Show transparency, make public presentations on lapses, triumphs of last government: PMO advised

Nirma cement plant

By A Representative
Soon after the swearing in of the new Narendra Modi government at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, the website of the Prime Minister's Office was re-launched. The message it sent out, interestingly, has already become controversial, both in Delhi and Gujarat. Launched on the very old address, under a new heading “Quest for Transparency” it says, the PM “firmly believes that transparency and accountability are the two cornerstones of any pro-people government. Transparency and accountability not only connect the people closer to the government but also make then equal and integral part of the decision making process.”
While senior RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak, through an e-mail alert, wants Prime Minister Modi to demonstrate what he has said through his website about transparency by making public presentations of different government secretaries to the Cabinet secretary’s plea on achievements and lapses of the previous government, Gujarat-based columnist Urvish Kothari, in a social media comment, wonders how could the website talk about transparency when none of it ever existed during the 12 year rule under Narendra Modi in the state.
The website contains the following message (http://pmindia.nic.in/transparency.php): "During his record 4 terms as Chief Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated strong commitment to an open and transparent government. Rules and policies were not framed in AC chambers but among the people. Draft policies were put online for people to give their feedback and suggestions. At the same time, initiatives such as Garib Kalyan Melas ensured that fruits of development directly reach the poor without any red tape.”
It adds, “Another example is model of ‘one day governance’ that focuses on providing time bound services to the citizens by leveraging the e-governance infrastructure. The main objective of this was to ensure provision of all Government-to-citizen services covered under the citizens’ charter.” Praising Modi, it says, “His strong resolve to transparency backed by the manner in which he put this commitment to practice indicates an era of open, transparent and people-centric government for the people of India."
Nayak says, “A few days ago, the Cabinet Secretariat is reported to have written to all ministries and departments requiring them to prepare presentations about what they did well and what they did not do so well during the previous regime and what they could have done differently. However this communication cannot be found on the website of the Cabinet Secretariat.”
The RTI activist demands, “Perhaps the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) can demonstrate its declared commitment to transparency by displaying the Cabinet secretariat's letter and all the presentations that will be made by various ministries and departments in the days to come." He adds, "This way people of India will be able to better understand the officers' assessment of the previous regime in which they had no small role to play.”
The website has also been quoted as saying, "Through this website you will also get all the latest information about my speeches, schedules, foreign visits and lot more. I will also keep informing you about innovative initiatives undertaken by the Government of India." Asks Nayak, “Will the new website be more compliant with the Right to Information Act, 2005 than it was under the previous Government will be known in the days to come?”
Political analyst Kothari, in his comment, especially takes strong objection to Modi’s claims of a “strong commitment to an open and transparent government” as the Gujarat chief minister. He says, “Wouldn’t it be more appropriate if the website had not openly lied about things on the very first day? It is quite a different thing that one of Modi’s major successes has been to spread lies successfully, indeed full of confidence.”
“One has only to see how transparent the government was from the controversial instance of the recent snooping on a woman, or adopting the practice of releasing the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report on the last day of the Gujarat state assembly session. And, which people were involved while initiating the policy of providing clearance to the Nirma Cement Plant in Mahua in Bhavnagar district? The farmers protested, and only following the Supreme Court intervention, the plant’s construction work was suspended.”

Comments

MG-NREGA: A global model still waiting to be fully implemented

By Bharat Dogra When the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA) was introduced in India nearly two decades ago, it drew worldwide attention. The reason was evident. At a time when states across much of the world were retreating from responsibility for livelihoods and welfare, the world’s second most populous country—with nearly two-thirds of its people living in rural or semi-rural areas—committed itself to guaranteeing 100 days of employment a year to its rural population.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Concerns raised over move to rename MGNREGA, critics call it politically motivated

By A Representative Concerns have been raised over the Union government’s reported move to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with critics describing it as a politically motivated step rather than an administrative reform. They argue that the proposed change undermines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and seeks to appropriate credit for a programme whose relevance has been repeatedly demonstrated, particularly during times of crisis.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Rollback of right to work? VB–GRAM G Bill 'dilutes' statutory employment guarantee

By A Representative The Right to Food Campaign has strongly condemned the passage of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–GRAM G) Bill, 2025, describing it as a major rollback of workers’ rights and a fundamental dilution of the statutory Right to Work guaranteed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). In a statement, the Campaign termed the repeal of MGNREGA a “dark day for workers’ rights” and accused the government of converting a legally enforceable, demand-based employment guarantee into a centralised, discretionary welfare scheme.

From jobless to ‘job-loss’ growth: Experts critique gig economy and fintech risks

By A Representative Leading economists and social activists gathered in the capital on Friday to launch the third edition of the State of Finance in India Report 2024-25 , issuing a stark warning that the rapid digitalization of the Indian economy is eroding welfare systems and entrenching "digital dystopia."

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

India’s Halal economy 'faces an uncertain future' under the new food Bill

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The proposed Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2025 marks a decisive shift in India’s food regulation landscape by seeking to place Halal certification exclusively under government control while criminalising all private Halal certification bodies. Although the Bill claims to promote “transparency” and “standardisation,” its structure and implications raise serious concerns about religious freedom, economic marginalisation, and the systematic dismantling of a long-established, Muslim-led Halal ecosystem in India.

Women’s rights alliance seeks NCW action against Nitish Kumar over public veil incident

By A Representative An alliance of women’s rights activists has urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to initiate legal action against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over an incident at a public function in Patna that they allege amounted to a grave violation of a Muslim woman’s dignity and constitutional rights. In a detailed complaint dated December 18, the All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), part of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), sought the NCW’s immediate intervention following an episode on December 15 during the distribution of appointment letters to newly recruited AYUSH doctors in Patna.

Search This Blog