The Power of Public Accountability

1 Executive voice culture agencies rights Institutions media civic participation citizens policy justification hierarchy responsibility literacy acts bureaucracy information improve Public solicit implementation impartiality Accountability involve Judiciary tolerance trust open reform bills regulations democracy action decisions control elections perform infrastructure transfers Legislature authority performance sanction enforce monitoring liability laws independence transparency enforcement The Power of Public Accountability Executive Summary November 2009. Jay P Desai Founder & CEO. Universal Consulting India Pvt Ltd Universal Consulting India Pvt Ltd | Shivsagar Estate D | Dr Annie Besant Rd | Worli | Mumbai 400 018 | India Tel + 91 22 66222100 | Fax + 91 22 66222111 | The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 1 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009.

2 All Rights Reserved CONTENTS. 1. Background of our Research Study 2. Summary of Research 3. Introduction to Public Accountability 4. Why Public Accountability is important 5. Factors impacting Public Accountability 6. Strengthening Public Accountability Appendix A. Citizen's Survey B. Civil Society Organisations interviewed C. Acknowledgements D. References The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 2 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009. All Rights Reserved BACKGROUND OF OUR RESEARCH STUDY. In December 2008, triggered by the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, we initiated a year-long research study to understand the landscape of Public Accountability in India Objective The 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai brought into sharp focus the absence of Public Accountability in our country This research study was designed to increase the awareness and understanding of Public Accountability , among citizens and corporates of India Research Methodology The study involved an extensive review of the current literature, to help us understand the landscape of Public Accountability in India The study looked at 60-100 democracies around the world.

3 To understand the varying levels of Public Accountability and governance among them and correlated this data with key socio-economic factors in these countries Between Jan-March 2009, we also conducted interviews with individuals at 34 Civil Society Organisations that are actively involved in the area of Public Accountability We conducted a survey of 358 urban citizens of India, to understand their perspective on Public Accountability The study identified the foundations of robust Public Accountability and examined the weaknesses of the existing internal and external Accountability mechanisms, for all three arms of the Indian government, the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary Based on this systems analysis, we recommend several improvement initiatives to strengthen Public Accountability We also identify areas where corporations and citizens can provide support, to help improve Accountability in our Public administration, over the medium-long term The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 3 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009.

4 All Rights Reserved CONTENTS. 1. Background of our Research Study 2. Summary of Research 3. Introduction to Public Accountability 4. Why Public Accountability is important 5. Factors impacting Public Accountability 6. Strengthening Public Accountability Appendix A. Citizen's Survey B. Civil Society Organisations interviewed C. Acknowledgements D. References The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 4 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009. All Rights Reserved SUMMARY OF RESEARCH. The findings of our year-long research study, suggest the following: 1 The quality of governance in a country is highly correlated with the country's economic and social performance. Public Accountability is a powerful lever that can be used to improve the quality of governance 2 Public Accountability is impacted by socio-economic factors and the institutional structure of a country 3.

5 Some socio-economic factors that are commonly perceived to be the drivers for low Public Accountability in India, have only weak to moderate correlation with Public Accountability 4. Unfortunately, India's global ranking on those socio-economic factors that have moderate to strong correlation with Public Accountability , is low 5. Public Accountability rests on four foundations; Appropriate Representation, Citizen's participation , Legitimate Conduct and Liability Enforcement Internal and external Accountability mechanisms exist, but are not implemented effectively, weakening the 6. four foundations of Public Accountability in India To reinforce the foundations of Public Accountability , improvement is required in six areas; Information, 7.

6 Impartiality, Implementation, Infrastructure, Independence and Involvement A burst of governance reforms, similar to the economic reforms post-liberalisation, is required to gradually 8. raise the level of Public Accountability in India Source: UC Analysis The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 5 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009. All Rights Reserved CONTENTS. 1. Background of our Research Study 2. Summary of Research 3. Introduction to Public Accountability 4. Why Public Accountability is important 5. Factors impacting Public Accountability 6. Strengthening Public Accountability Appendix A. Citizen's Survey B. Civil Society Organisations interviewed C. Acknowledgements D. References The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 6 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009.

7 All Rights Reserved INTRODUCTION TO Public Accountability . Public Accountability is the responsibility of Public officials to justify their conduct and performance to citizens using Accountability mechanisms. It is also the responsibility of citizens to extract Accountability from Public officials Policies or institutions Accountability through which Public Mechanism officials can be held accountable Agents to whom Public Public officials working officials are accountable; Rights Holder Duty Bearer Agent of for a Government Citizens, Civil Society Object of Accountability Accountability department or agency Organisations, Media Source: Wignaraja, Kanni. Mutual Accountability Mechanisms: Accountability , Voice and Responsiveness.

8 , UNDP Development Group (2006); Bovens, Mark. Public Accountability . , The Oxford Handbook of Public Management, E. Ferlie, L. Lynne & C. Pollitt (Eds.), Oxford: Oxford University Press 2005. The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 7 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009. All Rights Reserved INTRODUCTION TO Public Accountability . Public Accountability in India today, is still influenced by the socio-economic and institutional structure of our past 3500 yrs 2500 yrs 1500 yrs 200 yrs 62 yrs Years Ago Vedic Age Ancient India Medieval and Post- Colonial India Independent India Medieval Socio-Economic Structure Social stratification into Caste based Dis-harmony between Increased poverty due Caste has degenerated four castes discrimination increases Hindus and Muslims to low income, high into an inflexible Introduction of Arthashastra increased taxes, famines, low hierarchal system Hinduism, belief in God emphasized on material literacy Nurturing corruption and Improved role of women Epics like Mahabharata gain.

9 More than the British discouraged favouritism to climb up in during this era emphasized on dharma means to achieve these social practices like sati, hierarchy (conduct), where gains untouchability etc Tendency to collude with morality/fair play was powerful instead of secondary questioning them Institutional Structure King was the supreme As kingdoms grew, Corruption in civil Formal mechanisms Democracy has co- authority, but he Public meetings became service increased, as like Auditors and existed with non- discussed important operationally difficult; monetary tips to Committees to check democratic parties and matters with Public administration was officials in return of a Public finance were electoral mal-practices for through Public Meetings decentralized to reach favour became a norm introduced years - Sabha and Samiti people Information Citizen's voice gained Institutions, policies to Spies/agents were used gatherers/Spies were importance through check Accountability to gather Public opinion, appointed to report Public movements introduced, but are not information about state corruption cases of against the wrong implemented effectively officials officials Government practices Low citizen's interest and awareness of politics Source.

10 UC Analysis, Secondary Research The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 8 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009. All Rights Reserved CONTENTS. 1. Background of our Research Study 2. Summary of Research 3. Introduction to Public Accountability 4. Why Public Accountability is important 5. Factors impacting Public Accountability 6. Strengthening Public Accountability Appendix A. Citizen's Survey B. Civil Society Organisations interviewed C. Acknowledgements D. References The Power of Public Accountability , Nov 2009 9 Copyright Jay P Desai, 2009. All Rights Reserved WHY Public Accountability IS IMPORTANT. It is imperative to improve governance, to strengthen the economic and social performance of a country. Public Accountability is a powerful lever to improve governance Governance Performance Economic Performance Public Accountability Social Performance Governance implies the processes and institutions that guide the functioning of the Government Public Accountability checks and controls governance with mechanisms that ensure Accountability Source: UC Analysis; W.