Good Governance Initiatives in India

To address governance concerns, India has implemented a variety of good governance projects. The following are a few of them: 

• Right to information act
• E-Governance and use of ICT tools
• 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment to decentralise people participation
• Aspirational district program to eliminate regional disparities
• Social audit
• Citizen charter
• Codification of labour
• Insolvency and bankruptcy law
• Centralised public grievance redress and monitoring system (CPGRAMS for public grievance redress.)
• Sevottam model of service delivery
• Impetus to social infrastructure projects, resulting in more jobs, improved ease of life, and equitable access to infrastructure for all, making growth more inclusive. Economic and social infrastructure projects are included in the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).

Six principles of citizen charter movement as originally framed were: 

1. Quality: improving the quality of service
2. Choice: wherever possible choice should be provided 
3. Standards: describe what to expect and how to act if standards aren’t met
4. Value: for the taxpayers money
5. Accountability: of individuals and organisation
6. Transparency: transparency of rules/procedures/schemes/grievances. 

These principles were elaborated by the labour government as nine principles of service delivery (1998)

1. Set standards of services
2. Be open and provide full information
3. Consult and involve
4. Encourage access and promotion of choice
5. Treat all fairly
6. Put things right when they go wrong
7. Use resources effectively
8. Innovate and improve
9. Work with other providers

Core principles to follow (To have good governance in India):

1. Rule of Law: All public agencies should adopt a zero-tolerance strategy towards crime and focus should be given on compliance with laws for maintenance of the public order.
2. Vibrant, Responsive and Accountable Institutions: ‘Rule of Law’ requires institutions that are adequately empowered and accountable. Personnel and resources of good quality can ensure effective implementation.
3. Active Citizens’ Participation – decentralisation and Delegation: Improve delivery mechanism with greater citizens’ involvement and empower local selfgovernment.
4. Transparency: Openness in the everyday functioning of the administration is a hallmark of a citizen-centric approach.
5. Civil Service Reforms: The attitude and efficiency of civil officials determine a citizen’s experience with the government. As a result, restructure the civil service.
6. Ethics in Governance: Every profession, voluntary organisation and civil society structures requires ethics because of their involvement in the governance.
7. Finally, citizens too must have ethical behaviour as it could directly influence the ethics in governance.
8. Evaluation for the Quality of Governance: “What is not monitored never gets done” 

• It should be periodic and well maintained.
• This underscores the need to evaluate the quality of governance at all levels periodically.
• Both, external as well as internal evaluation is expected.