NEW DELHI: Peeved at the rejection of its proposal by the Tamil Nadu Government for setting up a Centre for Good Governance (CGG), the Union Government has again asked the State to consider setting up the body, saying it will help to develop and strengthen support of civil society.

Reminding Tamil Nadu of the recommendation of the Inter-State Council's ninth meeting held on June 28 last year, which favoured setting up of the CGG at the State level, the Inter-State Council Secretariat has asked the State Chief Secretary to pursue the matter and keep it informed of the action taken.

Capacity building

In a communication to the Chief Secretary earlier this week, the Council, which functions under the Union Home Ministry, said strengthening Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) was essential for capacity building for good governance.

"In order to strike an effective balance and optimise the productivity of the civil society and develop synergy, public agencies should seek to cooperate with legitimate CSOs that have popular involvement. Joint partnerships would lend legitimacy to state action and reform process. The State CGGs should also help develop and strengthen support of civil society as a legitimate input to governance at the micro-level," it said.

Strategic alliances

As per the Inter-State Council's recommendation, the State CGGs need to enter into strategic alliances with the institutions of excellence at the State level.

In particular, the CGGs should work in close cooperation with State Administrative Training Institutes for capacity building. The Council's letter said the June 28, 2005 meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

Plan endorsed

It was also attended, among others, by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. It endorsed the 139-point action plan on good governance, which included the action point for setting up of CGGs at the State level.

Need for improvement

Referring to the aspects of governance covering the role of civil society, judicial reforms, civil service reforms, administrative reforms, economic and fiscal reforms, labour market reforms, citizen-centric reforms and rural decentralisation, it said there was a need for immediate improvement, accountability and transparency mechanisms of delivery of services to the citizens.

The Tamil Nadu Government's Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department on June 7 wrote to the Council, disagreeing with its suggestion for setting up the CGG, saying there was no need for it.

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