Bringing Governments and People Closer: A Development Practitioner's Approach

During my 38 years of service in the IAS and 10 years of active post-retirement life, I , like many other colleagues, have remained concerned about how governance is getting delivered at the ground level. There are good intentions when any program is drawn up or any delivery of service is planned but for me the test point of its effectiveness and success is how exactly the common man is able to avail of that facility without any hassle. At the moment the central government is keen that government should be at the minimum level but maximum governance should be there and through a whole lot of facilitations including reliance on technology, every attempt is being made to make the life of particularly the common man convenient and comfortable as far as these issues are concerned.In this book I have put together my understanding of the issues involved in ensuring hassle-free governance and delivery at the ground level. I do hope this book will further contribute to the challenging task of making governance simple as well as meaningful to the common man in the fullest and most appropriate sense of the word.I find it difficult to find words to wholeheartedly thank Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, the Honorable Vice President of India who has been kind enough to encourage me by providing a message to introduce the book and also for highlighting the point that the book will provide useful guidance for all those who care about deepening India’s democratic ethos and putting people at the centre of governance.I am particularly grateful to my esteemed friend Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, for writing the Foreword to this book and placing it in the appropriate context of our governance reforms.