Importance of transparency and accountability in Government system

Accountability and transparency are treated as major building pillars for governing democratic nations in recent years. Before discussing about how they benefit, its needs, and its importance we shall see what exactly accountability and transparency is.

Accountability signifies the concern and duty of government institutional workers to perform their activities in the best interests of the public and that institutional officials should take responsibility for their activities performed. The mechanisms by which government officials can be held responsible for activities against formed principles and rules is called legal accountability. For understanding it well we shall have an example here, Government has accountability for laws and decisions affecting public; a citizen has accountability for his behavior and actions.

Transparency is a situation in which government institutional activities and other supporting organizational activities are performed in open way without any secrets held behind, so that the public can believe and trust that these organizations are honest and fair. In other words, it’s a concept of eradicating all barriers and enabling information access to public and facilitate procedures, rules and regulations that protects those citizens, and this reflects on the development of the nation.

Democracy needs accountability and transparency as ingredients, with parliament executing a major role as regulator. Sometimes it will be assumed that parliament and its supporting organizations are the appropriate zones to eliminate political allegations, corruption activities and maladministration made. But it has often happened that various attempts to institutionalize a culture of transparency and accountability have been avoided.

Developing nations with democratic system have always challenged the symptoms of economic corruption. Although these symptoms are unfortunate, the continued push for more accountable institutions remains worthwhile (“short-term pain is worth the long-term gain”). For example,Demonetization, GST etc. The structure of free markets and democratic government can deliver the maximum value across the country and institutions form the base network among markets, democracy and accountability. In democratic countries like India, public should step out and create a pressure on government organizations and other institutions to be transparent and accountable.            

Democratic organizations and financial institutions must try to move away from the business of politics and concentrate more on moving towards accountability and transparency. This will help in building trust in the society. In social, industrial and government sectors its known that Indian democratic organizations are working, but to be better they should start building a good relationship with the public. Citizens who are paying their taxes would like to know exactly where their money is spent and all the developments that has happened in the country. “All government institutions and financial institutions should be re-positioned and redefined to focus on accountability and transparency, if you are a member of government or want to become a member of government, to be prepared to live in a glass house”. Higher the transparency and accountability better the stability of the country’s economy.