Global Integrity Report: India scores a middling 70

An interesting report by Global Integrity (a not for profit organisation that generates information about governance and corruption trends around the world).  In its score-card, India is at a moderate 70 scoring low on legislative and judicial accountability, civil service regulations, whistle blowing, rule of law and enforcement.

Why doesn't our government focus on good governance?

Good governance is the buzz word everywhere except among the political classes! Is it because they don't have their ear to the ground or they just don't care?  I think its a mixture of the two.  There are some politicians who understand that the voters are fed up of bad roads, lack of electricity, lack of quality schools, lack of law and order in many parts of the country, malnutrition and hunger and are making efforts to remedy the situation in their own small way.  Nitish Kumar in Bihar is a good example.  However, the majority, across the spectrum, are mired in old mind-sets and caste politics.  How do we put the message across to these politicians that their game is up? If they want to be re-elected, they have to perform.  For this, there needs to be consensus building across the political spectrum to bring about reforms in the structure of our civil service, the back bone that is supposed to deliver the goodies allocated to the people.  There also needs to be reform in the way political parties function internally as well as in Parliament.  For this, we need to amend the Anti-Defection law and bring in inner party democracy.  Lastly, law and order has to be strengthened.  We cannot have sundry goons hijacking an issue on the threat of violence without any repurcussions -- be it Valentine's Day celebration or women going to pubs or even larger issues such as Telangana.