New Delhi: Institutions like CAG and CVC may have drawn flak from the government which blamed them for policy paralysis but President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday praised these bodies and the Election Commission for their impartiality and capacity to take decision with independence.
"The institutions of CAG, Election Commission, various statutory regulators, those established by an Act of the Parliament, at least I feel quiet happier today that their impartiality, judgement, assessment of situation, capacity to take decisions with complete independence has strengthened the Parliamentary institution," Mukherjee said.
The UPA government has often accused institutions like Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and CBI of precipitating "policy paralysis` with their actions on issues like coal blocks and 2G spectrum allocation.
Speaking at the inaugural function for diamond jubilee celebrations of Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) here, the President stressed for "urgency in decision-making" to achieve a faster growth trajectory.
"But that does not imply that decisions have to be taken in haste or without adequate debate and discussion. It only implies that there should be no undue delay in decision-making and delivery of services," he said.
The President said that democracy is the soul and the core of our nation-building.
"No meaningful growth or governance can be achieved without the preservation and nurturing of this basic grid of our polity. All the three structures of governance, the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary would need to continue striving to strengthen the democratic foundation," he said.
He emphasised on improving quality of public service through transparent governance to meet people`s increasing expectations.
The President said that for inclusive growth and development, the importance of quality and efficient delivery of public services cannot be exaggerated.
"The people are demanding better and more efficient administration. They would no longer tolerate non-transparent and unresponsive administration. They expect the benefits of welfare measures to reach them efficiently.
"The increasing expectation of the people can only be met by improving good governance practices for on it hinges the welfare of the people," Mukherjee said.
The President said the absence of good governance has been identified as the root cause of many of the societal shortcomings.
"It adversely affects their security, social and economic rights when ironically the governance structure is established for their welfare and collective good. Good governance permeates virtually all aspects of human life. It is important at the local, national and international levels," he said.
Good governance encompasses rule of law, participatory decision-making structure, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, equity and inclusiveness. "The country?s administration has to run on these principles. This necessitates a reorientation in the outlook of our public administration," Mukherjee said.
He suggested officials take administration closer to grassroots through decentralisation of power and decision-making. "To enable people to be truly involved in formulating and implementing development plans that will shape their future, it is necessary that proper functioning in panchayati raj institutions prevail," said Mukherjee.
The President said that there is need to develop and impart a broad outlook among public servants as "there is no room for complacency".
Two commemorative publications of IIPA `Indian Governance Report 2012` and `Jawaharlal Nehru and Indian Administration` were released on the occasion and their first copies presented to the President.
