Public views on corruption on Plan panel agenda

Strict fine for those who are employed by the government of India for this purpose

When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chairs the full meeting of the Planning Commission on Thursday to discuss the 12th plan,a power-point presentation he should be looking at is the one on corruption in public service delivery systems and the citizens lack of faith in administration.

Prepared by the Plan panel for the meeting and elaborated by one of its senior advisers,the striking feature of the presentation is that it is based on citizens feedback comprising caustic responses received on its new website and Facebook account that were opened specifically by the commission to solicit peoples suggestions for the 12th plan.

How can we devise our Urban Renewal Strategy to avoid the spread of unplanned sprawls? One such query by the Plan panel seeks to know through its Facebook account,Twelfth plan. Get rid of all corrupt clerks who approve illegal plans becos because of money, comments Amandeep Modgil. Strict fine for those who are employed by the government of India for this purpose. They first take bribe so to allow the wrong things. So correct the system which is in governments hands8230; says another Facebook account holder Nivesh Sharma.

How can Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana PMGSY be improved further? another question by the Planning Commission. PMGSY is going good but the only problem is corruption which is present in the whole system from bottom to top, quips Divya Malik.

The Facebook account and website,with over 32,000 hits,leave little doubt about the general public resentment against systems of governance.

A Planning Commission official conceded on Wednesday that the harsh feedback on its Facebook account had come as a surprise,compelling them to include it as part of the presentation for Thursdays meeting.

Citizen feedback reveals general unhappiness with governance and public service delivery. They believe corruption is built into systems for public service delivery, says the presentation on which its speakers will be elaborating.

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The commission,though,will underline the point that while most public services are presented as rights or entitlements,the enforcement systems are poor.

It is expected to maintain that delivery systems themselves have no accountability mechanisms.

Officials said the commission would argue for designing and implementation of better programmes in which participation of people should be ensured. People should be active agents of change and not just beneficiaries, says the presentation.