 "Only half the ministries have corruption-mitigation plans")
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s plan to introduce a transparent and corruption-free system might take longer than expected, even on paper. In August 2014, the Cabinet secretariat had instructed all ministries and government departments to prepare corruption mitigation action plans (CMAPs). But of the 73 ministries and departments, only 32 prepared and submitted these by February 1.
Though the concept of such action plans isn’t new, upon taking office, the NDA government revived this and made it mandatory for each central ministry and department to prepare fresh and detailed anti-graft action plans. These were to be sent to the Cabinet secretariat’s performance management division.
Several officials across ministries said the move had the approval of the Prime Minister’s Office, though this could not be verified independently.
Though the concept of such action plans isn’t new, upon taking office, the NDA government revived this and made it mandatory for each central ministry and department to prepare fresh and detailed anti-graft action plans. These were to be sent to the Cabinet secretariat’s performance management division.
Several officials across ministries said the move had the approval of the Prime Minister’s Office, though this could not be verified independently.
The CMAP is part of a report called the results framework document (RFD) that each ministry prepares. A model CMAP essentially entails listing steps that can be taken to negate potential instances of corruption in the department concerned.
A typical CMAP identifies specific targets, the action required to meet these, the steps taken, the expected deadline, the method of meeting targets and the expected output.
The RFD is a mandatory requirement for all ministries. Prepared at the beginning of each financial year, it comprises priorities outlined by the ministry concerned, agendas of the ruling government’s manifesto, announcements by the government and plans on how these are to be achieved. After six months, the list of objectives achieved is analysed and targets reset. At the end of a financial year, a consolidated report is prepared, which lists all achievements of the ministry or department concerned for that year.
Business Standard reviewed a CMAP and, subsequently, through a Right to Information (RTI) query, inquired about the status of others. Responding to the RTI, the Cabinet secretariat said that less than half the total central government bodies, only 32 ministries and departments, had given their plans by November 10, 2014.
Business Standard inquired about the status in January this year, too, and was told by the end of the month it remained the same.
Some of the major ministries which were yet to give their plans were those of civil aviation, telecommunications, coal, power, steel, environment and forests, education, women and child development.
A review of government websites showed none of the ministries or departments had put their revised CMAPs or anti-graft plans in the public domain. A particular ministry displayed the plan from the previous year (2013-14), prepared under the United Progressive Alliance government.
In response to the RTIs, it took several rounds for the government to reveal the data. Through the RTI, Business Standard sought to know which ministries were asked to prepare corruption mitigation action plans and which had given these plans so far.
Initially, the RTI was filed before the Cabinet secretariat, which said the matter pertained to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and, consequently, forwarded the queries to the latter. The DoPT in turn claimed the questions pertained to the Cabinet secretariat. Upon inquiring telephonically, DoPT officials said they would look at the RTI questions again. In a few days, the department replied, claiming only one bit of the question pertained to a specific division of the DoPT; the answer to the query was “Nil”.
At the end of December 2014, the Cabinet secretariat responded to the query, providing information detailing how many ministries and departments were yet to get anti-graft plans in place.