सुशासन भनेको के हो ? (What is Good Governance?)

Governance

The concept of "governance" is not new. It is  as old as human civilization. Simply put  "governance" means: 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.  

Since governance is the process of decision making and the process by which decisions  are implemented, an analysis of governance  focuses on the formal and informal actors  involved in decision-making and  implementing the decisions made and the  formal and informal structures that have been  set in place to arrive at and implement the  decision.  

Government is one of the actors in  governance. Other actors involved in  governance vary depending on the level of  government that is under discussion. In rural  areas, for example, other actors may include  influential land lords, associations of peasant  farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research  institutes, religious leaders, finance  institutions political parties, the military etc.  The situation in urban areas is much more  complex. Figure 1 provides the  interconnections between actors involved in  urban governance. At the national level, in  addition to the above actors, media,  lobbyists, international donors, multi-national  corporations, etc. may play a role in decision making or in influencing the decision-making  process.  

All actors other than government and the  military are grouped together as part of the  "civil society." In some countries in addition to  the civil society, organized crime syndicates  also influence decision-making, particularly in  urban areas and at the national level.  

Similarly formal government structures are  one means by which decisions are arrived at  and implemented. At the national level,  informal decision-making structures, such as  "kitchen cabinets" or informal advisors may  exist. In urban areas, organized crime  syndicates such as the "land Mafia" may  influence decision-making. In some rural  areas locally powerful families may make or  influence decision-making. Such, informal  decision-making is often the result of corrupt  practices or leads to corrupt practices.  

Good Governance 

सुशासन भनेको व्यक्तिको मानव अधिकार र नागरिक स्वतन्त्रताको रक्षा गर्ने न्याय र शान्तिमा स्थापित प्रणाली सिर्जना गर्न प्रतिबद्ध सरकारको दृष्टिकोण हो। संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघका अनुसार , सहभागिता, कानुनको शासन, पारदर्शिता, उत्तरदायित्व, सहमति उन्मुख, समानता र समावेशीता, प्रभावकारिता र दक्षता र जवाफदेहिताका आठ कारकहरूद्वारा सुशासनको मापन गरिन्छ। 

Good governance has 8 major  characteristics. It is participatory, consensus  oriented, accountable, transparent,  responsive, effective and efficient, equitable  and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It  assures that corruption is minimized, the  views of minorities are taken into account  and that the voices of the most vulnerable in  society are heard in decision-making. It is  also responsive to the present and future  needs of society.  

Participation  

सहभागिताका लागि सबै समूहहरू, विशेष गरी सबैभन्दा कमजोर, सरकारको प्रणालीहरूमा प्रत्यक्ष वा प्रतिनिधि पहुँच हुनु आवश्यक छ। यो सङ्गठन र अभिव्यक्तिको स्वतन्त्रता भएको बलियो नागरिक समाज र नागरिकको रूपमा प्रकट हुन्छ।

Participation by both men and women is a  key cornerstone of good governance.  Participation could be either direct or through  legitimate intermediate institutions or  representatives. It is important to point out  that representative democracy does not  necessarily mean that the concerns of the  most vulnerable in society would be taken  into consideration in decision making.  Participation needs to be informed and  organized. This means freedom of  association and expression on the one hand  and an organized civil society on the other  hand.  

Rule of law  

कानूनको शासन सबै नागरिकहरू, विशेष गरी अल्पसंख्यकहरूको मानव अधिकार र नागरिक स्वतन्त्रताको रक्षा गर्ने निष्पक्ष कानुनी प्रणालीहरूद्वारा उदाहरण हो। यो स्वतन्त्र न्यायिक शाखा र भ्रष्टाचारमुक्त प्रहरी बलले संकेत गर्छ। 

Good governance requires fair legal  frameworks that are enforced impartially. It  also requires full protection of human rights,  particularly those of minorities. Impartial  enforcement of laws requires an independent  judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible  police force.  

 

Transparency  

पारदर्शिता भनेको नागरिकहरूले निर्णय गर्ने माध्यम र तरिकालाई बुझ्न र पहुँच राख्नु हो, विशेष गरी यदि तिनीहरू त्यस्ता निर्णयहरूबाट प्रत्यक्ष रूपमा प्रभावित हुन्छन्। यो जानकारी एक बुझ्न योग्य र पहुँचयोग्य ढाँचामा प्रदान गरिनु पर्छ, सामान्यतया मिडिया मार्फत अनुवाद। 

Transparency means that decisions taken  and their enforcement are done in a manner  that follows rules and regulations. It also  means that information is freely available and  directly accessible to those who will be  affected by such decisions and their  enforcement. It also means that enough  information is provided and that it is provided  in easily understandable forms and media.  

 

Responsiveness  

जवाफदेहिता भनेको संस्थाहरूले आफ्ना सरोकारवालाहरूलाई उचित समय सीमाभित्र प्रतिक्रिया दिनु मात्र समावेश गर्दछ।जवाफदेहिता भनेको संस्थाहरू अन्ततः जनता र एकअर्काप्रति उत्तरदायी हुनु हो । यसमा सरकारी निकाय, नागरिक समाज र निजी क्षेत्र सबै एकअर्काप्रति उत्तरदायी पनि छन्। 

Good governance requires that institutions  and processes try to serve all stakeholders  within a reasonable timeframe. 

Figure : Characteristics of good governance

Consensus oriented  

सहमति उन्मुख एक एजेन्डा द्वारा प्रदर्शन गरिएको छ जुन धेरै फरक आवश्यकताहरू, दृष्टिकोणहरू, र विविध नागरिकहरूको अपेक्षाहरू बीच मध्यस्थता गर्न खोज्छ। समुदायको ऐतिहासिक, सांस्कृतिक र सामाजिक सन्दर्भको गहिरो बुझाइलाई प्रतिबिम्बित गर्ने तरिकामा निर्णयहरू गर्न आवश्यक छ। 

There are several actors and as many view  points in a given society. Good governance  requires mediation of the different interests in  society to reach a broad consensus in society  on what is in the best interest of the whole  community and how this can be achieved. It  also requires a broad and long-term  perspective on what is needed for  sustainable human development and how to  achieve the goals of such development. This  can only result from an understanding of the  historical, cultural and social contexts of a  given society or community.  

Equity and inclusiveness  

इक्विटी र समावेशीता भनेको समुदायका सबै सदस्यहरूले आफ्नो भलाइ सुधार गर्न वा कायम राख्न, विशेष गरी ती व्यक्ति र समूहहरू जो सबैभन्दा कमजोर छन् भन्ने कुरामा समावेश र सशक्त महसुस गर्ने कुरामा निर्भर गर्दछ। 

A society’s well being depends on ensuring  that all its members feel that they have a  stake in it and do not feel excluded from the  mainstream of society. This requires all  groups, but particularly the most vulnerable,  have opportunities to improve or maintain  their well being.  

Effectiveness and efficiency  

प्रभावकारिता र दक्षता समाजको आवश्यकताहरू पूरा गर्न स्रोतहरूको दिगो प्रयोग मार्फत विकास गरिन्छ। स्थायित्व भनेको सामाजिक लगानीहरू सुनिश्चित गर्नु र प्राकृतिक स्रोतहरू भावी पुस्ताहरूका लागि कायम राख्नु हो।

Good governance means that processes and  institutions produce results that meet the  needs of society while making the best use of  resources at their disposal. The concept of  efficiency in the context of good governance  also covers the sustainable use of natural  resources and the protection of the  environment.  

Accountability  

Accountability is a key requirement of good  governance. Not only governmental  institutions but also the private sector and  civil society organizations must be  accountable to the public and to their  institutional stakeholders. Who is  accountable to whom varies depending on  whether decisions or actions taken are  internal or external to an organization or  institution. In general an organization or an  institution is accountable to those who will be  affected by its decisions or actions.  Accountability cannot be enforced without  transparency and the rule of law.  

Conclusion 

From the above discussion it should be clear that  good governance is an ideal which is difficult to  achieve in its totality. Very few countries and  societies have come close to achieving good  governance in its totality. However, to ensure  sustainable human development, actions must be  taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of  making it a reality.