Cost of coming clean

Even as the new government has raised expectations of efficient governance and quick decision-making, its much-hyped clean-up act, including weeding out of files and papers, seem to have stalled work at various departments. A senior official in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers recently complained that he is unable to finalise a proposal and send it to the minister for approval because the whole department is busy tearing files and cleaning shelves. "I told them these are your sins, so you better clean them now," the official joked, adding that while this is a good step, it is certainly hindering the speedy completion of important work.