Public Administration
I. New Public Administration (NPA)
Origin: Developed in the USA in 1968.
Context: Socio-economic turbulence in the USA pre-1968, characterized by:
- Unemployment
- Poverty
- Rapid urbanization & slums
- Environmental pollution
- Transportation problems
Contributing Factors:
- Social and economic turmoil: Blaming between politicians and civil servants for lack of development.
- 1967 Honey Report: Highlighted failures of public administration leading to unemployment and poverty, due to inadequate policy execution and lack of development of Public Administration as a subject in the USA. Recommended scholarships for students, economic aid for researchers, and establishment of a National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) for research and development.
- 1967 Philadelphia Conference (Charlesworth): Addressed problems stemming from the politics-administration dichotomy advocated by Woodrow Wilson. Proposed flexibility in hierarchy, decentralization, and focusing on problems like poverty, unemployment, and environmental pollution.
Minnowbrook Conferences: Series of conferences held every 20 years (1968, 1988, 2008, next in 2028) to redefine public administration.
Conference Year Chair Focus Key Themes 1st 1968 Dwight Waldo Socio-economic turmoil Value, equity, relevance, change; criticized public administration 2nd 1988 Rickson Era of LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization) Efficiency, economy, effectiveness, information technology; limited role for public administration 3rd 2008 Rosemary O'Leary Economic crisis, mobile governance Transparency, accountability, responsibility; significant role for civil servants; "The Future of Public Administration, Public Service and Public Management" Features of NPA:
- Rejection of the politics-administration dichotomy.
- Decentralization.
- Four goals: Value, Equity, Relevance, Change.
- Emphasis on changing the attitude of civil servants.
- Public participation in public administration.
- Support for de-bureaucratization/downsizing of bureaucracy.
- Client sensitivity orientation.
Criticism of NPA:
- Lack of integrity: simultaneously advocating for and against bureaucracy.
- Overemphasis on values.
- Initially irrelevant for developing countries (like India in 1968).
II. NPA's Relevance in India and Developing Countries
- Rejection of Politics-Administration Dichotomy: Already largely rejected in India; bureaucrats play a significant role.
- Decentralization: Achieved through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1993), empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
- Public Participation: Promoted through RTI, social audits, citizen charters, and public service guarantee acts.
- Flexibility in Hierarchy: Facilitated by e-governance, reducing reliance on rigid hierarchical structures.
- Change in Attitude of Civil Servants: Addressed through various committees and recommendations (e.g., Yugohinder Committee, Surendranath Chaturvedi Committee), leading to greater emphasis on ethics in civil services.
- De-bureaucratization/Downsizing: Implemented through the Golden Handshake scheme (VRS for underperforming PSU employees), lateral entry schemes, and recommendations from the Fifth Pay Commission to abolish 30% of government jobs.