Stop passing the buck when you see files, cabinet secretary tells officers Courtesy TOI 25.12.2021

 Courtesy TOI 25.12.2021 Delhi/Gurugram edition

Stop Passing the buck When you see files : Cabinet  Secretary Tells officers

New Delhi : for years government officials have taken refuge in phrases such as ‘may also see’ or ‘may kindly see’ on files that move from one desk to another  just because no one wants to take a call on the matter mentioned in them-  a case passing hot potatoes around the circles. The “syndrome” has caught the attention and drawn criticism from the country’s top bureaucrat at a time when the govt. Is seeking to speed up decision making and reduce red tap, with Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba urging senior officers to consciously avoid taking course to such phraseology and encourage other colleagues not to succumb to risk averse behavior.

LAYERS DEFUSE RESPONSIBILITY

There are too many levels in govt hierarchy &files go through different layers ,not adding any value, says cabinet Secy Rajiv Gauba

Says multiple levels don’t make any significant contribution to decision making; they consume more time and defuse responsibility

Points to ‘culture of making papers up’, says syndrome of ‘May also see or May kindly see’ on file is ‘risk avoidance’ by officials to 'feel safe that it has been seen by some body else or some body above’

Seeking a change in the way the government works, the Cabinet Secy said at a workshop on ‘increasing Efficiency in Decision making’ that unless government departments change their culture and take timely decisions, even big-ticket announcements made by the government will not take off.