Common Cause organized a seminar in Delhi on administrative reforms. One of the themes was 'Revamping Delivery Systems and E-Governance'. Here is a quote from the consultation paper:

"As far back as 1985, the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, had estimated the efficiency of transmission of government delivery system at 15% (15 paise in a rupee). Since then the efficiency has taken a further dip into a single digit zone... It is not the contention that the amount that does not reach the ultimate beneficiary is all lost due to leakages and corruption... The problem is that these administrative overheads, which also mask the leakages and corruption, now form over 90% while less than 10% reaches the beneficiaries... Second, rules, regulations and procedures laid down are conceived mindlessly and are very often contradictory, even self-contradictory... Another reason is a general disharmony in the functioning of the government.”

All of this is known. Why aren’t we doing anything about it? With public expenditure as UPA’s hallmark, why isn't the government doing something about administrative reforms? Yes, there was the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), with 15 different reports. Indeed, the consultation paper takes us down the recommendations of several committees and commissions, beginning with Gopalaswamy Ayyangar in 1949 and A D Gorawala in 1951.

However, why has the history of implementation been one of omissions? Whatever be one’s ideological leanings, most people will agree core public goods and services are law and order, some areas of social infrastructure (primary health, school education) and some areas of physical infrastructure (roads, electricity, water). Unlike the India of the 1950s, in most of these, physical access is no longer a problem. In some of these segments, private delivery options also exist. Possible choice through private delivery, increased incomes and greater awareness have led to enhanced demand that public expenditure become transparent, accountable and efficient.

... contd.