PRESIDENT CAUTIONS AGAINST CORRUPTION

President cautions against corruption

Cautioning against corruption in flagship welfare programmes, President Pratibha Patil on Friday favoured reform of governance for effective delivery of public services for which administrators must be responsive to the needs of the people. Patil said the expectations of the people were rising as they were becoming more aware of their rights and seek better opportunities. "Facilities, amenities and services meant for them whether they are living in rural or urban areas can be delivered smoothly only if there is an effective governance system that is less cumbersome but more transparent and accountable". "There is outrage when money meant for welfare schemes is pilfered out by corrupt practices," she said. Patil said the implementation of welfare schemes will have to be at optimal levels for an impact to be made on the lives of the people. Hence, the emphasis on reform of governance for effective delivery of public services is critical to change the lives of the people. "The administrators must be responsive to the needs of the people. Their work is a public service commitment, dedication and honesty should be the hallmarks of their work," she said. Citizens have to come forward to contribute to government's efforts in these areas and in other development initiatives through public-private partnerships, NGOs, community groups or Self Help Groups. "An enlightened citizenry conscious of its civic duties and social responsibilities, maintaining discipline, following good habits particularly about hygiene and cleanliness, respectful towards nature's bounty and sensitive to environmental concerns is the greatest asset of a nation," she said. The President was delivering her address at the Foundation day and annual award function of the Samaj Suvidha Sangam. She however said that empowerment has to be inclusive in the widest possible sense, embracing all sections of society to be effective. " India has the necessary pre-requisites for becoming one of the leading nations in the world. Its people when well nourished and well educated will provide the hands and brains for the progress of the nation through their work and ideas, President Pratibha Patil". President Patil says that Mission Convergence is focusing on improving deliverability under the schemes by reorganizing Government processes. It is involving civil societies and community groups through Samajik Suvidha Sangam, a society formed for this purpose. Need to speed up success rate of welfare schemes: President President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has said that empowering people, lies at the very core of governance and should be inclusive of all sections of society particularly the weaker and the vulnerable. Delays in implementation, shortcomings in delivery mechanism and lack of awareness are slowing down the success rate of "good schemes" initiated by the government, President Pratibha Patil said today. The President was speaking at the first anniversary of Delhi government's initiative - Mission Convergence aimed at the welfare of downtrodden and marginalised people in the national capital at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. "I believe that many good schemes exist to provide amenities and extend support to the people for their empowerment". "The factors slowing down the success rate of these schemes are delays in implementation on account of tardiness, some shortcomings of the delivery mechanisms and also the lack of awareness among the people about programmes and schemes," Patil said. The President felicitated various NGOs and individuals for their contributions to the Mission. "Welfare schemes, in essence, create a right for individuals belonging to target groups. Delivering their right to them is our duty and lack to deliver is our failure," Patil said, while stressing for the need to smarten up the delivery mechanisms for social sector schemes. The President emphasised on improving the training of NGOs and government officials involved in the administration of these schemes. "It is important that government officials involved in administering programmes and NGOs involved in working in the welfare sector are well trained. Interventions such as skill building, non-formal education and legal awareness centres require qualified persons," Patil added. "A lacuna faced is that a portion of the population, though entitled, remains outside the purview of welfare schemes. This is either on account of people being unaware of the scheme or not having adequate documentation or even unable to approach authorities when they move for short periods of time from one place to another," she said. Patil said this was evident in the case of the migratory population in the urban areas which come for various infrastructure projects. She conferred awards to the city's best gender resource centres (for legal and medical help, provides professional training), community mobilisers, survey supervisors during the function. Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Minister for child and family welfare and Health Dr Kiran Walia and Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta were also present on the occasion.