Right Based Approach and Good governance

Published on 29 Jan 2025

Right Based Approach in Policy Making 

A rights-based approach in policymaking places human rights at the centre of governance and policy decisions. This approach ensures that the protection and fulfilment of human rights are integral to all policies, programs, and actions of the government. This framework is based on four pillars – Right to Information, Right to Education, Right to Work and Right to Food.

• Recognition of Inherent Dignity: Policies are designed with a focus on preserving and enhancing the inherent dignity of every individual, ensuring that human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled.

• Example: The Right to Education Act emphasizes the dignity and equality of every child by providing an opportunity for education, regardless of socio-economic status or background.

• Non-Discrimination: Policies are crafted to prevent discrimination and promote equality, ensuring that all individuals and groups are treated fairly and equally.

• Example: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act aimed at preventing discrimination and atrocities against individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

• Empowerment and Participation: Empowering individuals and communities by involving them in decision-making processes. Their active participation helps ensure policies reflect their needs and concerns.

• Example: MGNREGA guarantees the 'right to work' and promotes inclusive development by providing employment to rural households. 

• Accountability: Governments are held accountable for respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights. Legal and administrative mechanisms are established to provide remedies if rights are violated.

• Example: The RTI Act empowers citizens to seek information from public authorities, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.

• Social Cohesion and Stability: When individuals and communities feel their rights are respected and protected, it can contribute to more stable and harmonious societies.

• Example: The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 aims to protect civil rights and prevent discrimination against socially and educationally backward classes, ensuring protection and fostering social stability.

• Empowering citizens and Communities: By offering tools for involvement, it enables individuals and communities to engage in decision-making, fostering ownership and civic engagement.

• Example: Panchayati Raj enables community-led decision-making, granting citizens authority in local self-governance, and empowering them to manage grassroots affairs.

• Sustainable Development and Well-being: A rights-based approach ensures that development is carried out in a manner that respects human rights, leading to better living standards, improved health, education etc.

• Example: National Health Mission works to improve health outcomes and promote well-being by addressing health infrastructure and other health-related issues aligning with the right to health.

• Positive Economic and Social Impact: Embracing a rights-based approach leads to increased productivity, better health outcomes, and reduced societal tensions, thereby fostering a more stable and prosperous society.

• Example: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana a financial inclusion program ensuring access to financial services for all, thereby promoting economic empowerment and reducing economic disparities.

• International Recognition and Cooperation: A rights-based approach aligns with global human rights standards, fostering collaboration among nations, and establishing a shared commitment to rights.

• Example: India's commitment to the Paris Agreement signifies its international cooperation, which aligns with the right to a clean and healthy environment.

The significance of a rights-based approach in policy-making is its transformative nature, ensuring that governance systems prioritize the protection and fulfilment of human rights as a cornerstone of their functioning, leading to a more just, equitable, and harmonious society.

Way forward for Improving Good Governance

• Coordination between various stakeholders: Governments, the private sector, the public sector, and civil society are needed to harness new and emerging technologies for global good.

• Example: The government should work on the principles of ‘Antyodaya’ and ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas’ for inclusive, accountable, and sustainable development to deliver good governance.

• Gendered Governance: It refers to the Gender Responsive Governance that puts emphasis on the integration of a gender equality perspective across all government action.

• Example: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) accord benefits i.e., homeownership and LPG connections, respectively to women beneficiaries.

• Institute goal setting and tracking: There is an inherent need to set key responsibility/focus areas and progressively reduce discretionary aspects to evaluate civil servants.

• Example: Institute the online Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) template in all central and state cadres.

• Public Participation: Enhanced accountability for public actions and decisions is essential to ensure well-directed government policies and programs.

• Example: The institutional arrangements like “whistle-blowing”, should also be put in place to curb corrupt practices.

• Civil Society Participation: Encourage active participation of civil society organizations and citizens in decision-making processes.

• Example: The National Rural Health Mission involves the active participation of NGOs and civil society organizations to improve healthcare services in rural areas.

• Technology Integration: Embrace technological advancements to increase efficiency and transparency in governance.

• Example: The Digital Locker System allows citizens to store and access digital documents issued by government agencies, reducing paperwork and enhancing access to official documents.

• Performance Evaluation and Monitoring: Implement robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the performance of government programs and policies.

• Example: Good Governance Index assesses the status of governance and the impact of various interventions taken by the state government and union territories.

• Recognition of work: Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration to acknowledge, recognize and reward the exemplary and innovative work done by District Collectors across the country.

Effective operation of the government remains the key to the success of everyone. In recent times when India is the third largest economy in the world, in PPP terms, and striving to achieve its goal of $5 trillion economy, there is a need to reformulate our national plan to give prominence to the Gandhian ideal of “Antodaya” in order to re-establish good governance in the country.

Case Studies 

• Under Mission Reconnect: Under the project Kerala government had been successful in restoring power in approximately 2.5 million homes in approximately less than two weeks.

• Shyamrao and Laximibai Patil: A farming couple from water-scarce Kalaburagi in north Karnataka, have demonstrated how a mix of governmental and NGO support, backed up by grassroots innovation, may help farmers resist the consequences of climate change.

• Roshini Project: The Kerala Government initiated a programme called Roshini that focuses on teaching Malayalam to migrant children in the state. This has helped in reducing the dropouts by around 48% in 2018-19.

• NGO – SNEHA: This NGO has been successful in reducing wastage to the tune of 23% among children aged three years and simultaneously leading to an increase in services provided to children through the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme. It also fills knowledge gaps by educating community volunteers who then promote awareness among Anganwadi workers on the status of pregnant women and families who are struggling to feed a baby.

Tags:
Polity

Keywords:
Right based approach Good governance Right to Information act

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 2

Topics:
Governance and Transparency