Probity in Governance

Probity in Governance

What is Probity in Governance?
 Probity (Satyanishtha in Hindi) literally means a complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles.
 Probity in Governance is defined as adherence to ethical and moral values like honesty, Integrity, rectitude, uprightness etc.

What purposes does Probity in Governance seeks to fulfil?
 It preserves public confidence in Government processes
 It maintains integrity in public services
 It ensures accountability in governance. It ensures compliance with processes
 It seeks to avoid the potential for misconduct, fraud and corruption.

What are the measures to ensure Probity in Governance?
 A dedicated unit to oversee implementation of Code of conduct and code of ethics by government officials to be set up at both state and national level.
 Information must be made accessible to common man through websites or other mediums.
 An independent anti-corruption agency.
 Mandatory social audit for all government programs. For example, Meghalaya has passed a law for social audit of government programs.
 Citizen advisory boards to implement ideas of common public in improving governance.
 Mandatory declaration of assets and liabilities of government employees.
 Grievance redressal mechanisms
 Institutional reforms – Allow citizens to be part of public hearings, government contract committees, public watchdog groups, independent anti-corruption agencies.
 Last but most important, Moral education is must to ensure probity in governance. It is important to provide ethical training, teach moral values wherever possible.

Conclusion
 In addition to laws and policies, the government should also focus on brining behavioral change in government employees so that they can easily empathize with the problem of common mass so as to fulfil the democratic goal of “government by the people, for the people and to the people”.