Jun 07 2014 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)
11-Point Plan to make Govt Shipshape
YASHODHARA DASGUPTA
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NEW DELHI
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Cab secy tells depts to identity archaic laws & curb decision-making to a maximum of 4 layers
India's top civil servant has asked government departments to identity archaic laws and regulations that hold up progress and to restrict decision-making to a maximum of four layers, continuing a drive by the Narendra Modi government to galvanise the bureaucracy and end the policy paralysis that is perceived to have plagued the Congress-led UPA government. The directives, spelt out in a letter from Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth to all secretaries, are part of an 11-point plan to improve governance.The letter is the outcome of a meeting between the prime minister and the secretaries of all government departments on Wednesday , during which Modi urged bureaucrats to serve the people and promised that the political leadership will back decisions taken in good faith. “Every department has been asked to identify and repeal at least 10 rules or processes and even archaic Acts that have be come redundant and the removal of which would not lead to any loss of efficiency. Also, decision-making layers would be cut down to a maximum of four,“ said an official aware of the development.
Importantly , the letter calls upon ministries to engage in collaborative decision-making and consult frequently to resolve differences.
But if there is no resolution, the Cabinet secretariat or the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will step in. The previous regime is widely regarded to have been prone to inter-departmental strife with ministries often working at cross-purposes, resulting in projects not receiving clearances.
UPA PLANS UNDER REVIEW PAGE 11 Officials said several steps are being taken to reduce clutter — both physical as well as bureaucratic formalities — as part of the PM’s directive to make government offices clean, hygienic and conducive for work.In a bid to improve processes, departments have also been asked to identify forms that are widely used and crunch or shorten them, wherever possible, to one page only. Unnecessary or irrelevant information should not be sought, says the letter from the cabinet secretary.
The directions are also specific when it comes to physical cleanliness. All government buildings and work spaces of departments should be cleared
of obstructions and spruced up, says the letter.In pursuance of this goal, passages and stairs should be cleared of obstructions, which means no office material or cupboards should be found in these spaces. Officials have been asked to ensure files, papers and so on are neatly stacked so that a “positive work environment is created“.
In certain departments, the clean-up has already begun with the disposal of old/irrelevant files and folders stacked near staircases. “The secretaries have even made rounds to see the condition of the building, passages and so on,“ said one government official.
Departments have been ordered to use information tech nology while submitting information. Eventually, this should be universalised.
Government offices would have to weed out files and papers “in accordance with rules of record-keeping including digitalisation, wherever necessary“ within 3-4 weeks.
“Digitalisation of papers has already been introduced to an extent for current files. It is the old documents and folders that would need to be taken care of,“ said another government official.
The Cabinet secretariat has asked ministries to draft a plan of action based on the 11 commandments. Interim progress will be monitored in meetings with a Group of Secretaries in the week beginning June 9.
Importantly , the letter calls upon ministries to engage in collaborative decision-making and consult frequently to resolve differences.
But if there is no resolution, the Cabinet secretariat or the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will step in. The previous regime is widely regarded to have been prone to inter-departmental strife with ministries often working at cross-purposes, resulting in projects not receiving clearances.
UPA PLANS UNDER REVIEW PAGE 11 Officials said several steps are being taken to reduce clutter — both physical as well as bureaucratic formalities — as part of the PM’s directive to make government offices clean, hygienic and conducive for work.In a bid to improve processes, departments have also been asked to identify forms that are widely used and crunch or shorten them, wherever possible, to one page only. Unnecessary or irrelevant information should not be sought, says the letter from the cabinet secretary.
The directions are also specific when it comes to physical cleanliness. All government buildings and work spaces of departments should be cleared
of obstructions and spruced up, says the letter.In pursuance of this goal, passages and stairs should be cleared of obstructions, which means no office material or cupboards should be found in these spaces. Officials have been asked to ensure files, papers and so on are neatly stacked so that a “positive work environment is created“.
In certain departments, the clean-up has already begun with the disposal of old/irrelevant files and folders stacked near staircases. “The secretaries have even made rounds to see the condition of the building, passages and so on,“ said one government official.
Departments have been ordered to use information tech nology while submitting information. Eventually, this should be universalised.
Government offices would have to weed out files and papers “in accordance with rules of record-keeping including digitalisation, wherever necessary“ within 3-4 weeks.
“Digitalisation of papers has already been introduced to an extent for current files. It is the old documents and folders that would need to be taken care of,“ said another government official.
The Cabinet secretariat has asked ministries to draft a plan of action based on the 11 commandments. Interim progress will be monitored in meetings with a Group of Secretaries in the week beginning June 9.
