The new government of Manmohan Singh has been making all the right noises since its formation on May 22. President Pratibha Patils address to Parliament has left nobody in doubt that Manmohan Singh in his second term as prime minister is keen on a purposeful action plan and quick results.
The focus is on improving governance and implementing reforms to achieve inclusive growth.
Industry leaders are yet to meet a minister in the new Manmohan Singh government who does not share the vision outlined by the President in her speech last week. Every minister is talking about speeding up reforms and ways to improve governance.
Yes, the Left is off the ministers' back in the new government, but there is no dilution in the new governments programmes for the poor. An equally interesting change is that the Left within the Congress now seems to have a considerably reduced influence on the government.
Thus, reforms in oil pricing are back on the agenda. Foreign investment in higher education and private sector proposals to set up universities are under consideration. The government will reintroduce in Parliament the legislative bill on land acquisition for special economic zones and rehabilitation of displaced people.
A higher foreign investment ceiling for insurance ventures and pension sector reforms are also on the cards. Finally, the private sectors involvement in defence production is likely to get a fillip with the revival of the Raksha Udyog Ratna scheme that the last government had put on hold following objections from the Left.
Civil servants, who could not move on any of these reforms agenda in the last few years, will welcome this change. However, what they may be slightly confused about is the absence of change in the way the new government is filling important secretary-level positions.
A fixed tenure for a minimum of two years for important secretary-level positions is a good idea. Thus, it makes sense to mandate a minimum tenure of two years for the posts of the cabinet secretary, the home secretary and the foreign secretary.
In fact, the new government could extend the two-year formula to cover some more important ministries. In what way are the ministries of finance, commerce or human resources
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