Right to Information:Right to Information:A Tool to Good Governance through A Tool to Good Governance through

TransparencyTransparency

Right to Information:Right to Information:A Tool to Good Governance through A Tool to Good Governance through

TransparencyTransparency

Dr. P.K. MohantyJoint Secretary & Mission Director (JNNURM)

Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India, New Delhi

pkmohanty_ed@yahoo.com

Market:

Creating opportunities for people

Civil Society:

Mobilising peoples’ participation

State: Creating a favourable political, legal & economic environment

Governance: Three Key Actors

Governance: Three Key Actors

Governance: Interplay of Multiple Interfaces

Governance: Interplay of Multiple Interfaces

State

MarketCivil

society

Employer Organizations, Trade Unions,

etc.

NGOs, Cooperatives,

etc.

Private Voluntary

Organizationsetc.

State: Legislature, Executive & Judiciary

Market: Private Sector Civil Society: Peoples’Institutions

Addressing Governance Addressing Governance

Governance:

“Exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the management of a country’s affairs at all levels, including social and economic resources.”

“Comprises mechanisms, processes and institutions through which citizens & groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations and mediate their differences.”

Dimensions of GovernanceDimensions of Governance

• Exercise of authority: political, administrative and

economic

• Use of inputs - resources: social, economic, human

• Outcomes: social, economic, human development

• Delivery mechanisms and processes

• Institutions: formal and informal

• Participation of citizens and groups

• Mediation and conflict resolution mechanisms

• Institutional and managerial capacity to govern

The Good Governance Paradigm The Good Governance Paradigm

Good Governance

Strategic Vision & Consensus Orientation

Good Governance

Accountable

Responsive

Transparent

Equitable & Inclusive

Effective & Efficient

Rule of Law

Participatory

Service Delivery: Three Key Elements

Policy-making

ImplementationAssessment

Improving Service Delivery:A Framework

Improving Service Delivery:A Framework

• Adopting a Holistic Approach

• Enhancing Accountability

• Focusing Governance on the People

• Improving Performance

• Targeting the Poor & Disadvantaged

• Ushering in Transparency

Improving Service Delivery:Adopting a Holistic ApproachImproving Service Delivery:

Adopting a Holistic Approach

STAFF SKILLSSHARED

VALUES

STYLE

SITUATION

STRUCTURE

STRATEGY

SYSTEMS & PROCESSES

People First: Centering Governance on People

People First: Centering Governance on People

• Consultation: People should be consulted regarding service levels & service quality

• Service Standards: People must be made aware of what to expect in terms of level and quality of services

• Access: People should have equal access to the services to which they are entitled

• Courtesy: People should be treated with courtesy and consideration

• Information: People must receive full and accurate information about their services

People First: Centering Governance on People

People First: Centering Governance on People

• Openness and Transparency: People should be informed about the operation, budget and management structures of government departments

• Redress: People are entitled to an apology, explanation and remedial action if the promised standard of service is not delivered

• Value for Money: Public services should be provided economically and efficiently

Contd…..

The Customer is RightThe Customer is Right

Rule No. 1

The customer is always right.

Rule No. 2

If you find the customer is wrong then return immediately to Rule 1.

Stew Leonard

Dimensions of AccountabilityDimensions of Accountability

Legal

Accountability

Performance

Accountability

Financial

Accountability

Public Accountability

Adherence and conformance to legal and administrative rules, code of conduct etc.

How responsive and accountable are power holders to their clients and citizens

How power holders manage public funds

Meeting specified performance standards and targets based on verifiable indicators

Enhancing Public Accountability: Nurturing & Sharing Values

Enhancing Public Accountability: Nurturing & Sharing Values

Probity

Objectivity

SelflessNess

OpennessAccount-

Ability

Leadership

Honesty

Integrity

Improving Performance

“Government is famous for endless figures and forms. To an outsider, it seems like an industry that pays an enormous amount of attention to numbers. People in government are always counting something or churning out some statistical report. But most of this counting is focused on inputs; how much is spent, how many are served, level of service each person receives. Very seldom does it focus on outcomes, on results ”

David Osborne and Ted Gaebler; Reinventing Government, 1992

Why Measure Performance?

What gets measured gets done.

If you don’t measure results, you cant tell success form failure.

If you can’t see success, you can’t reward it.

If you can’t reward success, you are probably rewarding failure.

If you can’t see success, you can’t learn from it

If you can’t recognize failure, you can’t correct it.

If you can demonstrate results, you can win public support.

Osborne & Gaebler, 1992

INPUTSPROCESSES OUTPUTS OUTCOMES

EXTERNAL

EXTERNAL

Performance Measurement Framework: Outlay-Output-Outcome Linkages

Planning Process Development Priorities

& Objectives

Review & Measure Performance

Key Performance Indicators

Measurable Targets

Monitor Performance

Community Participation

Co

mm

un

ity

Par

tici

pat

ion

Co

mm

un

ity

Par

tici

pat

ion

s

Instituting Performance Management

Draw Lessons

Report

Improve Performance

Importance of Knowledge

Right to Information Act 2005:Promoting Good Governance through

Transparency

Right to Information Act 2005:Promoting Good Governance through

Transparency• Any body owned, controlled or substantially

financed directly or indirectly by Government’ – defined as a public authority

• Information includes that “relating to a private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force”

• Section 4 (1)b of RTI Act – Suo motu Disclosure on 17 Items

• Disposal of Information Requests• Central & State Information Commissions• Information Commission’s Report to

Legislature• Annual Disclosure by all Public Authorities

Role of ICT in Information Management & Good Governance

Role of ICT in Information Management & Good Governance

• Demystifying Opaque Government Processes and Procedures

• Effective Information Management for Decision-making & Implementation

• Promoting One Stop-shop Service Delivery & Reducing Direct Interface between Service-providers and Citizens

• Improving Tracking of Performance, Enhancing Accountability and Transparency

Right to Information: A Central Piece in Good Governance

Right to Information: A Central Piece in Good Governance

TransformTransform

Conform Conform

Perform Perform

Inform Inform

Reform Reform

Form Form

Thank YouThank You