Objective of the Unit

Good Governance attempts to lay the foundations for factors like accountability, transparency, effective service delivery and efficiency of processes and outcomes. However to guarantee these features, social accountability becomes an overhauling factor, be it in the context of civil society or political society. Social accountability is the ability of all citizens, civil society and the private sector to scrutinise leaders, governments and public institutions and hold them to account. This includes, ultimately, the opportunity to change leaders by democratic means. In the larger context, democratic governance is a necessary factor. The underlying assumption is that the features of democratic governance enable social accountability.

Scope of the Unit  

Enabling environment for social accountability is ensured through various means. The present module underlines and defines the various methods in which environment are created to ensure the existence of social accountability mechanisms. The following points describe the scope of the module.

• The fundamental idea of good governance and accountability and the various parameters of democratic governance and parliamentary democracy which ensures the presence of enabling environment.
• The above mentioned section is followed by the description of transforming political systems and constitutional guarantees under the political systems which encourage popular participation as a means to achieve environment for accountability
• The module also provides insights on the various branches of government and the different methods in which they are brought into scrutiny.
• The success of achieving an enabling environment is achieved through legal and regulatory framework. This section looks at some of the legislations in Indian context with reference to enabling environment. It also takes a stock of pro-accountability institutions present in the countries.
• The following section looks into the issue of engaging civic engagement in governmental decision making
•  The module also looks into the role of private sector in creating suitable environment for promotion of social accountability.
• The module finally concludes by considering the role of civil society and media in ensuring participation and creating suitable environment for social accountability

The key learnings to the unit will help the reader to

• Understand the broad concept of enabling environment for accountability and the nature in which political systems make provision for the same.
• Identify the inbuilt mechanism of accountability in the three branches of government and also learn the role of legal framework in ensuring accountability.
• Understand the scope and need for civic engagement in decision making.
• Understanding the role of media, civil society and private sector in ensuring suitable environment for social accountability.