Q. Which of the following can be said to be essentially the parts of Inclusive Governance?
- Permitting the Non-Banking Financial Companies to do banking
- Establishing effective District Planning Committees in all the districts
- Increasing the government spending on public health
- Strengthening the Mid-day Meal Scheme
Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (UPSC Prelims 2012)
Answer:
2, 3 and 4 only
Notes: The correct answer is [C] 2, 3 and 4 only. Inclusive governance refers to a governing process where all sections of society, especially the marginalized and vulnerable, have a voice in decision-making and access to essential services and resources.
- Establishing effective District Planning Committees (Statement 2 is Correct): Article 243ZD of the Constitution mandates the creation of District Planning Committees (DPCs) to consolidate plans prepared by Panchayats and Municipalities. This promotes decentralized planning and "bottom-up" governance, ensuring that local needs are represented in the development process, which is a hallmark of inclusive governance.
- Increasing government spending on public health (Statement 3 is Correct): Inclusivity in governance requires ensuring that the basic needs of all citizens, particularly the poor who cannot afford private healthcare, are met. Public health spending reduces out-of-pocket expenditure and ensures that the "right to health" is accessible to the last mile of the population.
- Strengthening the Mid-day Meal Scheme (Statement 4 is Correct): This scheme targets two critical pillars of inclusion: nutrition and education. By providing meals in schools, it encourages enrollment and retention of children from socio-economically backward backgrounds and addresses malnutrition, thereby fostering long-term social inclusion.
- Permitting NBFCs to do banking (Statement 1 is Incorrect): While expanding financial services is part of "Financial Inclusion," simply permitting Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to perform banking functions is a regulatory and structural shift in the financial sector. It does not inherently guarantee "Inclusive Governance," which is a broader socio-political concept involving representation, social welfare, and decentralized power.
Inclusive governance is often measured by the effectiveness of social safety nets, the depth of democratic decentralization, and the equity in the delivery of public goods.