CM holds meeting with Secretaries’ Committee
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 7 Aug: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the meeting of the Secretaries’ Committee at the Secretariat here today. Dhami is the first Chief Minister of the state to participate in a meeting of the Secretaries Committee. In this meeting, which lasted for three hours, various topics related to the state’s interest were discussed in detail.
Dhami observed that the secretaries play an important role in policy-making related to the state’s interest and in ensuring access of the common person to the public welfare schemes run by the government. He added that the secretaries act as a bridge between the government and the public. Governance and administration are two sides of the same coin, he emphasised, adding that along with development in every sector of the state, collective efforts are also required to raise the standard of living of the people. He insisted that the overall development of the state cannot be imagined without this.
The CM urged the Secretaries that, along with better and practical formulation of schemes, a complete action plan should be prepared for their successful implementation. Noting that the plans and decisions of the government affect the lives of crores of people, he reminded them that national and public interest should be the priority in the plans and decisions. Dhami directed the secretaries to send the requisition of vacant posts in various departments to the commissions soon. The appointment process on vacant posts should be completed in the next two years with a definite action plan.
Dhami also stated that special attention should be given to innovation in the formulation of works and schemes and to maximum use of modern technology. For quick solution of public problems, every senior office should have the urge to find the right way in works related to public interest. All the officers should work wholeheartedly in the direction of specific work they can do in their field of work to solve problems as per the public expectations. The CM also asked the Secretaries to pay special attention to good governance. Special attention should be given to the indicators in which there is a need of improvement in the Sustainable Development Goals issued by NITI Aayog. It will be a challenge for the state to maintain the indicators on which good work has been done in the state, he felt.
The Chief Minister instructed the officials in the meeting that the subjects related to the state interest be reviewed regularly in the meeting of the Secretaries Committee. He stressed that everyone work together to build a better Uttarakhand. He said that a roster of important schemes should be finalised for the next one year, which should include such schemes which are of wider public interest. The secretaries in charge of the districts should visit the districts from time to time and regularly review the schemes and cooperate in various arrangements at the district level.
The CM said that the progress regarding major projects of the state should be reviewed separately at a higher level. He said that a safety audit of various projects should also be done to protect them from natural disaster or any other possible damage. Safety standards should be fully followed in the works related to old bridges, STP, hydropower projects, tunnels and other infrastructure, so that there is no loss of life and property in any way.
Dhami insisted that special attention be paid to fiscal prudence in the state. It is necessary to work in the direction of how to curb the unnecessary expenditure along with increasing revenue. There is a need to work towards ensuring better output from the limited resources. He said that it should be ensured the subsidy being given in various schemes run by the government reaches the actual beneficiaries on time. Regular camps should be organised by the departments to provide the benefits of the schemes to the targeted beneficiaries.
During the meeting, various suggestions were given by the officers regarding fixing the responsibilities of the department, working in better coordination for similar works, and regarding effective implementation of Uttarakhand Gatishakti Portal and other areas.
Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, Additional Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan, Principal Secretaries RK Sudhanshu and F Fanai, Principal Secretary, Justice, Pradeep Pant and all the secretaries in charge of various departments attended the meeting.
