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Apoorva Devanshi
Guest
India has seen many leaders in its post independence democracy. However the name Atal Bihari Vajpayee invokes a sense of respect , warmth and goodwill across all social and political divides. There are people who are known for their surnames. For being born in a certain political or prestigious family. Then there are leaders who become great for their virtues and their actions. Their very existence and persona radiates greatness and they become a phenomenon. One such rare phenomenon in Indian politics was – Atal ji!
He not only commanded respect from people of all ages but even from politicians across the entire spectrum. Its a rarity in politics to find a leader who has no adversaries but Atal ji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) had none. He was truly “Ajatshatru” in Indian politics. This was because he was not just a great politician and a visionary leader but also great poet and a human being. He had a rare ability to unite people from different political backgrounds and forge consensus.
Today, India celebrates “Good Governance Day” annually in remembrance of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday. He not only formed Bhartiya Janta Party along with L.K Advani in 1980 but also emerged as a torch bearer of good governance in a period of incumbent political parties.
Even though India was declared a Democratic Republic in 1947, it truly stepped into democracy by the efforts made by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His doctrine of good governance was limited to assess the effectiveness of the government in power. It is worthwhile to take a look at the three main contributions that Prime Minister Vajpayee made in the field of good governance- putting a strategic vision into action, increasing transparency, and assuring government accountability.
In a country as wide and diverse as India it takes a great leader who can put forth strategic vision which resonates with the people at large. It was because of his vision which resulted in infrastructure building. Be it the Golden Quadrilateral, The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana or industrial expansion he took steps to improve our international standing.
He didn’t just invest in infrastructure but also in building human capital. He launched schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2000-01 to spread literacy and the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme in 2000 to provide subsidized food to the poorest. It was him who made the right to education a fundamental right by passing the 86th constitutional amendment act.
He tabled the Freedom of Information Act of 2002 which is the precursor of the Right to Information Act. This was first big move as it established transparency as fundamental component of governance. As the law required governments to disclose information voluntarily and proactively.
India is now a nuclear country with the ability to defend itself thanks to the strategic thinking of Vajpayee. It was under his leadership that India was able to pass the Terrorism Prevention Act and carry out nuclear tests at Pokhran. He also took the initiative of engaging Indian Diaspora in the developmental process.
It was his firm belief that for governance to improve accountability must be improved. He envisioned a country wherein the weakest and poorest could hold the government accountable. This belief led to the introduction of The FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Act of 2000 by Atal ji which was later passed in 2003. It ensured that the government is accountable for taxpayers money and institutionalized fiscal discipline in the country.
His ideas on governance has inspired generations to come. From building last mile connectivity ,CAA Act to Jan Dhan Yojana to Abrogation of Article 370. Modi has expanded upon his philosophy of good governance, which prioritizes equity and the rule of law. In the legislative and administrative processes, accountability and transparency continue to be central to the current government’s agenda. The prime minister’s appeal for “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas” is an extension of the doctrine of good governance of Vajpayee. Overall he was a true leader, a visionary statesmen and a human being of par excellence. A proficient poet and a magnetic personality.
The post Remembering Atal ji on Good governance Day! appeared first on The Jaipur Dialogues.
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He not only commanded respect from people of all ages but even from politicians across the entire spectrum. Its a rarity in politics to find a leader who has no adversaries but Atal ji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) had none. He was truly “Ajatshatru” in Indian politics. This was because he was not just a great politician and a visionary leader but also great poet and a human being. He had a rare ability to unite people from different political backgrounds and forge consensus.
Today, India celebrates “Good Governance Day” annually in remembrance of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday. He not only formed Bhartiya Janta Party along with L.K Advani in 1980 but also emerged as a torch bearer of good governance in a period of incumbent political parties.
Atal’s Governance-
Even though India was declared a Democratic Republic in 1947, it truly stepped into democracy by the efforts made by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His doctrine of good governance was limited to assess the effectiveness of the government in power. It is worthwhile to take a look at the three main contributions that Prime Minister Vajpayee made in the field of good governance- putting a strategic vision into action, increasing transparency, and assuring government accountability.
A Man of Vision-
In a country as wide and diverse as India it takes a great leader who can put forth strategic vision which resonates with the people at large. It was because of his vision which resulted in infrastructure building. Be it the Golden Quadrilateral, The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana or industrial expansion he took steps to improve our international standing.
He didn’t just invest in infrastructure but also in building human capital. He launched schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2000-01 to spread literacy and the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme in 2000 to provide subsidized food to the poorest. It was him who made the right to education a fundamental right by passing the 86th constitutional amendment act.
He tabled the Freedom of Information Act of 2002 which is the precursor of the Right to Information Act. This was first big move as it established transparency as fundamental component of governance. As the law required governments to disclose information voluntarily and proactively.
India is now a nuclear country with the ability to defend itself thanks to the strategic thinking of Vajpayee. It was under his leadership that India was able to pass the Terrorism Prevention Act and carry out nuclear tests at Pokhran. He also took the initiative of engaging Indian Diaspora in the developmental process.
It was his firm belief that for governance to improve accountability must be improved. He envisioned a country wherein the weakest and poorest could hold the government accountable. This belief led to the introduction of The FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Act of 2000 by Atal ji which was later passed in 2003. It ensured that the government is accountable for taxpayers money and institutionalized fiscal discipline in the country.
His ideas on governance has inspired generations to come. From building last mile connectivity ,CAA Act to Jan Dhan Yojana to Abrogation of Article 370. Modi has expanded upon his philosophy of good governance, which prioritizes equity and the rule of law. In the legislative and administrative processes, accountability and transparency continue to be central to the current government’s agenda. The prime minister’s appeal for “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas” is an extension of the doctrine of good governance of Vajpayee. Overall he was a true leader, a visionary statesmen and a human being of par excellence. A proficient poet and a magnetic personality.
The post Remembering Atal ji on Good governance Day! appeared first on The Jaipur Dialogues.
Continue reading...