PM Modi lays emphasis on concept of reforms during G-20 retreat session

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday stressed on the need for reformation, tackling issues pertaining to the concept and the implementation of the processes, especially in developing countries.

"Prime Minister Modi had been requested specifically asked by [Australia] Prime Minister Tony Abbott to make an intervention during the retreat session of the G-20, which he did make. Prime Minister Modi focused on the concept of reforms - how in his own experience, the concept of reforms needs to proceed and how they need to proceed for any developing country," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media.

 

"During the retreat, the Prime Minister's focus was on reforms - his experience and his vision. It was largely at a conceptual level," he added.

Akbaruddin further said the Prime Minister, during his speech, stated that reformation should be people-driven, adding that it should address root causes.

"Some of the issues that the Prime Minister mentioned were that reform cannot be done by stealth. One of the lessons that all reformers need to understand is that reforms need to be people-driven and people-centric. He felt that most reform efforts are done by stealth. Given the needs of the present age, it is best to reform taking people into account and being driven by them," he said.

"Reform also needs to address the major causes of impediments rather than be small in nature. So, he talked of reforms being large scale, addressing root causes. He also gave the example of the link between water and power for reform measures," Akbaruddin added.

Akbaruddin further said Prime Minister Modi further stressed that reformation should lead to the simplification of processes and not be individual-centric.

"The Prime Minister further mentioned possible resistance to change and reformation and therefore efforts should be made to insulate reform process from political pressures. He also said that reform process should lead to simplification of processes and should lead to reform of governance mechanisms and processes," he said.

"Prime Minister Modi also felt that reform should institutionalise and should not be individual-centric because if reform has to proceed rapidly, it can only be in an atmosphere where reform is seen as an institutionalised mechanism," Akbaruddin added.

Prime Minister Modi is currently in Brisbane, where he is attending the G-20 Summit.

The Prime Minister travels to Sydney on Sunday where he will address the Indian diaspora, before visiting Canberra and Melbourne. On November 18, he leaves for Fiji, which is the final leg of his three-nation trip.