7th November, 2002
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension  


TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING TOP ON AGENDA

GLOBAL MEET ON ‘QUALITY GOVERNANCE’


The five-day Second Specialised International Conference of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) being held here from November 5 to 9, 2002 has a special focus on key issues to enable government functioning in a transparent, efficient, accountable and honest manner. During the Conference, over 300 administrators from more than 50 countries are participating in the sub-groups’ discussions on several papers to emphasize the empowerment and autonomy of the bureaucracy as core concerns of the State, notably in its technical role of participation with politicians and society and in formulating and implementing public policies. Papers also suggest that departments/ministries that draw up policies are separated from those that implement these policies, adoption of the cumulative controls on agencies, direct social control through transparent information and participation in advisory boards.

The case studies on ‘Sustainable Development’ lay stress on stakeholder, community and public participation in development projects. Governments require more credibility than other participants in sustainable development strategies. Netherlands Study recommends lesser rules, which lead to more standards. The Chinese papers on reforms focus on the core changes in political ideas concerning Chinese civil servants and on the effects brought about by new political ideas relative to political powers. After China carrying out market economy, the allocation of economic resources has been transferred gradually from the control of political administrative power to the control of the market. Thus the political concepts of civil servant will change according to the objective situation. Civil service changes provide a basis to improve public sector performance. In Italy it means flexible norms and a review of the classic bureaucracy model to motivate4 civil servants to be proactive and productive. In China and in African countries, the changes seek to introduce new public sector rationality, combining the legal-instrumental rationality with the citizen-oriented directive.

At the inaugural session, the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Smt. Vasundhara Raje has called upon the Administrators to change their mindset and cultivate necessary skills, patience and tacts required for dealing with the voices of democracy in the new era of governance. Stressing the utmost need of transparency in government functioning, Smt Raje asked the administrators to break down the barriers, create new procedures and adopt transparent system of functioning so that the people feel that their governments exist not to serve themselves but to serve the people. Acknowledging the need to reduce government presence as direct player, Smt. Raje said that the government from now onwards would be a facilitator, a coordinator, an arbitrator and regulator to ensure a level playing field for everybody. Administrators have to develop appropriate skills to establish the new regulatory systems and operate them. Smt. Raje urged the Civil Servants to assert the traditional civil service values of neutrality, integrity, objectivity and professionalism, which, she said, is the only way that they can function effectively, and at the same time, not be buffeted around by the political winds of change.

She hoped that the Conference would make suggestions on the capacity enhancement needs of civil service to tackle the new challenges and on the code of ethics that has to be developed for the civil services.