that public
officials carry out their duties to the highest quality and are held accountable if they fail to do so. Its
N
A 20
 goal is to restore public trust in legitimacy of public offices. Accountability indicates that public officials
are welcoming towards being questioned about their decisions and actions, as well as the
repercussions of being found guilty of misbehaviour, which may include sanctions and restitution to
victims.

Furthermore, effective accountability demands the formation of a competent public complaints system
capable of examining charges, suggesting disciplinary measures, or referring cases to criminal
prosecution. It should also be able to provide suggestions that address the root causes of misconduct.

Numerous treaties establish legally binding responsibilities, such as the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, which has been ratified by an absolute majority of States. The right to remedy is a
fundamental concept in international legal framework, which stipulates that the states should develop a
mechanism for people to seek redressal if there has been a violation of their rights.

The Indian Scenario

One of the fundamental flaws of Indian administration, according to a top bureaucrat, is the lack of
public accountability. This is a remark that no one could possibly disagree with. Unfortunately, today’s
accountability systems are either non-existent or extremely flimsy and fragile, in addition to being
dilatory, and anyone with enough money power or personal connections may bend them in any way he
wants. When it comes to accountability, the system, as it currently exists at various levels, is so strong
and powerful that it opposes any genuine attempt in this direction. That is to say, the politico-
bureaucratic wall proves to be so strong that it thwarts any attempts aimed at enforcing liability.
Therefore, in the name of enforcing liability, what one sees is merely shadow-boxing.

Judicial Intervention: A Silver Lining

Judicial response in India can be traced back to the landmark decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in
Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa, where the apex court held that the compensation for human rights
violations and power abuses is a recognised claim under public law. It demonstrated the advent of
Judicial activism in this field by stating that every administrative authority shall be held accountable for

P the effective and efficient fulfilment of its statutory duties.

R Recently, in the year 2015, a city court in Delhi paved the way for holding public officials accountable if
they fail to discharge their duties. Additional Sessions Judge, Kamini Lau, said,

A “Failure to act is an actionable wrong as much as any malafide action by such public servant for which
the aggrieved person can seek damages for all the physical, mental, emotional, psychological, social

Y and financial loss and sufferings caused to him. For this, a public servant would be liable in his personal
capacity.”

A
T

N
A 21
 Conclusion and the Way Forward

The Indian democracy is a sterling example of a vibrant modern democracy. Our founding fathers
adopted the finest principles for our nation to bestow upon us the basic human rights and liberty.
In the words of former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee,

“Governments come, and governments go. Parties appear and disappear. But this country should
remain, and its democracy should remain eternally.”

The Public officials form the bulwark of our democracy. The responsibility to run the daily affairs,
ranging across various milieus, is vested in them. The old and popular adage, “ with great power comes
great responsibility” invariably applies on their functioning and discharge of duties. Hence, without a
doubt, their accountability to the people is both desirable and necessary. Ensuring this accountability is
arguably one of the most prominent challenges that confronts the public servants, at the same time
providing them with an opportunity to do justice with the unwavering faith and authority entrusted in
them by the populace.

In the present-day context, strengthening of the public accountability system should be the topmost
priority of the government. To summarise in the beautiful words of the Third U.S. President Thomas
Jefferson, “When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.”

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 22
 3

Sustenance of
Sustainability
-Kashish Dungar

stands
Orange, White, Green, and Blue, are the colors on our flag. In a more nuanced way, the Chakra
for SDGs, Orange for Courage to fight for the environment, Green for the Faith in a Green Economy,
and White for Truthfully abiding by Policies and Regulations.
With kings like Ashoka, there used to be days when Bharat was not a poverty-stricken country.
However, as India evolved, it was just not black and white anymore. Torturous policies were made,
which made it too complicated for the poor to navigate through life. Illiterate and struck with
calamities often, such as plunder or weather, the gap between the rich and the poor broadened
considerably. As of now, India has more than 950 action plans, policies, and funding for the poor, but
the labyrinth of politics and corruption has disrupted the system.

As we progress into a new era filled with better opportunities due to greater awareness of our people's
plight, we stand a better chance at mitigating these issues. Indian farmers have been admired for their
innovative use of mulch and cow dung as biofuel, encouraging countries around the world to embrace
renewable and clean energy. Eating from plastic plates has been replaced with palm fronds now but
this concept was used in India centuries ago. Despite this, there are still many challenges left to
overcome in our drive to a sustainable economy. While many feel poverty must be a priority, some feel
that the incessant pollution caused due to economic growth must be prioritized. How do we tackle this
P ever-burning question?

R Corruption is rampant globally, affecting human rights, the economy of a country, education,
sustainability, etc. The concept of becoming self-reliant with full integrity, honesty, upholding values
A seems like a bygone era. India is a country brought up by values for the people, by the people, and of
the people. Our constitution is the backbone of our democracy and diseases such as corruption
Y weaken us thus hampering our development as citizens as well as the country. The Tenets that uphold
our sovereign union are Justice, Equality, Liberty, and Fraternity. Alas, this is seen as a notion of
A idealism. Bribes let crimes go on unchecked, preferential treatment in the form of nepotism and
cronyism coupled with embezzlement, damaging democracy.
T We need people like climate activist Licpriya Kangujam, age 19, who made a powerful stand with the
Government of India, empowering individuals and politicians to take immediate action to minimize
N carbon dioxide emissions . Sadly, her father and her legal guardian were declared absconders and

A 23
 framed for being frauds for juggling money that was meant for Youth organizations. Thus, another hero
of climate change succumbed to corruption. A country as humongous as India must have such untold
stories. The blame game between the lobbyists for the environment and the government is a vicious
never-ending cycle. Despite awareness and indigenous wildlife protection, there are cases of
poaching, illegal trading, etc. The culprit for this has been greed and heeded by corruption and
improper framework. Corruption degrades the intent and influence of green policies, strategies, and
access to organic and environmentally friendly goods.

Manipulation of rules at the slightest pretext, duplication of official documents to get work done,
abusing one's basic rights, etc. It is linked to the state, its activities, and state intervention. The spirit of
trust is further down caste as none of these crimes are prosecuted, let alone reported. So, rather than
dealing with this superficially we must delve deeply into the causes and nip them before it proliferates
further. Yet, despite basic reforms, it is noticed that the implications of these reforms merely generate
new perspectives rather than stringent action. Green Finance is a recently developed concept. The RBI
report states that they have only managed to document an increase in awareness via the accumulation
of searching google trends and keywords. This is in no way, an appropriate measure of implementation
of sustainable practices! The policies and frameworks are vaguely stipulated for Private Sector
Lendings and Bonds. Shockingly, the ESG frameworks have not been incorporated yet and the
projected timeline for the same will be posted in 2022.

Hence, Green Guidelines for MNCs must be established to emphasize Product Life Cycle Management,
CSR, and Triple Bottom Approach. Tax incentives may also be offered for all forms of business, be it in
the Private or Public Sector. Discrimination mustn't be done on the size of the business as well, since
each step forward, is a carbon footprint less. It is the age of digitization and therefore shops can be set
up online, those in the manufacturing and production standards can be given discounts on electric
and hybrid vehicles as well as energy-efficient lights. There have been various fiscal and financial
incentives at work in India. These Incentives are in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement to reduce
greenhouse gas emission intensity by 33 to 35 percent below 2005 levels and to reach 40% of installed
electric power magnitude from non-renewable sources by 2030. The Government of India dedicates 30
percent of the installation cost of the rooftop solar panels as a subsidy to the institutional, residential,
and social regions in most territories. Renewable Energy has also been amassed up to a whopping 3rd
largest nation, internationally, Thanks to our PM’s Atma Nirbhar Campaign. India has had a history of
green practices, especially in the pharma domain thanks to Ayurveda. Ayurveda is the epitome of
creating concoctions of natural elements and herbs and using them to cure diseases. The Simplicity of
this concept is to bring reverence for Mother Earth.
P
India has been resilient throughout the pandemic since we have come up with gradation in
R opportunities. From N-95 masks to reusable cloth masks, that have brought income to lower-class
families, who could then afford a living. Women's employability has increased monumentally, because
A of these at-home incomes, which not only helped their families but the community and country as well.
From Tiffin services to substitutions for international beverages at home, we have seen it all. The piece
Y de resistance has been the efforts of crafting several indigenous products with global quality and
precision. The beauty of these crafts lies in the minimal wastage, sustainable practices of working as

A well as a well-deserved recognition for these communities.

T A sustainable country must have a scaffolding of green and hence reassign responsibilities amongst
civilians as well as officials. Allegiances must be created to enact cooperation at all costs, thus

N
constructing a pillar of hope upon a tenacious foundation of republican governance.

A 24
 SPECIAL MENTION :
Pitching Sustainability in
Business
-Nivesh Thepade

Understanding sustainability: Growing concern around climate change has forced governments
across the world to implement measures to reduced carbon emissions. Attempts are made for net zero
carbon emissions across organizations and countries. Protecting environment is necessary for survival
and sustainability is hence, not a choice but a compulsion in the near future. To tackle this grave
problem, it is necessary that all organizations, societies and communities join hands. Large businesses
have capital and manpower to effect substantial impact. But how do we coax organizations to take up
sustainability in their core business designs?
Businesses run to make profits. If the profits are snatched, businesses would cease their operations.
Thus, the spends done for sustainable development goals would be voluntary only if profits are
realized.

Sustainable development is not about spending from the pocket for the environment. It is rather,
reorganizing processes to generate business benefits for long term viability of business projects. This
is well illustrated in the image below:

P
R
A
Y
A
Mandating companies to complete the sustainability reports is an alternative. However, Sustainability
T is still a concept on paper. True execution and tangible impact may not be realized. Unless and until
businesses do not realize the financial benefits of adopting the sustainable development,

N sustainability wont be effectively adopted.

A 25
 Status Quo: Assessing through examples

One of the measures of adoption of sustainability is through assessing the sustainability reports of
companies. I have participated in the analysis of sustainability of the top1000 companies in India
based on the market cap of the companies. The findings around the same are as follows.
Companies associate sustainability with CSR activity. Goals are sustainable only if they can generate
profits for the organizations. Thus, CSR report is not an equivalent of sustainability report.

Primary duty of companies is to evaluate the materiality matrix. Materiality matrix is a tool for
visualization of what areas are of importance to business against their weightage to all the
stakeholders of the company.

Based on company’s business, materiality matrix may be defined to target different goals. Eg: For a
tech company, data privacy and cyber security may be the top priority areas, whereas for a food
company such as britannia, community nutrition may be the top priority.
Based on the materiality matrix, company may then
choose to focus on one or more of the17
sustainable development goals.

The Challenges

A company truly oriented towards sustainable

development goals usually adheres to
sustainability framework for drafting the reports.
Major frameworks for sustainability reporting are
GRI, UNGC and BRSR. There are other frameworks,
such as SASB, however, GRI framework is most
commonly used framework. Even though multiple frameworks are available, companies may still not
achieve the objectives if the understanding of the principles of those frameworks is not clear. To
achieve tangible results, it is necessary that the companies follow the essence of principles used in the
framework rather than filling the gaps in the report.

Further, the principles in framework are directive, not exhaustive. GRI framework mentions
comparability of the reports as call for assessing "the performance of the organization in the context of
P the limits and demands placed on environmental or social resources at the sectoral, local, regional, or
global level".
R Companies measure the carbon emissions and compare the same with previous year’s data. However,

A lack of clarity regarding long term future goals of the company make the effortless focused on the
sustainability projections, which is the need of the hour.

Y Lastly, direct association of financial benefits to sustainable goals is difficult to measure. Sustainability

A
is like getting healthy. Every individual wants to be healthy, but not every individual is willing to
exercise daily. Similarly, not every organization is willing to put extra budget to achieve sustainability in
their business models, even though the long term impacts are clearly tangible.
T
The association of finance and sustainability is tough, and different for different organizations. It is like
N asking what is the correct amount of sugar to be added in coffee.

A 26
 While some may prefer one spoon, some like it 3 spoons. Similarly, the correct amount of investment in
sustainability depends on organization’s mission, goals, business structure, the impact it wants to
generate and other factors.

The way forward

Sustainability and profits are not mutually exclusive. Infact, sustainability would cease its essence in
absence of profits. The challenge is the ability to measure of financial impact of sustainable activities,
because it is a task of judgment. Lack of ability to properly assess the benefits results in lower adoption
and hesitance towards sustainability. Incorporating sustainable practices shall be well implemented
when the tangible benefits to business are more clear. Hence, businesses must devise their strategy
towards assessing the tangible benefits and streamline the processes by reorienting the business
activities around sustainability. For example, in a beer manufacturing company, efficient usage of water
may save millions of dollars while also creating a positive environmental impact.

Governments have been compensating for adoption of eco-friendly technologies. The exemptions for
adopting solar power are already known. However, measures such as subsidies and exemptions are
neither enough, nor viable in long term.

Hence, as responsible businesses, it’s high time that organizations shift their approach of depending
on defensive mechanisms to incentive based models where CEOs are rewarded for executing the
sustainable models in their organization. Only when this gets adopted by majority companies,
sustainability will be seen as a duty of CEOs and organizations rather than a side stream activity.

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 27
 SPECIAL MENTION:
Diversity in Thought
Through Diversity in Teams
-Parul Singh

At the “Briks National Convention for Extensive role of cross-functional teams in promoting diversity in
thought”, two of the convention speakers were enjoying verbal verbatim, occasionally defying the rule
of the clock and short-hand closure. A fellow speaker, Mr.X had represented National Forum Facts on
Diversified Leadership in the most ballistic manner, setting forth a forage among the young minds.
The frontier discussion wasn’t a heated argument, for most others agreed to the facts. But Mr.Y
seemed vexed, sort of on a run.

“He made it sound so obvious. I disagree with the whole “partial flow” idea. It isn’t outspokenly
accepted, far behind a ubiquitous influence.”
“Now, you’re being unreasonably snobbish. I believe there was a lot to that. Perhaps, he had facts to
support the argument.”

"You can’t be exceedingly straightforward. I’m glad there was a distinction of thought. It would have
been dispensable otherwise.”

“I respect different schools of thought but I wouldn't arrive at a positive conclusion every time. I still
believe cross-functional collaboration helps break barriers and bring a diversity of thought to the table.

P It saves the ship from a unidirectional voyage to absolutism.”

“I agree! Unanimity from diverse functional teams helps make better decisions. Bailey included in his
R Diversity in Workplace blog, 83% of the millennials were found to be actively engaged in their work in
companies that foster a more inclusive work environment. Moreover, market capture gets stimulated
A by diversified operational teams, with enhanced performance over the curve.”

Y “Yes, inclusive team management techniques assist in imparting a worldwide facade for innovation
and comprehensive decision making. It makes everyone seen, known, and heard, and to add on to
A that, the contributions seem never digressing. There happen to be extensive discussions, rear-end
meetups, round-table discussions and frequent debates. It becomes a fair square approach to modern

T and inventive resolution.”

N “Impactfully put! The pandemic set forth many exploratory avenues of inclusion and diversity, where

A 28
 companies agreed upon a matrix sort of approach where team additions were more about foraging the
racial, social, and ethnic spectrum.”

Moreover, there occurs fewer chances of misrepresentation, assuming fair and deliberate opportunities
to people from different backgrounds, capable of adding value in their unique way. The whole
prospect is to bring advancement and diversification.”

“During my tenure as a Research Trainee at the National Bureau for Thought Leadership and
Innovation, I used to be leading a cross-cultural team of experts. I was quite captivated by the thought
of failing to lead the congregation, but to my surprise, my team members were generous beings, always
up for inspiring creativity and innovation. The environment was set to upskilling by the varied
experiences offered by my colleagues. We were more target-oriented, complementing skill sets and
driving aid at times of disconnect.”

“It surely must have been something! I agree it to be a course for personal and professional
development through individual participation and group effort. It soo helps to bring down cultural
stereotypes and highlight efforts towards unity. Companies, even institutions stand at an advantage of
engrossing varied responses to a notion of change, both challenging and unique.”

"But steering a clear way depends largely on interdependency, faith and adaptability. Diversity in
teams helps companies attract talent and help retain performers. People involved feel accountable and
have a sense of ownership towards their responsibilities. They don't feel reluctant in reaching out for
help, and there lies ample scope for group development and team dynamics.”

“Companies sensitive to cultural diversity have instilled experience in handling employee grievances
less traditionally and tend to resolve conflicts in an equipped manner. Team dynamics get a lift when
diverse thoughts are given due importance. It helps members feel connected and gives them a
competitive edge over ones who are linear in their mind.”

“Couldn't have put in better words. I strongly resonate with your notion. Mr.X had put you in a tough
spot! I wonder what's more to his deliverance. They have invited him over to the after convention
dinner at St. Reigns, Salt lake. There he’s supposed to guide a keen group of fresh graduates from
IMRR. I hope you hold nothing against him!”

“Absolutely not! Indeed he gave me a handful to reflect upon. I’m glad we could conjure upon this. I
P intend to revive such resourceful discussions shortly.”

R “Perhaps, far-future!”

A
Y
A
T
N
A 29
 Contribution of
various stakeholders
Stakeholder theory is a corporate ethics and organisational management conceptual framework that
covers moral and ethical concerns in organisational management. With the issues of the twenty-first
century, a new viewpoint on governance is emerging. Neoliberal economic policies and globalisation,
as well as other issues, environmental deterioration, migration, sustainable development, and
grassroots activism are just a few examples. Development, as well as all other aspects of government.
The societal and economic issues and the concerns of governance in the twenty-first century must be
addressed with involvement of all parties involved.

Organisations at various levels work towards formulating policies and action plans to ensure efficient
and inclusive implementation. Governments, civil societies, corporates and individuals work at various
level to ensure good governance and how decentralisation or centralisation of processes can help in
increasing participation.

Government
Government in power holds the baton and has the maximum outreach due to budgetary allocation
and fragmented ministries aiming to ensure development in a transparent and efficient way. A few
examples are-
The Right to Information Act, 2005 in India gave access to the citizens to raise queries and increase
P responsiveness from the government’s end.

R The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) was launched in January 2018 with the goal of
transforming people's lives in the county's 115 underdeveloped districts in a time-bound way, led

A by NITI Aayog.
The United States' Federal Government has a broad framework of G2C technologies in place to

Y improve civilian access to government information and services. benefits.gov is an official United
States government website that informs citizens about the benefits they are qualified for and how
A to apply for them.

T
N
A 30
 Corporates
Corporate governance is important to investors because it reflects a company's direction and
legitimacy. Corporate governance is critical for building confidence among diverse stakeholders,
particularly between investors and other stakeholders in a company.
Goldman Sachs $1 billion investment approach, Launch With GS , is based on their data-driven
hypothesis that diverse teams produce high returns. Goldman Sachs hopes to enhance access to
financing and create connections for women, Black, Latinx, and other diverse businesses and
investors through Launch With GS.
The Anti-Money Laundering cell which is established in all banks helps ensure complete
compliance and helps maintain a fair and healthy fiscal environment in banks.

Civil Society and Individuals

Civil society organisations act as advocates for the interest-groups they represent by publicising
specific demands. Lobbying the government and legislators on such topics improves the likelihood
that their concerns will be addressed in future legislation and executive decisions.
CCS partnered with the Punjab government and GAME in 2020 to examine the Ease of Doing
Business for MSMEs and undertake a process audit of 26 public services in Punjab.
The Scott Family Fellows Program sought young professionals to work as 'special assistants' to
senior Liberian government officials, particularly cabinet ministers, to aid the Liberian government.
When politicians attempt to abuse electoral provisions, NGOs such as the Association of
Democratic Reforms (ADR), the Public Interest Law Center (PUCL) , and others have successfully
used the PIL and judicial route to regulate them.

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 31
 INTERVIEW WITH A
CHANGEMAKER

Aastha Narang is a public policy enthusiast and was working as a Senior Associate at the Centre for
Civil Society, a New Delhi based think tank.
She founded TYUF. in, a social venture working with schools across India on designing and
implementing sex education and gender inclusive curriculum modules.
P She has extensively worked on multiple welfare projects with Lok Sabha MP and DM's office in Puri,
Odisha.
R
A Tell us about your organisation and your journey

Y I work with the Policy and Outreach team at a think tank based in Delhi- Centre for Civil Society that
advances social change through public policy. As part of the Academy team, we conduct policy

A training certificate courses for a diverse audience of students, journalists, development and business
professionals, academicians, and government officials. Along with that, I run my venture - TYUF.in that

T works towards a long-term systematic policy change in the field of gender and sexuality education.

N
A 32
 What are the problems in the field of good governance?

As highlighted above the biggest problem with good governance is the lack of representation and
power of local units of governance. Very simply put, when there is a problem you see in your
residential colony you resort to the RWA for discussing that and providing for it, the reason for doing
so is RWA is your first and direct point of contact. The direct points of contact to the citizens should be
the ones providing solutions at policy levels. The policies should be decentralized with the power of
governance given to local units more.

Given the diversity in our country, it is difficult to ensure equitable and inclusive
development while being consensus-oriented. How should organisations approach both
these features that ensure good governance?

I believe organizations should work at the junction of communities and governing units. Civil Society
organizations can effectively work as the knowledge bridge between the two. Such organizations
must juggle with understanding the social fabric and needs of communities; along with the
bureaucratic limitations. I believe the way forward to inclusivity and increased representation in
governance processes is to bolster the roles of civil societies and trust their findings if they are
deemed fit. A lot of responsibility of doing this fairly also lies on the civil society organizations, they
must operate in a non-biased manner and should understand the realities before producing any
findings.

Who are the various stakeholders involved and what is their role in ensuring fair and
efficient governance?

From start to end there are multiple stakeholders involved in governance. If I speak from a policy
perspective, often it is misunderstood that the policy starts with its design and ends at
implementation. However, a very important component that must be followed after the
implementation is M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation). A thoughtful policy starts with identifying a

P
problem, designing a community-centric solution, and ultimately ending with monitoring the outcome
and impact of the same. Policies are detrimental to effective governance, hence, the most important

R stakeholders in it are policymakers, policy implementers, and people who work at the outset of
communities to understand the loopholes of effective implementation of the policy. Lastly in fact even

A more importantly are people, who are at the core of good governance, they must be responsive in
rejecting what seems to only work on paper and not in reality. The power vested in people through the

Y constitution and institutions of our country must be leveraged at all times by the people to have a
healthy ecosystem of good governance.
A
T
N
A 33
 What are the main qualities of good governance?

In my understanding, good governance is a minimal government and decentralized governance. Our

current systems and processes are extremely centralized with very little reliance on local governance
units. Whether it is policy design or implementation it's mostly a central unit dictating the approach.
Good Governance trusts the locals and enhances community-centric governance. I believe
policymakers sitting in Delhi can not design and decide for a village-based in down south.
Additionally, another component that must be a part of governance is to only govern in places where
no one else can, eg: safety, security of citizens; rule of law; defense, etc. The government should not
enter into businesses or any place where individuals/groups of individuals can work through
themselves organically.

What advice would you give to students who will be tomorrow's Leaders?

In three words - TRUST THE COMMUNITY.

At many times in our life we think that we have the knowledge which is validated by reading journals,
research papers, speaking to experts, or maybe a fancy college degree, what we don't have or will
ever have is the know-how of the community. The simple reason for that is, we can't and must not
represent the communities, the saying of passing the mic and not holding it is very relevant here.
Additionally, don't design policies and then think of which problem it can solve, to put it simply- keep
electoral needs very far away from policies. If you see a problem and if you think nothing but only a
policy can solve it, only then design a policy with utmost community representation. Make sure your
policies have sunset clauses and are flexible with the growing needs of the time.
Lastly, if you are impact-driven you must have a lot of patience to see some light at the end of the
tunnel, always.

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A 34
 EVENTS
Joy Of Giving Week
Joy of Giving Week was conducted on 25-26th October wherein we collaborated with Radhika Old-
Age Home and Sunaayy Foundation and had a one-hour session with the members. The entire idea
behind this event was to bring smiles to the faces of the members of the organisations.
On 25th, we interacted with members of Radhika Old-age home wherein we had a performances
from the music committee, Treblemakers. Post this, the members were divided into two teams and
we played ‘Anatakshari’ with them. We had even planned a Ramayana-Mahabharata based quiz for
the members.

The second e-visit was with the children at Sunaayy Foundation. The interaction started with
introduction, followed by musical performances from the Treblemakers. We had planned a movie
and cricket based visual guessing quiz for the children. The session was interactive and the
excitement was palpable. With Diwali around, and pandemic still lingering, we thought of
celebrating virtually with them and bringing happiness, however we could virtually to all.

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A
35
 VAW: Lead to Speak
Vigilance Awareness Week was celebrated from 26th October – 1st November 2021. The theme of
the event was “Independent India @75: Self Reliance with Integrity”. As part of VAW, SRF conducted
an elocution event, Lead to Speak, in association with State Bank of India. The event garnered 600
registrations across 300 institutions.

We had Mrs. Vijaya Aiyar, Director, State Bank Institute of Learning and Development, held on 30th
October. She gave insights on Vigilance, the increasing role of technology in banking and
cybersecurity.

We had Santana Pathak ma’am and Ritesh Haldankar sir to judge the event. Participants were given
various topics surrounding the theme of the event. It was inspiring to see school students going
neck to neck with b-school graduates. They were given 2 minutes to speak on the topic. After the
intense competition, Shitij Agarwal and Himashu Keshari emerged as the winners of the competition.

P December to Remember
R SRF conducted NGO Mela from December 13-19. We collaborated with seven NGOs-Mann, Saheli
World, Brahmaputra Fables, OM Creations, Aditya, The Giving Trees, and Aftertaste Foundation.
A These organizations work towards the empowerment of individuals by providing them a platform to
showcase and sell products. SRF aimed to provide an additional platform to the beneficiaries to help
Y the organizations further their cause. The revenues generated will help the beneficiaries to expand
and plan further diversification of their craftsmanship.
A
T The products ranged from handmade lamps, notebooks, pen stand to shawls and bamboo cups. It
was open to everyone and we saw highly enthusiastic customers across colleges and working

N individuals too. Especially with the festive season around, the handcrafted products were in big

A
36
 demand since not only were they intricate and unique, but there was a sense of personalization and
sentiment attached, especially given the cause it supported.

Wish Tree was celebrated on 25-26th December as a part of December to Remember. Wishes of 120
children of Sunaayy Foundation were fulfilled by students in and outside NMIMS. It was the perfect
ode to the festive season, especially with the pandemic hovering over the past two years. The
response from the participants was truly heart-warming and the smiles of children on receiving their
presents were priceless.

P
R
A
Y
A
T
N
A
37
 END NOTE
There are several examples throughout global and Indian history of how good governance has
improved people's lives while bad governance has destroyed races and nations. For example,
Bhagvad Gita contains several guidelines for good governance, leadership, sustainability, and
self-realization, all of which are constantly reinterpreted in the present context. Even Mahatma
Gandhi emphasized on importance of “swaraj” (‘Su’ means good and ‘raj’ means rule or
governance) during freedom struggle. Its importance is explicitly stated in the Indian
Constitution, which is based on the principles of a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic
republic committed to democracy, the rule of law, and people's welfare.
On 20th December the government of India has launched a nation-wide good governance
week aim to redress and dispose of public grievances and improvised service delivery down to
the village level. Various events will be convened during the week under the campaign titled
“Prasashan Gao ki aur”. It is aimed to be Citizen oriented among villages to redress their
problems and improve service delivery of government schemes. This year's Good Governance
Week will commemorate 75 years of progressive India by highlighting India's efforts in
strengthening citizen-centric governance. Honorable prime minister Narendra Modi quoted
that we are marching ahead rapidly to create a transparent system, efficient process and
smooth governance to make development all round and all inclusive.
Despite all these efforts are we really improving towards transparent and open governance is
the questionable. Incidents like farmer’s protest on farm laws, time taken in years by the courts
to give judgement, corruptions at micro level add to the doubts of the claim. India is ranked
49th in the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) 2021 out of 104 countries. Leadership
and vision, solid institutions, robust laws and regulations, attractive market place, financial

P stewardship, helping people rise, global impact and reputation are the seven pillars on which
the index is built.
R The sole purpose of this magazine is to make MBA students aware about the concept of good
governance not only as a political need but in business world as well. As citizens of the nation
A are prosperous when the government listens to them and work on their welfare and developed
future, similarly an employee feels empowered and satisfied with the policies from the leaders
Y of the organization.

A It is really possible to create fair, transparent and strong base for the propagation of good
governance that can lead to equal and inclusive environment for not only a nation but for the
T whole world.

N
A 38
 CONTACT US

To collaborate with us, email us at:

[email protected]

For more content like this, follow us:

P @srf_nmims_
R
A @srfnmims
Y
@srfnmims
A
T srfnmimsmumbai.com
N
A