84% of Assam Cabinet decisions have been implemented

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In the last two years, around 84% of the decisions taken by the Assam Cabinet have been implemented. Earlier, many decisions taken by the State Cabinet never saw the light of the day. But this changed during the two years of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led State Government, all thanks to reforms in the administrative machinery.

In the last two years, 87 Cabinet meetings have taken place where 1,091 decisions have been taken. Out of these, 83.8% have been implemented. Sources said that when the State Cabinet takes a decision, the next day this decision is communicated to the department concerned. The department concerned will issue a notification in this regard, if required, within 7 days. The department informs the office of the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam about the action taken to implement the Cabinet decision.

Sources alleged that earlier when the Cabinet took decisions, the departments concerned would sometimes issue notifications and sometimes no action would be taken to implement the decisions. Sources blamed bureaucratic hurdles for this situation. Bureaucrats would cite various rules and laws to make the decision-implementing process complex and lengthy. But now, said sources, the Chief Minister monitors the follow-up action on Cabinet decisions and he has removed all bureaucratic obstacles. He gives directions to officers on how to go about implementing the decisions.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We concentrated on a policy-driven proactive governance and brought about reforms in the administrative machinery not only for ‘ease of governance’ but also for ‘ease of living’ for people. We implemented a number of reforms in the financial sector for transparency and accountability that played a key role in achieving several significant economic milestones.”

Sources said that earlier, there was no fixed time for Cabinet meetings, but now these meetings are held almost on a weekly basis. This enables frequent discussion between the Chief Minister and ministers on policy implementation and if there are any bureaucratic hurdles, they are tackled.

A senior bureaucratic said, “A cabinet decision may be carried out by the relevant minister by directing his department to take steps to implement the policy decision. The Chief Minister is quick to tackle bureaucratic hurdles. This explains why the percentage of implementation of Cabinet decisions has increased significantly.”

Sources said that administrative reforms will be discussed during the Deputy Commissioners’ conference which got underway today in Tinsukia. Chief Minister Sarma had announced recently that the government was working on the concept of establishing a deputy commissioner office in each LAC. Key decisions regarding implementing this will also be discussed during the conference. The Chief Minister’s objective is to bring the administration closer to the public, added sources.

Meanwhile, the three-day DCs’ conference got underway today in Tinsukia. The conference has been held to ensure proper implementation of the development and public welfare schemes adopted by the State Government. On the first day of the conference, State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog held a meeting with the DCs of Nagaon, Morigaon and Darrang districts, along with the Additional Commissioner of Hojai. Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Paban Kumar Borthakur was also present in the meeting.

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