Take allies along, PM tells ministers

In the first meeting of his council of ministers amid critical noises by the Left on various issues, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked his colleagues to keep allies informed about the policies being implemented and to carry the United Progressive Alliance coalition along.

He also directed the ministers to lay emphasis on sound financial management and to ensure that "only realistic, sound and justifiable proposals were put up for expenditure".

"All ministers should keep all allies informed about policies being implemented and carry the coalition along," he said.

Singh told the ministers it was "not fair" to expect the finance minister "alone to act as the arbiter of expenditure while all other ministers try to enlarge their share of the Budget pie".

He also underlined the importance of sound financial management and urged his colleagues to ensure that "only realistic, sound and justifiable" proposals were put up for expenditure.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined the ministers for a dinner after the meeting.

In an apparent move to assuage the concerns of allies, the Prime Minister made it clear that agriculture, irrigation and drinking water, health, education, employment, urban renewal and infrastructure development were priority for the government.

Asking his ministerial colleagues to interact regularly and creatively with their officers, Singh said, "They are our instruments for delivering results, hence they need to be given their due place."

Besides, he said, institutions need to be respected and strengthened. Singh emphasised that there was a need to associate "the best and the brightest from within and outside government to enhance governance".

Underscoring the importance of the reform of government, the Prime Minister asked each of his colleagues to address administrative reform pertaining to their respective ministries so as to simplify procedures and ensure a citizen-friendly, service-oriented and caring government.

Complimenting his colleagues for restoring normal, rule-based functioning of the government and for delivering on many of the promises made in the government's common minimum programme, he urged them to keep the people informed about the work being done by their ministries.