Corruption can be curbed by minimising human interface

NITI Aayog member Prof Bibek Debroy delivers a lecture at ICFAI University, Hyderabad

Hyderabad: “Governance focuses on the participatory process and brings in citizens into decision making,” said Prof Bibek Debroy, member of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.Delivering a lecture on ‘The Role of Government– Citizens’ Expectations’, at the ICFAI University in Hyderabad on Friday, Prof Debroy said the expectations of citizens from the government were security, law and order, physical infrastructure, social infrastructure, and subsidies.

However, as the administrative and fiscal capacity of the government was limited, it was necessary to prioritise and concentrate on a few items of importance, he added. Debroy said there was demand for goods and services not only from urban and semi-urban areas, but also from rural areas.

“Even as of today, there are more than 1,00,000 villages in the country that are deprived of social, physical and judicial infrastructure, and delivery of public goods and services to these villages is of priority,” he stated.

Prof Debroy said that India, from a highly centralised country, is moving towards decentralisation, devolution and role of the Union government was becoming smaller and administration leaner.Speaking on corruption in the country, he said it can be handled by minimising the shortages, reducing discretion, and limiting the human interface.

ICFAI University Vice-Chancellor Dr J Mahender Reddy, in his address, spoke about growing aspirations and expectations of the citizens as the country continued on the path of development. He said that the expectations from the government ranged from protection, safety, and equal opportunity to fairness and accountability in public service, ease of doing business, and free enterprise.