To complete one month in his second stint as Uttarakhand’s chief minister tomorrow.
Drawing inspiration from Anna Hazare, Chief Minister Maj Gen (Retd) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri has launched a series of initiatives to bring good governance and good administration in Uttarakhand.
From setting up a new department of corruption eradication and public service to formulating a new transparent transfer policy, the new initiatives of Khanduri in his second inning as chief minister come at a time when state Assembly elections are round the corner.
But Khanduri’s real action against the corrupt is yet to come. “We have not seen any action against those who indulged in corruption during the regimes of both BJP as well as Congress,” said
Avadhash Kaushal, a social activist here. The opposition Congress is also critical of Khanduri for remaining silent on the issue of alleged scandals during the BJP government.
Nevertheless, Khanduri has also earned praise on the new measures against corruption and naturally, the government is patting its own back.
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“His (B C Khanduri) has witnessed historic initiatives in the direction of bringing about Suraaj and Sushasan (good governance and good administration) in Uttarakhand,” an official spokesman claimed as Khanduri completes one month in chief minister office tomorrow.
In the first cabinet meeting held on September 11 soon after the swearing-in ceremony, it was decided that that the office of the Lokayukta would be made stronger and that the chief minister will also be brought under its ambit. All ministers, IAS and IPS officers were directed to declare their assets by October 15.
A separate department of ‘Suraaj, Bhrashtachar Unmulan evam Jan Sewa’ has been formed to fight corruption and ensure good governance and public service, the spokesman said.
In order to ensure availability of essential services within specified time frame to the general public in Uttarakhand, a right to public service Act has been passed by the state Assembly.
Services under this Act include ration card, mutation and other revenue records, income certificate, caste certificate, permanent resident certificate, birth-death certificate, driving licence, registration of document, passing of layout plan, electricity and water connection, vehicle registration and undisputed change of name among others.
In case if service is not provided within the stipulated time, then disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the concerned official or employee. A commission would soon be constituted which besides monitoring and inspecting the works of the first and the second appeals will also give its suggestions to make right to public service more effective and stronger.
The government has also enacted a new law to confiscate ill-gotten properties of public servants earned through illegal means and utilise them for social cause.
An e-procurement system has been introduced in the public works department, which is being touted as one of the most corrupt departments.
The government is also in the process of making transfers of the government employees more fair, free of favouritism, and transparent through a new law.