Cabinet Secretary Expresses Concerns Over Delays In Decision-Making, Says Its Against Essence Of Reforms

Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan has expressed concerns over too many layers in decision-making, saying this is causing potential delays in file processing, which is against the essence of government reforms.

In its Nov. 27 letter, the country's top bureaucrat directed all central government secretaries to review the levels of decision-making across the board and suggested having a leaner and flatter organisational structure.

He said that ministries and departments should ensure that levels of decision-making should not exceed four and that the special secretary, additional secretary, and joint secretary should function independently as bureau heads.

The remark comes in the backdrop of trends observed in some ministries and departments where “delayering” is not being implemented in true spirit.

Delayering in this context means keeping the number of levels to the minimum by rationalising workload by delegating power to lower-rank bureaucrats.

“Delayering is not being implemented in true spirit, and a trend of increasing the channels of submission is against the essence of reforms undertaken so far and creates potential delays in file processing, the letter reads.

NDTV Profit has reviewed the letter.

His letter emphasises that increasing efficiency in decision-making is one of the government initiatives of making governance more responsive, accountable, and transparent.

“It aims at achieving a flatter and leaner organisational structure by putting in place appropriate delegation at various levels, rationalising workload, thereby speeding up decision-making while increasing productivity and efficiency of officers.

He seeks personal attention from secretaries and asks them to ensure that these measures should be implemented in letter and spirit.