no new indira rajiv schemes pm new fiat

8 Oct 2010

EXCLUSIVE

NO NEW INDIRA, RAJIV SCHEMES: PM'S FIAT



By R Rajagopalan




NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has issued a fiat to the ministers not to name any new programme or scheme indiscriminately in the name of late former prime ministers Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi, more so because many flounder in implementation.

Exclusion of the two leaders' names in particular may not be liked by 10 Janpath, but a confidential letter shot out to all ministers justifies the virtual ban to prevent devaluation of the national figures because of failure of programmes associated with their name.

The letter dated October 6 written by Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar on behalf of the PM says better to use names of leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sparingly. It conveys the PM's worry that many programmes named after these leaders do not click.

TEXT OF LETTER

"Dear Minister:

"As you are aware that number of programes under execution in the country are named after leaders, particularly Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Ministers.

"The practice has become widespread and indiscriminate. This reduces the value of identifying programmes with national figures, particularly as implementation and impact of many of these programmes is not  always as ought to be. As such many of them do not merit of such association.

"I have, therefore, been directed to convey that in the light of what is stated above, there is need to be sparing and selective in associating names of the national leaders with such programmes to prevent proliferation of such nomenclature."

###

CONFIDENTIAL

October 6, 2010

DO number 1/48/10/2010

Dear Minister

As you are aware that number of programes

under execution in the country are named after 

leaders particularly Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi

former Prime Ministers

The practice has become widespread and indiscriminate

This reduces the value of identifying programmes with 

national figures particularly as implementation and impact

of many of these programmes is not  always as ought to be

As such many of them many of them do not merit

such association

I have therefore been directed to convey that in the light of

what is stated above there is need to be sparing and selective

in associating names national leaders with such programmes

to prevent proliferation of such nomenclature.

WIth regards

KM Chandrasekhar 

Cabinet Secretary