Governance, Security and Development: Hope for Tomorrow

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The Book is an examination of the current state of affairs and the myriad challenges the country faces in the field of economic and social development, as well as internal and external threats. These can be met with success only if the system of Governance is in fine fettle. Unfortunately the Constitutional system that we created and which successfully handled the problems associated with the creation of a new State and laid the foundations of nation building has been allowed to deteriorate primarily because of the decline in the quality of leadership who are unable to appreciate the essentiality of an efficient set of institutions to tackle the challenges. After a thousand years of subjugation India has been given one more opportunity by destiny to build a better future for its people and this opportunity should not be lost as has happened in the past in our sad history, due to our failings. The book argues that more than natural endowments the quality of Governance determines the chances of a nation attaining both peace and prosperity. The cases of Singapore, a host of Western countries support this view. Also the fact that many countries in Africa and even the Middle East who are resource rich but wallow in poverty and there is neither peace of prosperity also supports the point. The Book examines in detail the intimate relationship among standards of Governance and national security and development in all its dimensions. The book suggests remedies that are available to the nation including electoral reforms, administrative and police reforms. The book emphasizes that unless we bring about a change in the quality of leadership in all the institutions of Governance by applying the criteria of merit and fitness as the basic tests, we cannot hope for a better future. About the Author K. Sreedhar Rao was in the IAS having passed out of the Loyola College. Chennai with a Masters degree in Economics in 1962. He comes from a family of intellectuals: his grandfather was the first Indian Principal of the Central College. Bangalore and had made original contributions in Zoology. The well-known management Guru C.K. Prahalad is his uncle. His wife's grandfather V.V. Giri was the President of India. Shri Rao served in Assam under some of the most trying circumstances, dealing inter alia with emergencies such as the Indo-Pak War 1971. refugee influx. the "Foreigners agitation" riots, insurgency. etc. He served in the Centre in Several Ministries and rose to the rank of Secretary to the Gol. He retired as the Chief Secretary of Sikkim. After retirement, he served as member NSAB. adviser in the UPSC. and was Chairman of the State Knowledge Commission with rank of a Cabinet Minister in the State of Sikkim. He was also the first VC of the Sikkim Manipal University. He has contributed articles in IDSA's strategic journal. on National Security Issues. His son. Vivek works in the ADB. Manila and his Daughter-in-law in the World Bank. He lives with his wife in Bengaluro. His e-mail ID is shreedharkrao@yahoo.co.in.

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Preface Acknowledgements Introduction The State We are In International Security Environment External Threats: Radical Islam Internal Threats Jammu and Kashmir, North-East etc. Foreign Policy Challenges The Architecture of Governance Good Governance Relationship among Governance, Development and Security Electoral Reforms Administrative and Police Reforms Decentralised Administration in the North-East of India Summing Up Bibliography Index