Mail News Service
New Delhi, Feb 3: All problems can be overcome with Centre and the States working together says the Prime Minister. Inaugurating the third Conference of Chief Secretaries of States and UTs, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that the Central Government has taken several initiatives recently to achieve the goal of ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in public life but we still have to go a long way. Stressing the need to equip a large number of our people with skills, the Prime Minister appreciated the good work done by some States in the area of skill development. He urged all States to show leadership in this field. He further said that the Central Government is creating an enabling policy framework in infrastructure development and the State Governments will be encouraged to adopt the instrumentalities provided in the policy. Referring to National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZ), the Prime Minister urged Chief Secretaries to carefully consider how the States can take the maximum advantage of the new policies.
The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri V. Narayanasamy, in his address said that good governance has to be participatory, transparent, accountable, responsive, effective and efficient and inclusive. Transparency is not only the key to upholding integrity in the public service but is also contributory factor towards better performance. The Minister said that Sevottam framework of the DARPG is a vital tool for training and sensitizing Government’s machinery towards a system of accountability and transparency. A series of workshops on Sevottam have been held in the last two years in consultation with the States/UTs. The Minister said that this framework is now proposed to be taken to the district levels and training programmes have been planned in collaboration with the State Governments. The first such district level programme on Sevottam has been planned in Thane, Maharashtra. The Minister noted that today we face multiple challenges which need to be addressed with socially workable plans. Shri Narayanasamy further said that the Government has so far considered 13 of the 15 reports of the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC). 508 recommendations relating to the Centre have been implemented and other 497 are at various stages of implementation. He called upon the Chief Secretaries to consider implementations of the ASC recommendations on priority as a substantial number of recommendations pertain to the States.
The Minister said that the Centre has taken several measures like enactment of RTI Act, ratification of United Nations Convention against corruption, Lokpal and Lokayukt Bill, Judicial Standard Accountability Bill, Rights of citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Service and Redressal of Grievances Bill, Whistleblower Bill etc. to bring in transparency and accountability in the governance.
In his opening remarks, Cabinet Secretary, Shri A.K. Seth said that the Centre’s intention is to ensure that the States and the Centre work in coordination. He further said that the Government has identified high priority areas so as to make governance effective and transparent. Shri R.C. Mishra, Secretary, DARPG, proposed a vote of thanks.
The Conference is organised annually by the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances. The Conference has institutionalised the process of interaction with States/UTs. It serves as a standing forum for exchange of views between the Centre and the States. It also provides an occasion for discussion on global developments that have a bearing on the country as a whole and the broad contours of national policies in select areas of relevance. This conference also helps in ensuring an integrated and holistic approach towards the development of the country.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/all-problems-can-be-overcome-with-centre-states-working-together-pm/
