PM opens doors to Central officials on policy issues

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday asked the secretaries of the central ministries to deliver results, instead of getting stuck in procedural delays. Addressing a meeting of the secretaries, Mr Singh gave the secretaries the freedom to approach him on policy issues, including those cases where they developed differences with the minister concerned.

He also analysed his pet concerns, including the infrastructure sectors and improvement of the delivery mechanism, in social sectors. The PM asked the officials to work without fear or favour, saying, “You will naturally be advising your minister in matters of policy. You should record your views and offer your suggestions in the best interests of the country, and in accordance with the highest standards of professional standards and excellence.�

At the same time, he said civil service should be accountable and transparent in its functioning. Mr Singh said he has instructed his office to give priority to requests from the secretaries for meetings with him on policy issues. Officials said the PM touched upon the salient features of the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) to emphasise on the targets for the different ministries.

Mr Singh also said he would have more detailed meetings with smaller groups of secretaries later, to work out the plans for each sector. The last time such a meeting was held under the stewardship of Narasimha Rao.

The key issues of governance touched by the PM were improving the quality of public sector management and performance of core sectors including power, coal, telecom and railways. He also discussed ways to make social sector spending more delivery-based and usher in a second Green Revolution in agriculture. He also asked the secretaries to develop ways to improve the institutions and mechanisms for the delivery of public services.