Our people are on the march
Honourable Members,
To ensure that every citizen of our Republic is empowered to know how
Government programmes are being implemented, we brought forward a
path-breaking legislation to increase transparency in the functioning of
Government at all levels. The Right to Information Act, 2005, is a historic
piece of legislation. By ensuring greater transparency in the functioning of
Government, it will help reduce corruption.
Reforming the instruments and processes of governance is an important
element of my Government's reform agenda. We have taken several steps to
begin this process from the very top. A new system of Performance Appraisal
Reports and appraisal by an Eminent Persons Group has been put in place of
the existing system of Annual Confidential Reports. My Government is
introducing mid-career training systems, with promotions based on a new
criteria and an accelerated empanelment procedure for senior civil servants.
A voluntary retirement non-promotion system on the basis of mid-career
screening will be put in place for the All India Services to ensure that the
best and the brightest are rewarded for their performance and commitment to
good governance. My Government has instituted the Prime Minister's Awards
for Excellence in Public Administration to encourage initiative, efficiency,
honesty and commitment to good governance among civil servants. Steps have
been initiated for setting up the Sixth Pay Commission for government
employees.
My Government has set up an Administrative Reforms Commission to
undertake a comprehensive review of governmental machinery at all levels and
to end bureaucratism, thus fulfilling a commitment of the National Common
Minimum Programme. The National Disaster Management Authority has been
operationalised and is expected to play a fruitful role in coordinating and
planning disaster mitigation and management efforts.
There is a need to pursue reform of our judicial system. There is a need
to bring down pendency of cases in courts at all levels and reducing the
time taken for deciding cases. There is also a pressing need to make justice
accessible in an easy and comprehensible manner to all citizens. My
Government is working on proposals to address these issues through more
courts, the use of technology and computerisation, improved procedures, and
introduction of local courts.
Our electoral system has had an impeccable record and is the pride of our
nation. However, there is always scope for improvement, particularly in
decriminalizing the electoral process, reducing frivolous candidates and
providing more teeth to electoral officers. My Government is working on
proposals in all these areas.
Dr Kalam with students of the President's Estate School at their E-Learning Centre on 13.10.2005.