Good Governance Day
Good Governance Day (Hindi: सुशासन दिवस, IAST: Suśāsan Divas) is observed in India annually on the twenty-fifth day of December.
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose birthday on 25 December is celebrated as ‘Good Governance Day’, has been lauded for his policies on Kashmir since he became the prime minister of India for the first time in 1996.
Atal BihariVajpayee held the position of prime minister (the second time around) between 1998 and 2004. His approach towards addressing the Kashmir issue came to be called the Vajpayee Doctrine. It also included improving relations with neighbouring Pakistan. The Vajpayee doctrine on Kashmir first coined the slogan ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat, Kashmiriyat’, which meant humanity, peace, and keeping the sanctity of the people of Kashmir. His doctrine aimed at achieving peace, progress and prosperity in the Valley. Established in 2014, Good Governance Day aims to create awareness among the people about accountability of Government and governance.
Meaning of Good Governance
In order to understand the concept of good governance we shall first have to know the meaning of governance. What is governance? It has been defined as the use of power and authority by those in government to provide goods and services to the people to uphold the common good and fulfill the aspirations and needs of the common man. Governance, therefore, is concerned with power, strategies, policies, plans and projects that aim at improving the substance or quality of life.
The following features formed part of good governance:
- Law and order
- People caring administration
- Justice and rationality as the basis of decision
- Corruption free governance
The World Bank in its reports of 1989 and 1992, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Commission on Global Governance (1995), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 1997 have all dealt with the attributes of good governance extensively.
By: Suparna Behera
Teacher
(Primary Department)
