After its controversial proposal to procure high-end equipment for surveillance, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government in Delhi is trying to set up a parallel system to keep tabs on the programmes and functioning of the departments and their officials from top to bottom. A proposal moved by the Home Department, has suggested setting up of 25 monitoring and evaluation units, each consisting of a team leader, one office assistant and five field staff. The department has proposed that these teams be supervised by five directors. It has also suggested that a project director should be the head of the whole project.
In a draft Cabinet note, a copy of which is with The Pioneer, the Home Department cites pre-occupation of officers with other important work, lack of initiative on the part of officials and absence of standard parameters to judge the results achieved in implementation of various schemes and programmes, as some of the reasons necessitating setting up of these monitoring units. The financial implication of setting up these 25 units is projected at Rs20 crore (salaries Rs7 crore, establishment and other expenses Rs10 crore and miscellaneous Rs3 crore). The Home Department has proposed that the wing function under its supervision.
Delhi Government officials said on the condition of anonymity, that instead of making administration easy and simple, there is a possibility that creation of 25 monitoring and evaluation units may make multiplicity of authorities further complicated. “The bureaucrats under constant surveillance and monitoring may not be in a position to deliver their best unless the political system creates a sense of absolute confidence among them. There will be no alacrity among bureaucrats to participate fully in decision-making procedures. At the moment, the bureaucracy is skeptical about their political masters, it will directly hamper and jeopardise the decision-making process and good governance,” said the officials.
“The proposal may contain elaborate details of the extent of participation/role of implementing department. Details of the field of the expertise of the staff may be included in the draft or the intent to do so subsequently needs to be reflected in the proposal,” the note said.
“It may be observed various independent departments, other than the implementing departments of respective programmes/schemes are functioning with specific set-ups for the purpose of evaluation and monitoring as a check-and-balance mechanism — evaluation team of planning department, finance and audit department etc. These departments submit scheme/ project-specific reports to different higher authorities, including the Ministers concerned and the Chief Minister,” it said.
In a letter to the Home Secretary, Deputy Director (Administrative Reforms) Amitabh Joshi has said the proposal needs to bring out exact grounds and objectives before the Cabinet to justify the need to make such expenditure keeping in view the existing set-ups.
“The proposed new set-up is required as monitoring and evaluation of the functioning of Government staff in existing system is inadequate and needs a new system of monitoring and evaluation of the schemes and programmes of the Government. However, it is seen that the grounds are generalised in nature without any case study /survey or analysis and assessment of any specific scheme /ongoing programme or project,” the letter said.
Earlier, the AAP Government move for the purchase of surveillance equipment had raised a political storm with rival parties expressing apprehension that such a facility could be used to snoop on AAP's political rivals. The Congress had said such funds for buying high-end equipments should be entrusted with officials appointed by following "proper protocols and procedures."