Communication Is The Key To Good Governance

1. COMMUNICATIONISTHEKEYTOGOOD GOVERNANCE https://taxguru.in/corporate-law/communication-key-good-governance.html “To look is one thing. To see what you look at is another. To understand what you see is a third. To learn from what you understand is still something else. But to act on what you learn is all that really matters. Isn’tit?” “The human relationship is purely based on the power of communication. If only we can understand each other well, it would have served the purpose of human welfare and wellbeing without any conflict of interestand misunderstanding.” The Aforesaid two dictates are very important and inevitable in the realm of good governance. When viewed in the background of violent and undemocratic acts of hooliganisms taking place in the name of constitutional right to protest in our country in the recent past show that even the good intent with which reforms were and are undertaken can go wary if they are not propagated effectively and meaningfully communicated to the public and implementeddiligently for their sake. TheNRCandCAA,theFarmLaws,demolitionofpropertiesofrioters,abrogationofArticle370,banning TripleTalaqandnowtheAgnipathforthearmedforcesthoughwellintendedandwelldeservedtobe implemented, were met with stiff resistance and ended in hooliganism, arson and destructions of public and even privatepropertiesstealthilysupportedbyvestedinterestpeopleaffectingseverelypublicmovementsand disrupting publiclives and made the public to suffer untenable inconveniences. Besides, these ugly incidents also gave an opportunity for the anti-social and anti-national elements to create a divide among the citizens and spreadinghatredandanimosityamongthepublictarnishingtheimageofourheritagecountrywhichwasand stillis a practicingdemocracy of unity indiversity and diversity inunity. “Skilful communication can increase stakeholders’ support for governance reform objectives, influencing opinion, attitude and behaviour change. Communication tools can also enhance citizen engagement in political systems. It is important to understand both communication processes and the framework for national dialogue in which these operate”. It seems that the present government with the best of intentions and well-meaning motives brought out various bold reforms and initiating actions which hither to never taken in the interest and safety and security of the country, but somewhere they lacked effective communication to convey theirintent,importance,benefits,theneedofthetimeetc.tothegeneralpublicwhoarethetargetbeneficiaries of the reforms. They should have tested the pulse of the general public through feed backs before introduction of the reforms and embark on a mission of educating the target people on the merits of their envisaged reforms. In these days of technological advancement in the field of communication and considering the importance and impact of the social media and its availability, the task of effective communication is not a problem at all. When the government interacts with people, it is imperative that they understand the power of their communication to impact those whom they are targeting. An effective communication leads to better understanding which then leadsto acceptance.

2. Goodgovernanceofthestatedependsonleadershipcapacityandcapabilitytodeliver,acceptstheir responsibilitiesandfinallyacknowledgetheiraccountability.Incaseofnecessityandneed,acourse correction should be undertaken to achieve the goal. Constant and consistent communication with all stake holderswillhelpcreatinggood willandcooperationfrom allintheprocessof deliveringgoodgovernance. Communication cannot be a one way traffic. It must be two way traffic and up and down traffic. If it is done in theprocesslevel,itcanpromotesupportofgovernancereformsbycreatingpoliticalwillintheleadersand policy makers, Organisational will among all level bureaucrats, induce public will among the citizens through influencing opinion, their attitude and necessary behavioral change to accept and implement the reforms.“At the structural level, communication links citizens, civil society, the media, and government, forming a frameworkfor nationaldialogue throughwhich informed publicopinion isshaped”. The role of the opposition cannot be minimized. A strong opposition is an inevitable necessity in a functioning democracy. “In a democracy, the opposition is not only tolerated as constitutional, but must be maintained because it is indispensable.” How true when it is said, “An informed people is one of the best guarantees of a continuing democracy”? But how to make people be informed? Only through communication.The gift of speaking to one another on trust and understanding is the way for healthy democracy. Therefore, not only therulingpoliticaldispensationbutalsotheopponentsrequireaneffectivecommunicationchanneland an open dialogue and indulge in constructive criticism and viable alternative suggestions. The aim and the objectives of the ruling party and its opponents in a democratic set up is to find ways and means to solve their differences through parliamentary debates and mutual discussions finding consensus where ever possible and demonstrate their protests through democratic peaceful means and not to indulge in violent activitiesto vent their feelings. Unfortunately democracy being practiced as of now in our country as we see it, is nothing but a sham. If the opposition criticises for the sake of criticism is nothing but prejudice. If they find everything wrong in whatever the ruling government is doing, it amounts to deceit. If the actions of the opposition parties with divergent views and ideology working together for the sole aim of bringing down a democratically elected governmentwithabsolutemajority,thenitisnotinthenationalinterest.Allthepoliticalpartiesclamour for their fundamental rights particularly freedom of speech and freedom to protest, but they forget the fact that every right is derived out of a duty to be performed first and the most important duties are enshrined in the Constitution under Article 51-A on Fundamental Duties.Nobody bothers about that important Article andblatantly violatesthem andgo withimpunity. What sortof democracyare wepracticing? Communicationisindeedthelinkthatuniteuswithourfellowhumanbeings.Whenitcomes,itislikea miracle because it happens so rarely. It happened once and that was during our freedom struggle when we fought unitedly and in unison and Mahatma Gandhi harnessed the power of the people to create a “RAM RAJYA”. Will that miracle happen now in our democracy? We don’t think so while experiencing democracy as ofnow.Butwhy?Ithasbecomeverydifficulttocommunicatebecausethenatureofcommunicationthatis beingusedbythevariouspoliticalpartiesablyaidedbythefringeelementsisbasedondivisionand fragmentation of the society on the basis of caste, creed, religion, language, regions, ideologies where saner voices are not being heard nor being felt. The present day happenings have obliterated the oldest ancient Indic values, its culture, ethos and faith leading to a fear whether history is going to be repeated. But it should not be allowed to happen. Those who are taking law into their hands should be dealt with sternly to show them their proper place and make them realise that such kind of violence and anti-constitutional activities cannot be and shall not be tolerated to protect national interest, national security and integrity of the nationat any cost.

3. If at all our democracy has to survive the test of time, we should not forget what our school of ancient wisdom thatisBharathastaughtus,“LokahSamasthaSukhinoBhavantu”(Maytheentireuniverseeverbefilledwith peace, joy, love and light), Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone Triumphs), Vasudeva Kudumbakam (World of one family), ?no bhadr?? kratavo yantu vi?vato (Let noble thoughts come to us from all directions) and more such divine sermons for the welfare of humanity. The only hope that we can cherish is what history has taught us that when other ancient civilizations of the world perished, our Indic civilization stood firmly and survived the test of its times and we also will survive and triumph in all our endeavors to preserve our unity, integrity and national interestand so also our democracy. **** Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for information purposes only and do not constitute an advice or a legal opinion and are personal views of the author. It is based upon relevant law and/or facts available at that point of time and prepared with due accuracy & reliability. Readers are requested to check and refer relevant provisionsofstatute,latestjudicialpronouncements,circulars,clarificationsetcbeforeactingonthebasisof the above write up.The possibility of other views on the subject matter cannot be ruled out. By the use of the said information, you agree that Author / TaxGuru is not responsible or liable in any manner for the authenticity, accuracy, completeness, errors or any kind of omissions in this piece of information for any action taken thereof. Thisis not anykind of advertisementor solicitation of workby a professional.