Governance in India is caught in the fast changing environment, is facing challenges by way of backlog of growth and witnessing diffused decision making.

“Public demand, requirements and aspirations are changing fast due to IT revolution sweeping the country," said Mr Darpan Jain, Deputy Commissioner, Dharwad, speaking on ‘Management in administration', at the Business Line Club sponsored by Syndicate Bank at KLE's IMSR, Hubli.

“In addition to IT revolution, progress made in agricultural sector, industrial revolution is happening despite high oil prices and is throwing lot of challenges to governance,” he added.

As for backlog of growth, the country is facing problem of unequal development, problems of different areas are different, requirements are different and composition of population is not the same everywhere.

“To address this big issue, governments nowadays are trying to address by employing people with different skill sets. It is here young management graduates can enter public service become ‘change agent' and be a part of country's growth story,” Mr Jain said. Talking about diffused decision making, Mr Jain said roles and responsibilities of Government at different levels are different.

“We reach same objectives of meeting people's aspirations. Here to meet public aspirations, we need to build consensus, one needs to negotiate with so many people and it also involves a large and diverse sections of society and at times all needs to be taken on one broad platform,” he added.

Management skills

Management interface in Government is inter-linked. According to Mr Jain, the Government increasingly uses management skills in the day-to-day functioning: Change management - while implementing new policy or initiating development works.

Conflict management – aspirations of people of different regions needs to be addressed.

HR management – each project needs different skill sets and domain knowledge for execution.

Public finance – works goes behind the scene, how to maximise funds allotted to the project.

Marketing management – New programmes of the Government needs to be taken to people in shortest possible time.

Fiscal management – taking decisions which fulfils everybody's needs and finally disaster management – it is very important for governments as we annually face excess rains, drought, industrial disaster and law and order problems in cities.

Accountability

The Government works on the principle of maximisation of public good.

Most of the services in which government is in are monopolistic in nature. Here some measures of accountability are there in the form of electoral processes (elections), courts, human rights and anti-corruption set-up whereas the private sector's role are market driven and the market forces takes care of it by either courts or independent regulatory bodies.

For governance, a solid strategic thinking and planning is required. Also clear articulation of key strategic objectives is required.

Through good governance, there would be reduction in regulatory role of governments. But, regulatory role will continue for some more years until voluntary compliance sets in.

“Through increasing adoption of IT in governance, we expect least public interface with bureaucrats who in turn is expected to reduce the problems faced by public or corruption,” said Mr Jain.

“The Government's role is increasingly moving towards PPP (public private partnership) mode. Here, public works are implemented by private sector, governments provide inputs and the benefits are shared between both,” he added.

Earlier, Mr Srikanth B. Kulagod, Assistant General Manager, Syndicate Bank, Hubli Regional Office, speaking on the occasion said, the bank is playing a vital role in supporting students through various policies targeted at them.

KLE's IMSR Director, Mr Prasad B. Roodagi, interacted with students.

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