Government open to a 'reasoned debate' on further changes in Lokpal bill: PM
The prime minister said that strong procedures are needed to eliminate corruption and the government is serious to remove it.
By ET Bureau | Updated:
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has conceded that governance failures and corruption had become the source of growing popular disquiet, but insisted that the institution of Lokpal was only one among multiple solutions being worked on by the government to address the concerns.
Stating that the government was open to a "reasoned debate" on further changes in the Lokpal Bill, the Prime Minister insisted that any divergent views on the bill's provisions must be addressed to members of Parliament or the parliamentary standing panel, with which the bill is now pending.
"We have made it clear that all concerned individuals should convey their concern on different aspects of the bill to their representatives in Parliament and to the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee has the power to propose any amendment. We are open to a reasoned debate on all these issues," he offered in address at the golden jubilee celebrations of Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.
Singh said corruption needed to be tackled not only with Lokpal but also through judicial reforms that ensure that law-breakers do not go scot-free; electoral reforms to clean up poll funding; transparent procurement procedures, including a law to govern procurement; and stronger regulatory mechanisms. "The creation of the Lokpal as an institution will help. But it will not solve the problem," the prime minister adding that "we also need to change our system of governance to eliminate corruption."
The prime minister acknowledged the public angst over corruption and governance failures and said probity and transparency were the need of the hour. "The aam aadmi faces corruption when he has to pay a bribe to facilitate ordinary transactions with government. Beneficiaries of government programmes face corruption when those in charge of implementing the programmes misappropriate funds and large government contracts can breed corruption when procurment procedures are inadequate," he said.
Calling for a revamp of government procedures to reduce discretion and make transparent the basis for decision-making in awarding contracts, the prime minister said he had constituted a GoM to look into the issue and was confident that the government would come up with systemic solutions.
Stating that the government was open to a "reasoned debate" on further changes in the Lokpal Bill, the Prime Minister insisted that any divergent views on the bill's provisions must be addressed to members of Parliament or the parliamentary standing panel, with which the bill is now pending.
"We have made it clear that all concerned individuals should convey their concern on different aspects of the bill to their representatives in Parliament and to the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee has the power to propose any amendment. We are open to a reasoned debate on all these issues," he offered in address at the golden jubilee celebrations of Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.
Singh said corruption needed to be tackled not only with Lokpal but also through judicial reforms that ensure that law-breakers do not go scot-free; electoral reforms to clean up poll funding; transparent procurement procedures, including a law to govern procurement; and stronger regulatory mechanisms. "The creation of the Lokpal as an institution will help. But it will not solve the problem," the prime minister adding that "we also need to change our system of governance to eliminate corruption."
The prime minister acknowledged the public angst over corruption and governance failures and said probity and transparency were the need of the hour. "The aam aadmi faces corruption when he has to pay a bribe to facilitate ordinary transactions with government. Beneficiaries of government programmes face corruption when those in charge of implementing the programmes misappropriate funds and large government contracts can breed corruption when procurment procedures are inadequate," he said.
Calling for a revamp of government procedures to reduce discretion and make transparent the basis for decision-making in awarding contracts, the prime minister said he had constituted a GoM to look into the issue and was confident that the government would come up with systemic solutions.
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