Recommendations of 2nd ARC: 1st and 2nd Report

The Administrative Reform Commission presented 15 reports including Right to Information, Unlocking Human Capital, Public Records Offices, Official Secrets Act, 1923, etc.

Right to Information

The Right to Information Act aims to strengthen participatory democracy and usher in people-centric governance. To ensure the need for transparency in public affairs, the Right to Information Act was enacted in 2005 by the Indian Parliament. It empowers the poor and weaker sections of society to get information about public policies and actions for their welfare. The Right to Information is also included under the 1 st report that consists of several acts that were recommended to the government:

The Official Secrets Act, 1923 should be repealed, and substituted by a chapter in the National Security Act. It was not accepted by the Government of India. OSA is substantive law, while National Security Act, 1980 is a preventive detention law that includes detainment of a person to keep him/her from committing future crimes. The person can be detained for a maximum of 12 months, but it can be extended if the government finds fresh evidence.

Any person having an official secret but fails to take care of must be guilty of an offense. It was accepted by the government.

Governmental privilege in evidence, Section 123 of Indian Evidence Act, 1872 should be amended. (Not accepted)

Ministers on the assumption of office may take an oath of office, oath of transparency and administer the oath of secrecy. These oaths will safeguard the disclosure of information against the national interest. (Not accepted)

It was recommended to include armed forces in the Second Schedule of the Act. (Not accepted)

The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules were accepted by the government.

The Manual of Office Procedure was accepted by the government.

The Government of India should ensure the constitution of SICs in all States within three months. This recommendation was accepted by the government of India.

All public authorities may be advised by the Government of India that along with the Public Information Officers, they should also designate the appellate authority and publish both together. (Accepted)

The Public Records Office would function under the overall supervision and guidance of CIC/SIC. (Accepted)

Training programs should not be confined to merely PIO’s and APIOs. (Accepted)

The CIC and the SICs may be entrusted with the task of monitoring the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act in all public authorities. (Accepted)

In addition to the existing modes of payment, appropriate governments should amend the Rules to include payment through postal orders. (Accepted)

Inventory of Public Authorities (Accepted)

The lowest office in any organization with decision-making power or is a custodian of records should be recognized as a public authority. (Not accepted)

Application of the Act to the Legislature and the Judiciary (Accepted)

Unlocking Human Capital

Guaranteeing Reach – Intensive use of All India Radio and Doordarshan should be made to local languages, similar to the case of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and National Rural Health Mission. This recommendation was accepted by the Government of India.

Guaranteeing Outcomes – An evaluation should be carried out to assess the socio-economic impact of NREGA. (Accepted)

Ensuring Convergence – There should be only one plan for an area to take an integrated view of the development of the area. (Accepted)

The extension of NREGA to the remaining areas should be taken up in a phased manner. (Accepted)

Fixing Wage Rates (Not accepted)

Funds from the Government of India should be transferred directly to the districts. (Accepted)

A uniform financial information flow system should be prescribed for the entire country (Accepted)

The ultimate choice of the mode of payment should be left to the workers, payment in cash may be the preferred option. (Not accepted)

The post office network should be used along with the bank network for the flow of funds. (Accepted)

Payments should be made based on the piece-rate system, and not the time rate system. (Accepted)

. Maintaining Labor Material Ratio – Accepted

Strengthening Local Governments – Building Institutions (Accepted)

Within the permissible administrative expenditure of 6% (recommended) of total expenditure, 1% should be marked for monitoring and evaluation. (Not accepted)

Transparency and Right to Information Act

Use of IT – Blocks as Nodal, Fully-Electronic (Accepted)

Use of IT – Architecture for Development (Accepted)

The minimum number of workers required for work may reduce from the present number of 50 to 20. (Accepted)

National Rural Health Mission

National Rural Health Mission was launched in 2005 to strengthen the health system in rural areas for reproductive -maternal-neonatal-child and adolescent health (RMNCH-A) and communicable and non-communicable diseases. It targets to build a network of public health facilities with health and wellness centers at the hospitals.

Sarva Siksha Abhiyan

It is an integrated scheme for school education from primary to class 12. It aims to provide inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education. Furthermore, it is under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for education.

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Conclusion

Administrative reforms help to improve the administrative capability and capacity to achieve national goals efficiently. It ensures effective administration to bring about economic, political, and social development. Government can divert resources to the developmental activities with emerging aspirations of citizens.