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Role of Civil Society in Promoting Good Governance in Mizoram

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Role of Civil Society in Promoting Good Governance in Mizoram ++,) ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN MIZORAM David Zothansanga, Ph.D Department of Public Administration Pachhunga University College Aizawl, Mizoram Abstract Recently the terms “governance” and “good governance” are being increasingly used in development literature. The concept of “governance” is not new. It is as old as human civilization. People and governments are looking to civil society as active partners in the delivery of services. The article looks at the role of civil society in promoting good governance in Mizoram. The role of the Civil Society in the State started when the Church tried to bring peace due to insurgency. The real role played by the Civil Society for good governance came into prominence with the rise of the consciousness of the people in the late 1990s. People became more aware of good governance and various NGOs have taken up the cause for good governance. Keywords: Civil Society, Good Governance, NGO’s, Mizoram. Introduction been called as the first sector, the private The notion of civil society has sector model for economic development gained ascendancy in the past decade. and for profit enterprises as the second It is now being equated with a variety of sector and civil society as the third sector different tendencies that have existed in of non profit associational life. In societies throughout the world. In the political discourse, the meaning attached development discourse, it is being to civil society is somewhat different and argued that civil society provides a third linked to the processes of leg to the ‘trinity’ model of development. democratisation and participation in a The state led public sector model has given context. 44 Civil Society the state, terrorist, family, caste/class or Civil society as an intellectual organised religion. construct gained prominence with the Civil Society thus refers to the set advent of modernity in the western world of institutions, organisations and during the 17th century. The concept behaviour situated between the State, the evolved with the developments in other business world and the family. Specifically spheres such as, economy, polity and this includes voluntary and non-profit knowledge. Events like the growth of the organisations of different kinds, institutions of private property, spread of philanthropic, initiations, social and urbanisation, replacement of the despotic political movements, other forms of social state by the liberal state etc. contributed participation and engagement and the immensely to the meaning of the term values and cultural patterns associated civil society. The rise of capitalism had, with them. however, led to clear distinction between political and non-political and thus Civil society is composed of prepared the ground for the emergence autonomous associations which develop of civil society as a separate domain from, a dense, diverse and pluralistic network. the state.Since then, the term civil society Such civil societies are formed by people has also undergone several who have common needs, interests and transformations.The concept of civil values like tolerance, inclusion, society, according to SatishSaberwal, is a cooperation and equality; and social space which has three qualities. Its development through a fundamentally first quality is that in this social space, endogenous and autonomous process decisions and choices have to be made on which cannot be easily controlled from the basis of reason and of knowledge. The outside. second quality of civil society space is that Some of the important its members have to relate to each other components of Civil Society are open-endedly, without exclusion on the community based organisations such as grounds of religion, gender and so forth. youth organisations and groups, women The civil society space, consequently, can groups and organisations, religious carry a great variety of associations whose associations, cooperatives, trade unions membership is open. The third quality is and farmers’ organisations. in the decision making and choices. The civil society, space should be free from Civil society can have positive coercive pressures which may take various influence on the state and market and forms emanating from such agencies as increasingly recognized as important 45 agent for promoting good governance governmental institutions to ensure good like transparency, effectiveness, openness, governance. responsiveness and accountability. Civil The World Bank first bought about society can further and improve the concept of “good governance” into governance, first, by policy analysis and development discourse. The bank’s advocacy; second , by regulating and experience of failure of its economic policies monitoring of state performance and the in African countries led to the Bank to action and behaviour of the public attribute the failure to “bad governance” officials; third, by building social capital indicating administrative inefficiency, and enabling citizens to identify and corruption, lack of transparencyand other articulate their values, beliefs, civic norms administrative short comingsin these and democratic practices; fourth, by countries. The conceptualisation of “bad mobilising particular constituencies, governance” then leads to the particularly the vulnerable and conceptualisation of “good governance” marginalized section of masses, to which includes parameters like participate more fully in politics and administrative efficiency, rule of law, public affairs; and fifth, by development accountability and transparency. work to improve the wellbeing of their UNDP defines good governance own and other communities. as the existence of a network of institutions of government coupled with Governance laws and regulations that together create The growing disenchantment and maintain a social environment in with governmental institutions, its failure which human development takes place to meet expectations, the persistent and for all groups of society. Good problem of poverty, increasing distance governance is thus, a subset of of the elite dominated institutions of the governance, wherein public resources government and other such negative and problems are managed effectively, factors and on the other hand the efficiently and in response to the needs increasing awareness of the limitations of of society. Public Participation in the government and development of influencing decision making, national and transnational business transparency, and accountability are thus interests have led to emphasis on good the hallmarks of good governance. governance. This in turn led to awareness The following points need to be of the obligation of the citizens and kept in mind while elaborating the institutions in the society along with principles of good governance: 46 a) universal protection of human within a larger social system. The State rights; operates through its various elements – legislature, executive, judiciary and, in a b) rule of law that is implemented democracy, political parties. in a non-discriminatory manner; One of the most conspicuous role c) efficient, impartial and quick played by the civil society is in the area of judicial system; articulating the citizens’ interest and d) accountability of decisions made demands. The importance of civil society about public issues and public can be better appreciated when State resources by public leaders and policies and programs of the government officials; do not take account sufficiently of needs of the poor or some vulnerable sections. e) devolution of resources and Civil society bridges the gap by way of decision –making power to local representing the interest of the people. levels and bodies in rural and urban areas; and Civil society plays the crucial role in mobilizing social capital. Social capital is f) participation and inclusion of all a resource that any community possesses citizens in debating public to some level and it can help in resolving policies and choices. multiple problems of a collective nature. Civil society can improve the State and Civil Society accountability profile of the government. The civil society has always been looked at a sphere distinct from the State, Role of Civil Society in Good ignoring the important linkages between Governance the two. Many social theorists have The strength of Civil Society considered the state as the creation of civil depending on its strength can have a society for protecting the life and positive influence on the State and the property of citizens. While championing market. Ithas become an increasingly the sovereignty of the state, they did not important agent for promoting good deny the ruler’s obligation to assure rights governance like transparency, to the civil society. In recent times, the effectiveness, openness, responsiveness concept of State has undergone and accountability. considerable change. Sociologist no more Governance has three level – (a) internal use the term as the embodiment of system and procedures; (b) cutting edge coercive power and sovereignty, but as a systems and procedures; and (c) check- system having several parts and operating and-balance systems. 47 At level (a), Civil Society can Watchdog – against violations of human influence policy and project formulation rights and governance deficiencies; (ii) through membership of committees, Advocate – of the weaker sections’ point submission of memoranda directly or of view; (iii) Agitator
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