State to set up department to review welfare schemes

Intending to keep a tab on various infrastructure projects, welfare schemes and policies, the state government is planning to set up a policy research department along the lines of the Centre.

The department, which will be called Institute for Policy Research (IPR), will be established on the lines of the Centre for Policy Research (which acts like a think-tank) to review and research schemes, policies and services where taxpayer’s money is involved, said a senior government official said.

The IPR will study schemes, policies and services and find out if they need any amendment or improvement in implementation so that the taxpayer’s money is utilised properly, the official said, requesting anonymity.

“The government is in the process of finalising the draft proposal which is expected to be tabled before the state Cabinet for final approval. After its notification in the Government Resolution, the government expects to implement it from January 2017,” the official said.

He added that initially the government would take up some policies on a pilot basis and the research would cover the rest of the schemes, policies and services.

“The state administrative training institute YASHADA, Pune will host the research. The government may appoint a few administrative officers and hire private experts on policy for the purpose. The state will take assistance from the Harvard Business School in the exercise,” he said.

The official further added, “The IPR system will help to improve the policy of implementing process. The study will be helpful in determining whether the policy, scheme or service is being properly implemented or not, if it has loopholes, or if it should be continued at all.”

The official further said departments like home, under which police render services to the people have never been audited to find out if they really serve the people nor has public feedback ever sought.

He said the system also needs to be upgraded so that a departmental inquiry gets completed within six months, which otherwise continues for 5-6 years. At present, there are about 24 major government departments such as agriculture, school education, rural development, food and civil supplies, public health, social justice, energy, home, women and child development.