PM Modi Forms 8 Groups of Bureaucrats to Drive Economic Growth

BANGALORE: PM Narendra Modi, in a unique exercise, formed 8 groups of senior bureaucrats that would suggest ways for driving the economic growth being challenged by the global slowdown ahead of the forthcoming big budget and beyond that, reports ET.

The groups will display a presentation to the PM based on their ideas and plans to bring about economic growth and the ways to execute them.

With the headwinds prevailing in the global economic landscape and the existing government being under the pressure of bringing reforms, the suggested ideas are likely to be presented in the upcoming budget.

The groups formed are accelerated growth; good governance; education and health; innovative budgeting and effective implementation; employment generation; Swachh Bharat and Ganga rejuvenation with people's participation; farmer-centric initiatives; and energy efficiency and conservation. The bureaucrats have been instructed by the PM to focus on the programmes of the Centre. Half-day meeting will be held between the secretaries and the PM on Jan 12, 15 and 16.

These meeting will form a final draft of the Practical Action Plan (PAP) concerning these eight dimensions. Two teams of joint secretaries will assist each group making 16 squads. The cabinet secretary will keep updated about the process through meetings with the cabinet secretariat officials.

"The prime minister himself made a two-hour-long PowerPoint presentation, detailing his ideas and what he really wants to be done," said a senior government official.  "There is a huge focus on implementation in the entire exercise," said the second official.

The eights concerning areas will have plans for not just this year but also for the upcoming 3years and even longer term. The planning has received a status of high priority where officials are rehearsing 2hours everyday on the presentation for Saturday and Sunday.

The presentations on Saturday and Sunday will conclude the final plan for Jan 16 and would be pivoted by senior secretaries like Hasmukh Adhia, Jugal Kishore Mahapatra, Ashok Lavasa, Amitabh Kant, Anil Swarup, and Rajiv Kumar.

The prime minister "asked us to focus on execution, and execution alone, as delivery is as important as vision. He has also said, don't ask me for money. Let's get things going within the usual resources," said a bureaucrat.

Considering that PM will be rolling out the Start Up India, Stand Up India action plan on January 16, he wants ideas on funding, direct tax system reforms and areas of "wasteful expenditure".

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