Barriers To Good Governance

This article gives an introduction about the lack of accountability and the reasons behind a lack of good governance. It explains in detail some of the major reasons for barriers in good governance, such as red-tapism, ineffective implementation of rules and laws, very low level of awareness of rights and duties among citizens, and the lack of accountability.

Aspirants would find this article very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam.

Barriers to Good Governance – Introduction

The reasons for Governments not being citizen-centric can be attributed to the work and attitude of some government servants, the deficiencies in existing institutional structures and also to some citizens.

While the laws made by the Legislature may be relevant and sound, most of the time they are not implemented properly by government functionaries.

The institutional structure provided may be also weak at times and ill-conceived and thus has neither the capacity nor the resources to implement the laws in letter and spirit.

Prime Minister, in this context, had stated:

“Efficient and effective institutions form the backbone of a successful development and governance process. The founding fathers had the foresight to build the important institutional framework which has brought us so far. We need to think whether this framework is adequate in the years to come; whether past modes of functioning will address the demands of the future in a fast-changing world; whether skills and capabilities that were relevant in the past have outlived their utility? It is only by asking and answering these questions will we be able to identify institutional reforms which will meet the needs of our times. ­”

You can check out the Indian Polity Notes on the Good Governance by visiting the given link.

1. The system often suffers from problems of excessive centralization and policies and action plans are far removed from the citizens’ needs. This ultimately results in a mismatch between what is required and what is being provided.
2. Inadequate capacity building of personnel who are the ones to implement the laws also results in policies and laws not being implemented properly.
3. Further, lack of awareness about duties and rights and callous approach to compliance with laws on the part of some of the citizens also create barriers to good governance.
4. Attitudinal Problems of the Civil Servants­ is a growing concern that the Civil Services and administration in general, have become inflexible, wooden, inward-looking and self-perpetuating.
5. Consequently, their attitude is one of insensitivity and indifference to the needs of citizens. It is coupled with the enormous asymmetry in the wielding of power at all levels, which has further aggravated the situation. ­
6. The end result is that officers perceive themselves as dispensing favours to citizens rather than serving them and given the abject poverty, illiteracy, etc. a culture of exaggerated deference to authority has become the norm.

Given below are major reasons for the inefficiency of Good Governance-

Lack of Accountability

1. A common reason usually cited for inefficiency in governance is the inability within the system to hold the Civil Services accountable for their actions.
2. Seldom are disciplinary proceedings initiated against delinquent government servants and imposition of penalties is even rarer.
3. It ­is primarily because at most levels authority is divorced from accountability leading to a system of realistic and plausible alibis.
4. Cumbersome disciplinary procedures have added to the general apathy towards discipline in Government. Moreover, the safeguards provided to civil servants, – which were well-intentioned – have often been misused.
5. Another reason for the lack of accountability is that performance evaluation systems within the government have not been effectively structured. ­
6. The complacency that the system breeds have resulted in employees adopting an apathetic or lackadaisical attitude towards citizens and their grievances.

Candidates can go the following links to prepare well for the upcoming UPSC exam-

Low Levels of Awareness of the Rights and Duties of Citizens

1. Inadequate awareness about their rights prevents citizens from holding erring government servants to account.
2. Similarly, low levels of compliance of Rules by the citizens also act as an impediment to good governance; When citizens do not adhere to their duties they infringe on the freedom and rights of other citizens. Thus, awareness of rights and adherence to duties are two sides of the same coin.
3. A vigilant citizenry, fully aware of its rights as well its duties, is perhaps the best way to ensure that officials as well as other citizens, discharge their duties effectively and honestly.

Weak Civil Society

1. Good governance is badly affected by weak civil society institutions.
2. Civil society bridges the gap between the governed and the government. It checks the growth of unethical practices.
3. But, when the Civil Society institutions are weakened or they are absent the gap between people and the government gets widened.

Ineffective Implementation of Laws and Rules

1. There is a large body of laws in the country, each legislated with different objectives – maintaining public order and safety, maintaining sanitation and hygiene, protecting rights of citizens, giving special protection to the vulnerable sections etc.
2. Effective implementation of these laws creates an environment that would improve the welfare of all citizens and at the same time, encourage each citizen to contribute his best towards the development of society.
3. On the other hand, weak implementation can cause a great deal of hardship to citizens and even erode the faith of the citizenry in the government machinery.