Need to improve transparency, accountability: Prez

Citing Prime Minister's 'Jan Dhan Yojana' and direct benefit transfer schemes as value based governance practices,President Pranab Mukherjee today stressed on improving transparency, accountability and organisational capabilities to meet quality of service delivery.
Addressing a function here, Mukherjee said the efficacy of public institutions depends on the delivery mechanism and the institutional framework of rules, regulations and procedures, which has to evolve continuously to respond to the changing times.
"There is a pressing need, on one hand to improve organizational capabilities to cater to the increasing demand for services and improvement in the quality of service delivery, and on the other, to improve transparency and accountability.

"This underscores the need for innovative solutions based on technology," he said during the launch of 'Karnataka Mobile One', a mobile governance project of the state government.
An individual can access 4,000 'government to citizens' and 'business to citizens' services like passport status and income tax payment and refunds, among others through this unique application available on smart phones.
Talking about e-governance initiatives, the President said 'Aadhaar' project was initiated providing every resident with a unique identification number aimed at improving delivery and easy access to benefits and services.

"The Direct Benefits Transfer scheme launched in January 2013 leveraged the Aadhaar system to improve targeting, eliminate waste, usher in greater transparency, reduce transaction costs and enhance efficiency.

"This initiative demonstrated how good governance practices can be consolidated using suitable technology models," he said.
Mukherjee said e-governance holds great promise for a quantum leap in governance standards.
"The need of the hour is to leverage India's leadership position in information communication technology to introduce technology-intensive solutions for governance," the President said.