Contents: Foreword. Preface. I. Introduction and institutions: 1. Good governance: i. Meaning, scope and significance. ii. New and emerging areas. 2. Role of legislature in good governance. 3. Judicial control and good governance. 4. Good governance and the executive. II. Essentials: 5. People's participation for good governance. 6. Tackling corruption. 7. Administrative reforms. 8. Administrative ethics. III. Recent developments: 9. Right to Information Act, 2005 and good governance. 10. Consumers' protection machinery: Consumers Protection Act, 1986 as amended today. 11. Human rights and duties: essentials for good governance. 12. Rural development with special reference to national Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. 13. Strengthening good governance in rural local government (73 Amendment). 14. Good governance for strengthening urban local government through democratic decentralisation (74 Amendment). 15. Citizen's defender. 16. Women empowerment policy, 2001, and Domestic Violence Act, 2005. 17. Civil service tribunals and good governance. Appendix: the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. Bibliography. Index.
"Good governance is an essential ingredient for socio economic development of the country. The Government of India and State Governments come out with new ideas and approaches but these do not succeed when put to action because of lack of good governance. Good governance is of paramount importance in these times of far reaching changes. In this backdrop of major changes, we need to re-orient ourselves to deliver ways and means to promote good governance. No government of course can hope to survive without a strong and effective good governance not can an administrative system exist without the support of those it was established to serve.
Hon'ble Shri T.N. Chaturvedi rightly says in his foreword to this book: "Good Governance is a Buzzword these days. But its conceptual background and operational implications are not fully understood. It is here that Dr. S.L. Goel's is indeed a successful effort. His integral approach is meaningful. Good governance does not merely exhaust itself by dealing as to how excellence can be ensured within the sphere of governmental administration. It is all the more so when the role of the government is being redefined in the context of liberalization, privatization and globalization, which require that the initiatives and potential of all sections of society are allowed to fructify and maximise without let or hindrance."
This book juxtaposes the issues of good governance which are vital and essential for our country. It is high time that we should not blame the colonial rule even after 60 years of independence. We are free to bring out changes in our system suited to our country to project good governance in theory and practice. It is hoped that this book would promote interest among academia, administrators, politicians, judicial offers, as the subject is of great importance and interdisciplinary in nature." (jacket)
