Think bigger

8226; Apropos of 8216;At PMO, a new system in place to keep files moving8217; IE, August 9, the report shows how keen the PMO is to imp...

8226; Apropos of 8216;At PMO, a new system in place to keep files moving8217; IE, August 9, the report shows how keen the PMO is to improve its efficiency. Earlier, there were reports that the PMO had asked all the ministries to send the draft parliamentary questions to the PMO where the answers will be finalised and approved. But take a deeper look at both these decisions. The first means that the PMO will be busy crossing the 8216;t8217;s and dotting the 8216;i8217;s in the draft answers, sapping the initiative of the individual ministers and their senior civil servants. The latter measure is aimed at speeding up the decision-making process. In all this, I am afraid the energies of the PMO are likely to be misdirected.
The PMO is the fountainhead of ideas for the PM. It had best concern itself with how to generate the bigger ideas among the cabinet ministers and their departmental heads and ensure that there is coordination and maintenance of momentum. What the PMO seems to be doing, instead, are only administrative steps the utility of which needs to be watched carefully.

8212; S. Subramanyan Mumbai

8226; It is good that at last we have a prime minister who seems serious about his job. This should impact the way this country as he is known to be impartial.

8212; Shankar Coimbatore

8226; Your correspondent says the proposed file tracking system is intended to prevent entire files from having to be faxed to the PM when he is on tour. But just how a tracking system can prevent this is not clear.

8212; R. Sankar New Delhi

Good news

8226; This refers to 8216;Drought-proofing India8217; IE, August 9. A really optimistic article with factual support. You have done a wonderful job of explaining to people where we are heading towards.

8212; Sushant Sinha On e-mail

Bridge too far

8226; Manipur has been in incessant turmoil since July 11 after the alleged rape and murder of Manorama Devi by personnel of the Assam Rifles. The common people there have been demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act AFSPA 1958. But both the state and central governments have not yet heeded the peoples8217; cry of anguish. Why?
The centre has not even been interested in providing firefighting services 8212; giving succour to the injured, allaying their fears, and assuaging hurt sentiments 8212; let alone addressing the crux of the problem. If Manipuris are also rightful citizens of the country just like the rest of Indians, why don8217;t the PM or the Home Minister pay a visit to Manipur and address the peoples8217; grievances directly?
It is high time the media plays an activist role to bridge the ever-widening chasm between the corridors of power in Delhi and the unheard voices in the Northeast.

8212; N.D. Singh Delhi

Just scrap it

8226; Bibek Debroy has done well to write on the Budget8217;s Section 285BA 8216;The budget8217;s redundant window8217;, IE, August 7. The common taxpayer is unlikely to know of its existence. He is therefore likely to become an offender if he spends 50,000 rupees. The section should be deleted. The government should realise, besides, that citizens are intimidated by income-tax and other government officials. It should take steps to reduce the intimidation.

8212; P. Ramachandran Bangalore