Public Accountability in Public Administration

Public accountability means that a person or official holding a public office in the field of public administration is accountable to his / her clients and the general public. This includes the notion that the officials involved in the system of governance cannot act arbitrarily or have an authoritarian tendency. 

Public accountability is the individual or collective duty to inform the stakeholders or service recipients or the general public in a factual and credible manner about the decisions and actions taken by the persons holding public office while performing their duties and responsibilities. Public sector and public accountability is a basic requirement in a democratic system of governance. 

Public accountability is needed to run the government with the trust of the people, to make the system of governance democratic and people-friendly, to prevent the system from being autocratic and corrupt, to increase citizen participation and contribution to the system of governance and to improve relations between citizens and administration. 

Significance of Public Accountability

• Accountability is the foundation of democracy, the people have the absolute right to ask or investigate or test or question the civil service or government system.
• Where accountability increases, transparency increases and when transparency increases, corruption decreases.
• Responsibility for legitimizing government activities. Actions without accountability do not get legitimacy.
• It increases the credibility of the government as well as the credibility of the government.
• Accountability enhances the quality of services, tools and goods provided to the people.
• Corruption can be controlled by maintaining economic discipline.
• Honesty towards the state and those who are dishonest will be punished.
• Equality, service-oriented and result-oriented working system is developed.
• Ensures regularity of public service.
• Contributes to maintaining the rule of law.
• Good governance is guaranteed in the nation due to accountability. 

Barriers / Problems to Accountability

1. Corruption: Abuse of one's position, undue influence and protection, taking advantage of one's own work, corruption in policy, taking money by threatening, taking bribe, laundering black money etc.
2. Decline in the moral values ​​and beliefs of the society or system: Under this, there are no honest and efficient officials in the system and to do any work for the sake of material happiness.
3. Lack of accountability due to poverty, deprivation, low salary allowance, lack of job security.
4. Due to illiteracy, low educated rate, lack of consciousness, it has become difficult to fulfill the responsibilities.
5. Government monopoly in the mobilization of resources.
6. The people-elected government is indifferent to the people.
7. Confidentiality in the bureaucracy is also a factor. There is also a conflict over the data and information to be given to the people.
8. Ancient Technology and Procedures: - Technology, technical staff, resources, performance criteria or procedures are outdated or not time-relevant.
9. Lack of fairness, efficiency and accountability in the bureaucracy.
10. Employees are politically divided and lack professionalism.
11. Problems of coordination and duplication: Due to lack of inter-agency coordination, the same work is done up to 4-5 times; it has played a big role in doing unaccountable work, which makes the work slow.
12. Lack of adequate and quality information required to make prudent decisions.
13. The role of the Parliamentary Committees including the Auditor General is not professional (responsible). 

How to increase accountability?

• The administration mechanism should be made people-oriented, transparent and credible.
• While working, work should be done according to the criteria that can be observed, measured and tested.
• Open information and the right to information also help to promote accountability.
• Public officials should be given clear and defined responsibilities including functions, duties and rights.
• Decentralization: If the power is centralized, public official will not be abide by their responsibilities, they can do unwanted work, they think themselves as powerful.
• Public procurement processes should be efficient and effective in which measures like e-bidding can be adopted.
• Must be an independent and powerful ombudsman.
• Political commitment and willpower is very important.
• The morale and motivation of the employees and public officials should be made high.
• Necessary resources should be managed and used properly.
• There should be simplification in working style and working method.
• There should be good relations between politics and administration.
• There should be fairness and transparency in the policy decision and planning process.
• Complaints should be heard; public hearings and disputes should be settled.
• There should be public participation and adequate participation of service recipients.
• There should be service recipient or citizen participation in the work evaluation system.
• The proceedings of the Parliament and the Parliamentary Committees should be broadcast live and investigative.
• The moral character and actions of the leaders should be exemplary.
• To empower the people as much as possible so that the government has no choice but to pay attention to the affairs of the people and be accountable.

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Government: Roles and Functions of Government

Concept of Government

The government is the body that rules independently through the state system to fulfill the wishes of the people within the specified territory. The government is the main mechanism or representative of the sovereign state and is the body that exercises the executive power of the state in accordance with the law. Similarly, the government is the legal entity or body responsible for mobilizing the state, protecting and promoting it, and developing and expanding it in all respects. 

In short, the government is the statutory body established by the people to govern the country. It is guided by the method and system of government. Its main function is to develop the country and provide services to the people. 

According to Prof. Garner's words, "Government is the mechanism by which the general policies of the state are determined, the general affairs are regulated and the general interest is promoted. In the absence of a government, the population will be disorganized, unorganized, anarchic and it will not be possible to take any collective action. ” 

Functions of Government

The main task of the government is to ensure the living standards of the people as the government does the following:

• Maintenance of peace, security and law and order
• Function of health and quality environment
• Community and social security
• Arrangement of quality education and transportation
• Supply of essential goods and services
• Maintenance of national integrity and unity
• Public policy formulation, implementation and evaluation
• Addressing national level planning issue and program formulation, implementation and evaluation
• Development of infrastructure of development
• Development of water resources, tourism and agricultural sectors
• Urban planning and welfare
• Technology and methodological development and research work
• Functions that cannot be operated and handled by non-government and private sector
• Maintenance of minimum quality of goods and services 

Due to the above arrangements, the role of the government became even stronger. In particular, if the private sector is to make good progress in the world market, it should be able to provide the following inputs: - to provide the best knowledge and skilled workers, to do more valuable research, to provide the cheapest capital possible, to form the best foundations and policies. 

Roles of Government

1. In the Context of Development:

Strategic role Protector Facilitator Regulatory Promoter Investigator Evaluator and Monitor Coordinator Negotiator Resource mobilize Planner Partner etc.

2. According to Anderson, 

• Providing diverse economic infrastructure
• Make avail public goods and services
• Resolve and adjust the differences / conflicts / conflicts in the pluralistic society or between the groups
• Ensuring and maintaining competition
• Protection and Conservation of natural resources
• Ensuring public access to existing public goods and services in the economy
• Stabilization of economy

3. According to Osborne and Gaebler,

• Anticipatory Government
• Catalytical Government
• Community-owned Government
• Customer-driven Government
• Competitive Government
• Decentralized Government
• Enterprising Government
• Mission-driver Government
• Market-oriented Government
• Result-oriented Government, etc.

4. Plan Specified

• Maintenance of peace, security and fair justice in the country
• Improvement of quality of goods and services
• Formulation of plan, policy and programs
• Protection and promotion of human rights
• Social activities such as poverty alleviation, inclusive development, women's development, social empowerment, upliftment of backward castes, etc.
• Creation of competitive environment
• Practice of local autonomy
• Policy and action initiatives to maintain social justice and regional balance
• Expansion of industry and trade, etc.

5. Unforgotten Roles of Government while Governing

• Promotion of national interest in which sovereignty, integrity, protection of national identity, national honor and pride are intact
• Guarantee of constitutional essence including democratic and democratic system, constitutional supremacy, civil rights, human rights, etc.
• Peace and stability
• Poverty alleviation 
• Ensuring rule of law
• Emphasis on good governance
• Inclusion, social justice and development
• Development of economic, social and physical infrastructure
• Effective delivery of public services
• Rural and urban development
• Strengthening and development of international relations
• Values ​​and principles guided by the constitution

6. In the context of changing environment of the world

• New approach and role
• Globalization, economic liberalization and privatization
• Decentralization and localization
• Use of science and technology and information technology
• Carriers and catalysts of change
• Private sector and civil society etc.

In conclusion, Government is an alternative to failure in other areas. Government efforts alone may not be enough for economic and social upliftment, but the government must create a strong presence and a conducive environment. For the public, the reality of government is bureaucracy. Administration is also called permanent government. Therefore, even if the market is very powerful, the government has to intervene from time to time because the market can fail at any time. In any case, the government is the government, that is, the last weapon is the government.

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Good Governance: Concept and Meaning of Good Governance

The concept of good governance came into use as an academic discussion in the late 1980s and early 1990s particularly during the Habital conference of UN, in Turkey in 1996. Accountable, predictable, responsible and legitimate governmental procedure demanding ‘clean state’ in the notion of good governance. It was firstly introduced by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for their investment in developing nations. They identified good governance as:

1. Participation
2. Democratization

Similarly, World Bank advocated good governance in sub-Saharan Africa by means of: 

1. Participation 
2. Accountability
3. Democratization
4. Efficiency and Effectiveness 
5. Rule of Law

In Governing procedure, UNDP introduced its principles of good governance which are;

1. Participation
2. Legitimacy 
3. Accountability
4. Rule of Law
5. Visionary and strategic planning
6. Efficiency and Effectiveness
7. Responsiveness
8. Result oriented 
9. Performance 
10. Democratic
11. Transparency

Thus, good governance, rule of law, legitimacy, accountability, efficiency and transparency are symbols of the ‘clean state’.

Administrative machinery has to take responsibility for the timely complain of the nation’s development programs. For this, administrative machinery needs to be capable, impartial, productive economical, people oriented and accountable. Good governance can be defined as a corruption free government, which provides goods and services to the people in equitable manner. The concept of good governance advances five principle for livable and sustainable societies: 

1. Politically participation
2. Economically productive
3. Ecologically sustainable societies
4. Culturally vibrant (full of life and energy and exciting)
5. Socially just.

The World Bank defined governance as a way in which power is exercised in the management of the economy and social resources of a country, notable will a view to development. The UNDP defines good governance more or less above but place greater emphasis on sustainable human development (UN Report, 1998). The definition varies from one organization to other, although general ideas and focus on issues are the same. The World Bank put emphasis on economic and social resources for development. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) emphasizes human rights, democracy and legitimacy of government. UNDP emphasizes human development, the elimination of poverty, and public administration. It has even established a management and governance division. Good governance is therefore the highest state of development and management of a nation’s affairs. It is good that a democratic form of government is in place, that people participate in decision making process, that service are delivered efficiently, that human rights are respected, and that the government is transparent, accountable and productive. The concept can also regarded as a means to an end in that in general. It contributes to economic growth, human development and social justice. Good governance as a concept will be used in this context of the public service reform it is used as a means of addressing other contemporary issues such as institutional development, capacity building, decentralization of power and authority, relation between politicians and appointed officials, co-ordination and the roles that head of government play in promoting good governance. Good governance can be aliened by identifying the following characteristics and practises of poor governance allure to make a clean distinction between what is public and private, hence a tendency to divert public resources to private gain.

• Failure to establish a predictable framework of law, government behavior add the rule of law
• Excessive rules and regulation which impede the functioning of markets
• Priorities inconsistent with development, resulting in a mis-allocation of resources
• Excessively narrow-based or non-transparent decision-making processes
• Lack of code of conduct in managing the affair of state
• Lack of clearly defined policy assumptions

Good governance is therefore, among other things, participatory, transparent and accountable, in order to ensure that political, social and economic priorities are based consensus in society, and that the voices of the poorest and most vulnerable are heard in decision-making processes regarding the allocation of resources. Defined in this manner, good governance has major implications for equity, poverty and quality of life. Administrative governance is the system of policy implementation encompassing all three, good governance defines the process and structure that guide political and social-economic relationships. 

Good Governance

While there may be no best way of achieving good governance, the following stand out as the most common elements. They are participatory, accountability, transparency, combating corruption, rule of law, absence of arbitrary power and an enabling judicial framework.

1. People’s participation

Good governance focuses on participation. Participation is basic to realize the spirit of development management. It is an association of people in the development process that has glowingly been emphasized by the most of the developing countries oriented towards achieving induced changes particularly at the grass root level. It is in this regard that participation of people in decision-making, implementation benefits sharing and evaluation of the development programs and project constituted vital considerations for making the present and future development endeavors meaningful and viable. With the growing realization of the need and importance of the involvement of non governmental organization, community base organization and civil society organization in the planned change process, the importance of participation has increased immensely hence the involvement of all the stakeholders involved directly or indirectly in the socio-economic change process assumes great significance in development management. The basic trust of participation lies in sustained capabilities for development decision making, action and overall management reflected in sustained activities at grass root level. In addition to effective institutional mechanism for supporting participation, the level of people including their skills, knowledge, awareness and motivation represent an important concern for enlisting the level of participation. From a broader perspective, participation demands measure to support economic growth and distributive justice as well as improved level and status of social services.

2. Accountability

Accountability can be defined as holding responsible elected or appointed individuals and organizations charged with a public mandate to account for specific actions, activities or decisions to the public from whom they derive their authority. In a narrow sense, accountability focuses on the ability of account for the allocations, use and control, i.e. budgeting, account and auditing. In broader sense, it is also concerned with the establishment and enforcement of rules and regulations of corporate governance.

3. Transparency

Transparency is broadly defined as public knowledge of the policies of government and confidence in its intentions. This requires making public accounts verifiable, providing for public participation in government policy-making and implementation and allowing contesting over choices impacting on information on economic and market condition.

4. Combating Corruption

Corruption is defined as the abuse of public office or public trust for private gains. The definition covers most forms of corruption in both the public and private sector. Combating corruption is a key indicator of commitment of good governance. Corruption can manifest itself as an individual, organizational or institutional.

In the context of the state, corruption most often refers to criminal or otherwise unlawful conduct by government agencies or by officials of these organizations acting in the course of their employment.

Poor governance and corruption are major constraints to the pursuit of economic development. For example:

• Bribery increases the cost of government development programs and spawns projects of little economic merit.
• Corruption undermines revenue collection capacity, contributing to fiscal weakness and macro-economic difficulties.
• Diversion of resources from their intended purpose distorts the formulation of public policy.

5. Rule of Law

The expression “Rule of Law” is often referred to when democratic liberties are discussed. A. V. Dicey gave three meanings to the expression.

• The absence of arbitrary power.
• The subjection of officials to the ordinary courts.
• The constitution is the result of the ordinary law of the land.

6. Absence of Arbitrary

The underlying concept was that no man may be punished in body or goods except for the distinct breach of law established by ordinary procedure before the ordinary court. Hence, it was not possible for a person to be deprived of liberties or property by arbitrary action on the part of the executive.

Dicey’s second meaning stressed the equality before the law of all classes and equal subjection of all citizens to the ordinary courts. From the higher ‘P’ to lower ‘p’, law should be one for all. 

In Britain, rights as freedom of movement, freedom from arrest, freedom from speech and the like, derived from judicial decisions and not from the constitutional code, freedom of information and expression need for formulation of public policies; decision making, monitoring and evaluation of government performance. It also includes independent analysis of information by the professional bodies and civil society.

[PERCEPTS] [CLEART] – Clean Legitimate Efficient and Effective Accountable Responsive Transparent

Good governance should basically mean balanced government.

Governance of private sector, NGOs and cooperatives should harmoniously share the responsibility of governance by protecting the interest and meeting the needs of the people.

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