Delhi govt to revamp monitoring & evaluation unit of planning

The Delhi government approved a proposal today to revamp and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation unit of its planning department for effective design, development and implementation of various policies.
Besides guiding "outcome budgeting", it will help the government conduct independent surveys and evaluations, enable data analysis and assessment of large government datasets, the government said in a statement.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
"The newly created monitoring and evaluation unit will create a government-wide roadmap for effective use of modern monitoring and evaluation tools and techniques in government for improved policy making and better delivery of public services," according to the statement.

It stated that the unit would also lay down a roadmap for the Delhi government to join the open data movement by making large government datasets open to citizens and researchers.
The decision acknowledges the fact that advances in analytical tools and techniques related to monitoring and evaluation in the last decade combined with an increasing complexity and diversity of schemes warrant a scientific, evidence-based approach to policy-making, it stated.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said it was under the present government that such a "bold vision" for strengthening and modernising the unit of the planning department has been first articulated, and tangible actions towards the same initiated in the form of a comprehensive Outcome Budget for 2017-18.

"This is because our government believes in the fundamental value of data-driven policy-making and the role scientific surveys and evaluations can play in helping elected governments better deliver public services to citizens and with the highest cost-effectiveness," Sisodia said in the statement.