Go back to people, find out how reforms have helped: PM Modi to minsters

NEW DELHI: Amid government's big push for next-generation reforms for improving ease of living and ease of doing business, PM Modi has directed all ministries and departments to go back to the intended beneficiaries - citizens and businesses - to assess the impact of policy modifications on their life and work.

TOI has learnt that PM Modi while chairing the last council of ministers, told his ministerial colleagues and top bureaucrats not to limit themselves to only initiating and notifying reforms. Cabinet secretary TV Somanathan and secretaries from over half a dozen departments had made presentations on the reforms undertaken by ministries and departments in the past two years.

"The message was to see whether the reforms have brought intended results, and the impact can be assessed only after getting feedback from the desired group. The reforms must focus on people and take into account every aspect, rather than being treated merely as an administrative exercise," said an official who attended the meeting.

Officials added that ministries and departments have been asked to deep dive into all the issues during consultation with stakeholders and identify more areas for improvement. "Most big-ticket reforms have been implemented. Now the focus has to be on fixing the nuts and bolts - the process reforms. This has to be driven by each ministry and department concerned," said a person privy to the deliberations.

An official said that ministries now intend to get into a huddle with stakeholders to assess the impact of the steps taken by them over the last few years and also identify new measures that may be required. It's also learnt departments have been asked to focus on addressing public grievances, including by designating officials to deal with citizens' complaints. Taking note that govt remains the biggest litigant, the PM has also directed officials to take measures to reduce court cases and arbitrations. "There is a direction to ensure that no new cases come up due to any future regulatory framework. "Every agency must ensure affidavits are filed in time and these are of good quality," said an official.