Sinhas Steps Against Red-Tapism

Worried at the slow movement of files in North Block, finance minister Yashwant Sinha has started a system of daily reports on the progress in critical sectors.

Under the system, started last week, each division sends a progress report on critical files to the minister. This has been done as part of the emphasis on implementation that has become the buzz word in the PMO and some of the major ministries.

While the finance ministry has a monitoring committee, headed by the finance secretary, that keeps track of the progress made in fulfilling the budget promises, Sinha has introduced the system wherein reports are to be submitted to him every evening.

It will ensure that some of the timebound promises for this fiscal are adhered to. The daily reports cover the progress on specific projects as well as the policy issues in capital market, infrastructure sector, petroleum and investment issues.

Sources say, the slow file movement has held up the progress on substantive issues. For instance, during the interaction with the industry, the ministry had said it was hopeful of solving the Dabhol problem soon, it has not yet fructified.

Recently, the finance minister was irked by the delay in handling of several issues and he has taken the officials to task, soukrces said.

He has also been prompted by the feedback from consultants that the problem in the government is mainly on account of implementation of critical issues, including sanctions for projects.