PM gives ministers pep talk

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made another clarion call for reform within the Government. In the first-ever meeting with the entire Council ...

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made another clarion call for reform within the Government. In the first-ever meeting with the entire Council of Ministers today, to review progress of the National Common Minimum Programme, the message from him was loud and clear: Reforms within ministries have to move on a fast track.

He asked all the ministries to simplify administrative procedures and ensure a citizen-friendly and service-oriented approach. This, he said, should be the hallmark of a 8216;8216;caring and responsive government8217;8217;.

Although the 70-page report card prepared in advance for each of the ministries was not very encouraging on the progress made on the NCMP, Singh complimented his colleagues for restoring normal, rule-based functioning of the Government.

He reiterated that agriculture, irrigation and drinking water, health, education, employment, urban renewal and infrastructure development were the priority areas.

Asking his ministerial colleagues to interact regularly and creatively with their officers, Singh said: 8216;8216;They are our instruments for delivering results, hence, they need to be given their due place.8217;8217;

Singh stressed on the need to associate 8216;8216;the best and the brightest from within and outside Government to enhance governance8217;8217;. He also directed the ministers to lay emphasis on sound financial management and ensure that 8216;8216;only realistic, sound and justifiable proposals were put up for expenditure.8217;8217;

Singh told the ministers that it was 8216;8216;not fair8217;8217; to expect the Finance Minister 8216;8216;alone to act as the arbiter of expenditure while all other ministers try to enlarge their share of the budget pie8217;8217;.

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Considering that many key decisions were stuck, with the Left taking a contrary stand, he reminded the ministers that it was a coalition Government. He also asked his colleagues to keep allies informed about policies being implemented and carry the UPA coalition along.

Singh8217;s comments came a day after the CPI complained that the allies were not being consulted on several issues and the performance of the Government so far was 8216;8216;mixed8217;8217;.

He also stressed the need to engage in a dialogue with state governments to ensure effective implementation of programmes and policies.