After getting recognition from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and World Bank as well, for being identified as ‘national best practice’ in reforming labour regulations and achieving third rank in the Ease of Doing Business ranking, several states have shown their keen interest to learn the mantra from Jharkhand for undertaking these varied reforms.
A team of the World Bank is also to visit the state soon to study Jharkhand as a case so that it can inspire other states and countries to follow the example of Jharkhand and reform their respective labour laws and legislation.
Remarkably, Jharkhand has received a thanking letter from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion for its scoring in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and labour reforms.
Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba, after attending a meeting with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion on behalf of Chief Minister Raghubar Das at New Delhi, discussed various initiatives, plans and schemes formulated, adhered to and adopted by the state government in order to benefit and suit the masses.
Gauba also informed the department that the State Government’s sustained reform initiatives in the past eleven months to create an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and growth of jobs has led Jharkhand to achieve the third rank in the ‘Ease of Doing Business.’ “It was Jharkhand that came first in terms of reforms initiated in the realm of labor legislation,” Gauba added.
According to the CS, the State achieved third ranking in the ease of doing business because of the various changes that were introduced ranging from self-certification, single annual return for 14 labour laws to single inspection where reports have to be submitted within a mandated 72 hours. He further added that the initiatives taken by the state has allowed Jharkhand to reach a compliance rate of 72 per cent as against the 19.45 per cent national average.
Gauba also emphasized that the recognition from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion along with the World Bank have identified Jharkhand as a “national best practice” in the area of reform of labor regulations.
Moreover, this is following the request of many states that have shown a keen desire to learn from and emulate Jharkhand’s journey in undertaking these varied reforms.
“In order to learn and collect information about Jharkhand’s efforts, a World Bank team is likely to visit Jharkhand in the third week of December. This best practice shall be used to help other states and countries to follow the example of Jharkhand, and reform their own respective labor laws and legislation,” said the Chief Secretary.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office has also appreciated Jharkhand Government for adopting NITI Aayog’s ‘Best Practice’ and has awarded a letter of commendation to Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba. Putting forth the State Government’s point, Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Saturday discussed various initiatives, schemes and plans the state government was undertaking.
Gauba informed the Centre that the past eleven months in Jharkhand have been one of continuous reforms in all aspects of governance ranging from urban development to skill development to major infrastructural projects to renewable energy.
With this philosophy of transformation, he said, “Two key initiatives have been launched by the government in the field of administrative reforms, firstly, the reorganization of departments with a reduction of the number of departments (from 43 to 31) and secondly, the scheme of lateral entry of technocrats as advisors.” A downsizing and restructuring of government departments on this scale is perhaps the first of its kind in a state government, he added.
The CS further said that lateral entry of technocrats as advisors was another unique policy prescription that the Government of Jharkhand in September has introduced. The government shall appoint advisors as Special Secretaries and State PSU MDs.
According to Gauba, Jharkhand model has been made truly unique with aid to Search and Selection Committee by a Human Resource Consultancy Agency, which shall identify individuals recognized as area experts and request them to join the government. The agency shall also be responsible for the yearly evaluation of the work by the advisor.