The true spirit of Jan Vishwas - people’s trust in governance cannot be achieved through one-sided accountability. While citizens are often penalized for civic violations such as littering, traffic infractions, or unauthorized constructions, the systems responsible for maintaining public infrastructure and services frequently escape equivalent scrutiny. This imbalance creates a perception of asymmetric accountability, where individuals are punished, but institutions are not held to the same standards. For trust to genuinely take root, accountability must be mutual, transparent, and enforceable.
Civic offenses are typically framed as individual failures. However, when such violations become widespread, they are no longer merely personal lapses; they point toward systemic shortcomings. For instance, persistent air and water pollution cannot be blamed solely on citizens when regulatory enforcement is weak, monitoring is inconsistent, or policy implementation is delayed. Similarly, chronic waterlogging, pothole-ridden roads, and unchecked encroachments reflect administrative inefficiencies and gaps in urban planning rather than isolated acts of negligence by the public.
To restore faith in governance, accountability must extend to elected representatives and administrative bodies. This means establishing clear benchmarks for service delivery, clean air and water standards, road maintenance timelines, drainage management systems, and transparent anti-corruption mechanisms. More importantly, these benchmarks must be backed by enforceable penalties for non-compliance. Without consequences, commitments remain rhetorical, and public trust continues to erode.
Two-sided accountability also fosters a culture of shared responsibility. When citizens see that authorities are equally answerable, they are more likely to comply with rules and participate constructively in civic life. Conversely, when systems fail without repercussions, it breeds cynicism and disengagement. People begin to question why they should follow rules when those in charge are not held to account for larger failures that affect millions.
Institutional reforms are key to bridging this gap. Independent audits, real-time public dashboards, grievance redressal systems, and citizen feedback loops can enhance transparency. Additionally, legal frameworks should define liability for administrative lapses, ensuring that delays, negligence, or corruption carry tangible consequences. Performance-linked evaluations for public officials can further align incentives with public welfare outcomes.
Ultimately, Jan Vishwas is not built through enforcement alone but through fairness. A governance model that penalizes citizens while excusing systemic failures cannot command genuine respect or trust. By embedding accountability across all levels, individual and institutional alike, governments can move toward a more balanced, credible, and effective system. Only then can trust evolve from a slogan into a lived reality, where citizens and the state work as equal stakeholders in building a functional and just society.
B S Vohra A civic & Environment Activist President, East Delhi RWAs Joint Front Twitter @vohrabs
