Government has moved 'substantially forward' in curbing graft: PM Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said government has moved "substantially forward" in curbing corruption and improving public services delivery system but acknowledged there is "still a long way" to go to ensure transparency, accountability and probity in public life.

Addressing the Conference of Chief Secretaries here, the Prime Minister also expressed confidence that a strong Lokpal law would be enacted soon.

Singh recalled that last year he had emphasised the need for a systemic response that reduced opportunities for corruption in public life and had stated that his government was committed to taking all legal and administrative measures to curb the menace.

"I had also said that we should make full use of advances in modern technology to improve the delivery of our public services system. We have moved substantially forward in these areas in the last one year," he said.

The Prime Minister cited the Citizen's Charter and the Electronic Delivery of Services bills introduced in Parliament last year as examples.

Noting that "unfortunately, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bills could not be passed in the last session of Parliament", Singh said he does hope that the government "would soon be able to enact a strong Lokpal law".

The Prime Minister also referred to the government's plan to frame a law for regulating public procurement, implementing national e-governance plan and providing 'Aadhar' numbers.

"All this builds upon our earlier initiatives such as the Right to Information Act, the Judicial Accountability Bill and the Whistle Blowers Bill. But, we still have a long way to go in our efforts for ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in public life," he said.