The Indian subcontinent is more or less like a beehive – there’s the Queen bee, the Prime Minister, and all the other bees or government officers work for him. The only difference is how efficiently they function. The bees form a quintessential example of unity – they work together to make honey, which is sweet. Who doesn’t say the Prime Minister should learn a lesson from the queen bee?
What is good
governance? It aims at making public administration more open, transparent and
accountable. For making this happen to the government, we need to review what’s
wrong with the system –take step by step decisions to enhance it.
Governance in India is
in a complete mess. We are plagued with avoidable poverty, crime, illiteracy,
dysfunctional healthcare, and broken infrastructure. Required investments
haven’t been given much attention. Each
of these problems is addressed on paper, but hardly anything happens on the
ground.
Citizens helplessly watch government
funds being squandered away on things that they may not require. But when
people approach government for something they badly need, the reply is there
are no funds.
For instance, a slum in East Delhi
does not have water. But the MCD spent Rs 60 lakhs to construct fountains!
It’s
hard to see a scenario where India can sustain its progress without addressing all
these issues.
And now
the question arises… What can be done?
The
common people should increase their knowledge regarding this topic – the first
step to social reform is awareness.
Your
second initiative should be to VOTE! Vote and elect a deserving candidate who
can manage the country decisively. As Abraham Lincoln says, elections are your
decision.
The Right to Information Act has been a big revolution, contributing to the transparency of the system, eventually a step to abolish corruption. The people should understand their rights and fight against malediction
Common
people have too many problems with the government. Why not solve them?
Participate in various campaigns, be part of NGO’s. By doing this, bring about
the change every citizen yearns for.
All day
we crib how corrupt India is, but, have WE done anything to abrogate the
practice? Hard to believe it, but even common people give bribes and hoard
illegal money – it isn’t just the government. We should realise our wrongdoings
and set an example for the government. The politicians notoriously known for malfeasance
should be immediately convicted.
India’s
democratic experience of the past six decades has clearly established that good
governance must aim at expansion of social opportunities and removal of
poverty. And that’s what we’ve to fight for, for never letting the eyes of our
race tear up with sadness that can be replaced with joy. A day will come when the
benefaction dawns upon us, and we work for this day.
‘The
time is always right to do right’ - Nelson Mandela
