PROVING A POINT: Participants at a public hearing conducted by the Administrative Reforms Commission in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo : N. Sridharan

CHENNAI: A cross-section of the public, which attended a public hearing here on Tuesday, told a visiting team of the Administrative Reforms Commission that only by promoting public-private participation and checks and balances through independent monitoring agencies can efficient administration be ensured at the ground level.

After the public hearing, Commission member V. Ramachandran said the main concern expressed by the participants was that though many good initiatives — passing of laws, issuance of orders, fixing of a time-frame and releasing citizen's charter — had been taken to deal with grievances, these were not effectively implemented.

They attributed this to the "routine and ritualistic" way in which these measures were taken.

They also gave examples to prove their point.

Another point highlighted related to the lack of coordination among different agencies involved in the implementation of schemes and programmes.

There was no coordination between the departments of agriculture and horticulture, a farmer's representative complained.

According to Mr. Ramachandran, most of the participants expressed concern over the "ill effects of corruption."

Alleging that vigilance agencies were not doing enough, they suggested surprise inspections at the field level.

They cited the example of touts ruling the roost in some government offices.

There were complaints of "inordinate delay" in issuance of certificates to beneficiaries.

Another problem related to lack of information on the specifications of various works such as roads, buildings, dams and culverts built by the Government. These were in a bad shape owing to non-allocation of funds for maintenance. Some participants called for an independent monitoring arrangement, as even the local government could "not be relied upon."

Green impact

Representatives of welfare organisations from the peripheral areas of Chennai complained that the "big push for urbanisation" had not taken into account issues relating to the environmental impact of these projects.

They sought steps to save water bodies such as tanks and lakes from "indiscriminate building activities, unsustainable exploitation of water and closure of water bodies."

A system should be evolved to ensure that the views expressed by the local people on such "mindless development activities" were honoured.

In spite of the short notice, the response to the public hearing was good, Mr. Ramachandran said.

Representatives of welfare associations, non-government organisations, agriculturists, small-scale industries and retired government personnel attended.

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