PLANNING FOR OPTIMUM GOVERNANCE FOR BHAGALPUR DISTRICT, BIHAR STATE

Abstract

People live in strangely paradoxical antediluvian times with regard to issues of governance. The aroused identities, technological change, process of globalization, make the governance itself a fairly complex issue. Government and governance play a key role in building up and organise the nation, state, district and society as here governance manifests only democratic set up where; it is by the people and for the people. All the development policies are formulated on the government level whether it is local level government or central or state and its proper implementation in the public domain becomes a challenging task for the implementing agency due to the various constraints and loopholes in the system, and as there is where implementation fails, plans and policies fails. Policy makers and planners more cognizant and result oriented go through the implementation strategy also and plan so that implementation be successful. In the era of information technology, ICT provide such a tool to planner and policy makers so that they not only make implement their plan successfully but they can optimize their results by proper monitoring the system and can create a benchmark for future and perspective planning through research and development. An institutional set-up, organization or department public enterprises that ensures governance usually has the following features'. 1. Participation: All men and women should have a voice in decision-making, either directly or through legitimate intermediate institutions that represent their interests. Such broad participation is built on freedom of association and speech, as well ascapacities to participate constructively. 2. Rule of Law: Legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially, particularly laws on human rights. 3. Transparency: Transparency is built on the free flow of information. Processes, institutions and information are directly accessible to those concerned with them, and enough information is provided to understand and monitor them. 4. Responsiveness: Institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders. 5. Consensus Orientation: Governance mediates differing interests to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interests of the group and where possible, on policies and procedures. 6. Equity: All men and women have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-being. ' Second Administrative Reform Commission, Sixth Report, October 2007 Government of India I Planning for optimum governance for Bhagalpur District, Bihar State 7. Effectiveness and Efficiency: Processes and institutions produce results that make the best use of resources. 8. Accountability Decision-makers in government, the private sector and civil society organizations are accountable to the public, as well as to the institutional stakeholders. This accountability differs depending on the organization and whether the decision is internal or external to an organization. 9. Strategic Vision Leaders and the public have a broad and long-term perspective on good governance and human development, along with a sense of what is needed for such development. There is also an understanding of the historical, cultural and social complexities in which that perspective is grounded. Above all the features of governance can be optimized by the application of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) at different levels in the department /organization/ institution. And this document covers, study, analysis and recommendation for all the strictures of above mentioned features for the department of Bhagalpur District. The topic "Planning for optimum governance for Bhagalpur district Bihar State" intents to understand the governance in a system, characterize the governance and its optimization by using ICT as the tool i.e. e-governance. Key strictures of the good governance is taken into account for study & research purpose such as public participation, transparency, responsiveness, consensus orientation of the people, equity of opportunity, effectiveness and efficiency in the governance system, accountability of the government personnel and strategic vision of the government. Scientifically & technically all the received information were analysed to find out the ambiguity and gap in the governance to achieve at a conclusion and finally plausible & apposite recommendation were given to optimize the governance in the system with the advantage of ICT tool the electronic governance. A backward and derelict district Bhagalpur, Bihar state is selected for study & recommendation which was writhed with public disorder in the past as a district of state enunciated with BIMARU state. Existing governance & e-govemance circumstance & scenario studied at different level in the department and exclusive studies are commenced on Urban Local Body i.e. Municipal Corporation of Bhagalpur (due to constriction of time) and for other department field survey & online survey are commenced for the recommendation of district as a whole. For the point of view of administration Bhagalpur City Area comes under the jurisdiction of Bhagalpur District, with regard of civic infrastructure Bhagalpur City comes under Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation. Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation as department for extensive study is selected from twenty eight departments so as to intervene on Urban Planning issues, what the Urban Planner concerns..............