DIPP writes to central ministries to better communicate business reforms

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has reached out to central ministries and their departments to push for better communication of reforms at their level so as to scale up India’s position on the ease of doing business ranking by the World Bank.

The World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2016 has ranked India at 130th out of 184 nations.

In a letter written by DIPP secretary Ramesh Ahishek to the Employees Provident Fund Commission in April this year, the department has asked EPFO to initiate actions to conduct demonstration workshops on the implemented business reforms undertaken in the past.

"Based on the 340 points of the Reform Action Plan developed by DIPP, ministries/departments have initiated several business friendly reforms that have reduced the regulatory burden and further simplified and streamlined the business processes," the letter said.

"As a next step, it is imperative to conduct a series of demonstration workshops with relevant stakeholders to build awareness about the progressive reforms, change in procedures and their impact," the letter added.

According to the letter, government has embarked on ensuring ease of doing business in India, with the objective of promoting a streamlined regulatory environment for business across the country. "To fully achieve the objectives of this programme, reforms are required at the Centre as well as at the state level," it added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India needs to be in the top 50 in the next three years, a mammoth task for DIPP which has been struggling to dismantle the complex procedures involved, including compliance of labour laws, in running businessess across sectors.

Through the letter, DIPP has further urged ministries/departments to have a sustainable communication plan to widely publicize the implemented reforms with its impact through various platforms such as social media, print media, etc.

Following this, EPFO has issued instructions to all its regional offices and field officers on September 15 to observe the advice of DIPP in conjunction with the existing instructions and guidelines for interactions with out stakeholders.