The Union Cabinet and its committees have been given a new 'mantra' by President Pratibha Patil and asked to clear every proposal only after ensuring that it meets the requisites of equity or inclusiveness, innovation and public accountability.
The Cabinet Secretariat has shot out a 'secret' demi official letter to all secretaries in the government, citing the President's diktat and mandating that every note put up before the Cabinet or its committees for decisions must explain how the proposal advances these goals.
A four-page letter written by Dr Mrutyunjay Sarangi, an additional secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, lays down a specimen format of Annexure II to be attached to every note to the Cabinet or its committees. It says this is necessary to ensure achievement of the three public policy objectives of the government.
The letter dated June 23 warns that 'notes received in deviation from these instructions will be returned by the Cabinet Secretariat in future'. And if these dimensions are not relevant to a proposal under consideration in the note, the reason for this is required to be briefly specified both in the note and in Appendix II.
Sarangi's order makes it clear that Annexure II should mention in the prescribed format how the proposal advances the goals of (1) Equity or inclusiveness, (2) Public accountability, and (3) Innovation.
The letter is a follow-up to the President's call, during her address to Parliament, that "as part of process reform (of governance), all proposals to the Cabinet will have to report on how the proposal under consideration will enhance the goals of equity or inclusion, innovation and public accountability."
The letter warns that the exercise should not become "perfunctory or stereotyped." It lays down that "where equity or inclusiveness is furthered, there should be an attempt to quantify the likely impact through suitable indicators."
"Where relevant, it should be specified what innovation is being introduced, or exactly how public accountability is going to be strengthened," it stressed.
It further lays down that the appraising bodies, which assess the proposals before they go to the Cabinet, must deliberate on these goals in details and record so in the minutes.
"If for specific reasons, the proposal is in any way not likely to further the objectives of equity or public accountability or of promoting innovation, a clear statement to that effect needs to be reflected in the minutes of the meeting," the letter said.
It goes on to explain the details that should be incorporated by the ministries in the notes. These are:
"Equity could include geographical considerations, particularly for backward and special category regions, socio equity in the context of disadvantaged communities, gender, poverty, etc.
"Public accountability could include (but not limited to) increased stakeholder participation, awareness campaigns, cost benefit analysis, social audit, independent evaluation and the provision for greater transparency or information disclosure. The proposal should also detail how it is using information tolls to ensure transparency and
accountability as well as reporting in the public domain.
"As regards innovation, there could be improvements in the existing schemes/structures/practices/procedures etc. There could be innovations in policy, in institutional arrangements, management innovations or technological innovations, and so on. Innovation could be conceived of in the scheme design itself or room could be left for innovation during implementation at the state level by in-built flexibility in the scheme for local innovations. Innovation could also include documentation, dissemination and implementation of the best practices."
