GOVERNANCE FOR GROWTH IN INDIA by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Author:A.P.J. Abdul Kalam [Kalam, A.P.J. Abdul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rupa Publications
Published: 2014-05-14T18:30:00+00:00

Transparency is the basis of good governance, and a clean conscience is the basis of transparency. Once the conscience is clear there can be no difficulty in making one’s actions an open book. Similarly, in a government, making information available to all the stakeholders of the system is not only commendable but essential for the better functioning of the state.

The Effects of Corruption

Righteousness in the heart

leads to order in the nation.

Certain Experiences in Governance

It is well known that in government schemes and welfare projects, sometimes there is fictitious reporting or the full money allotted is shown as spent and claims of objectives being fully met are not backed up by proper evidence to corroborate the claims.

Thus we can see that in the absence of a non-transparent system, a well-intentioned programme fails to produce the desired results. This clearly shows the effect of corruption on governance and the failure of our system to protect the human rights of citizens.

The next area I would like to touch upon is the corruption level as reported in different states based on certain studies.

The levels vary from one state to next and the reasons for this should be established. Can it be due to political awareness? Can it be due to better Human Development Index? Can it be due to an alert media? Can it be due to women’s empowerment? It may be useful to study these aspects and assess the possible reasons, so that they can be emulated by other states.

Identifying the Heroes

In any village or panchayat or district, we will always find at least a few corruption-free good human beings. We may even find pockets of corruption-free societies. If these can be identified and celebrated, we can create a nearly corruption-free state. The real-world examples of corruption-free individuals and groups and societies must be discussed publicly, so that they can become examples to be followed in the country. A nation can be corruption free only when its states are corruption free; a state can be corruption free only if its districts are corruption free; a district can be corruption free only if its panchayats are corruption free; a panchayat can be corruption free only if the people are corruption free; and people can be corruption free only if they have imbibed these values from their childhood.

Certain Experiences in Societal Life

The creation of a corruption-free society depends heavily on the environment at home, the school, the society and the government, besides on the individual. Let me discuss the various components of this complex fabric.

Corruption-Free Society Starts at Home

On 21 November 2005, I visited Adichunchanagiri Math to attend a function of the Foundation for Unity of Religions and Enlightened Citizenship. There, I interacted with over 54,000 students of various schools and colleges of Karnataka. There, a tenth-standard student, M. Bhavani, studying at Adichunchanagiri Composite High School, Shimoga, asked me the following question: ‘Sir, I would like to be a citizen of a corruption-free nation. Please tell me, as a student, how can I contribute?’

The agony of a young mind is reflected in this question.

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