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A day long Conference of Chief Secretaries from States and Union Territories from all over the country opened here this morning to discuss in depth Administrative Reforms, Model Code of Governance, Accountability and streamlining the service delivery system. Inaugurating the Conference, the Minister for Personnel and Public Grievances, Shri Suresh Pachouri said that the Government is committed to bring in transparency in administration, right to information, timely and effective redressal of grievances and a systems approach to simplifying procedures. He said the Civil Services is accountable not only to the vertical hierarchy but also horizontally, the beneficiary. Shri Pachouri said it is not only important what one does it is more important the manner he is doing it. The Common Minimum Programme enunciated by the UPA Government is committed to set up an Administrative Reforms Commission for revamping the Public Administration System on a massive scale. It is also committed to make the Right to Information more progressive and the Act more participatory and meaningful. The Ministry of Personnel has also drawn-up a detailed time schedule for filling up of backlog vacancies including that for SCs and STs.
Citing examples of Great Britain, New Zealand and Canada, he said Reforms introduced in these countries have created durable improvement and resulted in better and more efficient delivery to the public. Most of these Reforms have led to increased competition and therefore the pressure to more efficiency. We should certainly study these Reforms and examine feasibility of these Reforms in the Indian context. While doing so, we should keep in mind the complexities of our social structure as also our special requirements arising out of our plural and diverse society. The Reforms in whatever form we introduce should conform to Indian organizational ethics and socio-cultural characteristics. Success of these Reforms can only be judged by the difference they make to the life of the poorest and weaker in the country.
Civil Service Reforms and Corruption at various levels of Administration will have to be given some thought, he said. Improving the performance of the system and integrity of the public services can only deliver good governance and ensure timely delivery of quality service to the public. Unless we root out corruption and bring in transparency in our functioning, people sooner or later will loose faith in the administration.
Shri Suresh Pachouri hopped that the Chief Secretaries who head the Administrative System in States and Union Territories will deliberate on these issues with a sense of commitment to make the system more responsive to the people. The Cabinet Secretary, Shri B.K. Chaturvedi also addressed the Conference.
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