Governance and inclusive growth

Governance is one of the key factors shaping the future of India. If the international data on perception of corruption is indicative of any pattern it shows that there is a positive relationship between good governance and economic growth and poverty removal. For good governance the government has to work at several levels. Administrative reforms, improving transparency, schemes for backward social groups and regions, public-private partnership, and intervention in market to help the needy are some of them. After independence government in India has adopted several measures towards them. However, there is a gap between theory and practice. Evaluation studies of development programmes and media reports have documented gaps between intentions and achievements at the grassroots levels, the extent of which varies from region to region, and sector to sector. In a democratic country like India good governance means that people of India are able to realize their dream of growth and justice. Although a general definition of governance includes government as well as non-government sectors, corporate power and local power structure the major player in this is the government. Government must ensure that the people of India are empowered, government decisions are transparent; the policies aim at helping the disadvantaged, and are implemented effectively and efficiently.