“Governance” is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).
Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance.
Principles of Good Governance are listed below: –
Participation:
– People should be able to voice their own opinions through legitimate immediate organizations or representatives.
-This includes men and women, vulnerable sections of society, backward classes, minorities, etc.
Rule of Law:
-Legal framework should be enforced impartially, especially on human rights laws.
Equity and Inclusiveness:
-Good governance assures an equitable society.
Accountability:
-Good governance aims towards betterment of people, and this cannot take place without the government being accountable to the people.
Transparency:
– Information should be accessible to the public and should be understandable and monitored.
Ethical conduct: –
-The public good is placed before individual interests.
-There are effective measures to prevent and combat all forms of corruption.
Why is good governance important?
– To preserve and strengthen stakeholder confidence – nothing distracts an organization more than having to deal with a disgruntled stakeholder group caused by a lack of confidence in the governing body.
– To ensure the organization is well placed to respond to a changing external environment –business today operates in an environment of constant change. Technology has created an information age that has transformed our world, and for business to both survive and remain profitable to enable it to fulfil its mission and achieve its vision, a system must be in place to assist an organization to identify changes in both the external environment and emerging trends.
In summary, governance encompasses the processes by which organizations are directed, controlled and held to account. It includes the authority, accountability, leadership, direction and control exercised in an organization.
Good governance does not guarantee long term success. The true test of ‘good’ governance is the degree to which it delivers on the promise of human rights, civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.
With regards
Ms.Lavish Raheja
Indian Media Council