Won't allow files to shuttle from table to table: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Quantum leap in administrative reforms

* A bill on 'love jihad' should ensure that no youth deceives a girl

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: A quantum leap in administrative reforms – the Special Cabinet on Saturday abolished several intermediary steps between various departments and the Finance department to streamline the process of approval of various schemes and projects.

The Cabinet had a special sitting on Saturday on the completion of two months.

Briefing the decisions taken by the Cabinet, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Earlier files of various schemes and projects had to follow a meandering course – from the department to the Finance Department to other related departments. It is a time-taking exercise that delays projects and schemes.

"We've streamlined the system to cut cost and time. Once the annual budget gets its passage, the departmental committees will approve all projects and schemes costing up to Rs 2 crore with the consent from the minister concerned. Files of projects and schemes will not have to take the roundabout courses of tables.

"We will form a standing finance committee with the Chief Secretary as its head. This committee will sit every Friday to approve all projects and schemes costing Rs 2-5 crore. The commissioners and the directors of departments will place the project proposals for approval. If the departments respond to the queries right, the committee may approve the projects at their first sitting. If there are queries, the departments will have to respond to them and place the project proposals at the next meeting.

"We will form a special standing finance committee with the Finance Minister as its head. This committee will sit every Thursday to approve project/scheme proposals costing Rs 5-100 crore. If the departments respond to queries right, the project proposals will get approval at the meeting.

"For projects costing over Rs 100 crore, the ministers concerned will take the proposals to the Cabinet for approval.

"We won't allow any scheme/project files to move from table to table in the secretariat that consumes time. For the ceiling, the directorates will move the Finance department directly. The Finance Department will direct the treasury for the release of the ceiling. Say, if the PWD wants ceiling for a project, the chief engineer concerned will send it to the Finance Department directly, skipping around 12 intermediate tables.

"For regular schemes like old-age pension, the minister concerned will approve them, and the Director will send them to the Finance Department for the release of funds."

The Chief Minister further said, "We are ready for more reforms. In 2005, the Jatindra Nath Hazarika Committee gave some recommendations regarding administrative reforms. However, the Government didn't implement the recommendations. We'll implement some of the recommendations that are still relevant.

"We've decided to follow the desk officer system. In this system, deputy secretaries will initiate files instead of dealing assistants. Dealing assistants will, however, make the files ready. This will help us to do away with delays in the movement of office files.

"We have a plan to make the entire State Secretariat an e-office within five years. An e-office won't have any hardcopy files."

When asked about the coming Budget session, Sarma said the Cow Protection Bill is sure to come.

When asked about love jihad, he said, "A bill on this will come, but not now. I don't want to associate love jihad only with the Muslims. Even a Hindu youth may deceive a Hindu girl. Such a bill must only ensure that no youth – Muslim or Hindu – should deceive a girl."

Also Read: Assam Cabinet to Create New Department for Protecting Indigenous Faith and Culture: Himanta Biswa Sarma

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