Human-Centric Governance

Public governance needs to be improved to fulfill the fundamental aspirations of the people on the one hand and meet the challenges of globalisation on the other. It should ensure that the governed live in dignity as equal partners in a joint enterprise. Their basic needs should be met as befits a civilized society. Public services should be delivered most efficiently at the least cost. The sinews of good governance are that the governed clearly see for themselves which public office is responsible for what function, whether the most suitable person is appointed to each office, whether the holder of each office is granted the needed authority and resources to deliver, and whether arrangements are in place to hold him squarely accountable for performance.The institutional arrangements suggested focus on restoring the sovereignty of the people to its primary place, as intended in the Constitution, i.e., ‘human-centric’ development. The chances of reforms in the system of governance would improve manifold if they were related to the values and traditions of the people. In this context, the age-old concept of dharma, that imposes reciprocal and mutual obligations on everyone, is particularly useful. In a dharmic society, rights and duties are two sides of the same coin. In a milieu where everyone performs his or her duty, there would be no need to clamour for rights.