An essential requirement of good governance and socio-economic development is “probity” in governance. Examine (200 Words)
An important requisite for ensuring probity in governance is absence of corruption.
All organisations receiving public funding are accountable and subject to audit and scrutiny. Good Governance includes the avoidance of conflicts of interest and corrupt practices and acting in ways that minimizes the potential for litigation.
Importance of Probity can be understood by its principles:
- Accountability: It involves aligning decision-making processes with the appropriate delegated authority and being responsible for past and expected performance.
- Transparency: It may involve providing reasons for decisions, along with relevant information to stakeholders. Transparent processes minimize the opportunity for and risk of , fraud and corruption.
- Impartiality: It accounts for the reputation of the organisation.
- Confidentiality: Transparency and accountability needs to be balanced against privacy and confidentiality considerations.
- Conflict of interests: Stakeholder must have the right that staff members will take decision best in interest of organization and people as a whole.
In democracy, probity goes even further to espouse the principles of equality before law and a respect for the rights and duties of leaders towards their citizens.
So, to conclude, probity is a societal expectation which citizens demand from decision makers and all those that function as a part of the state apparatus