Punjab Governance Reforms Commission

The Punjab Government has extended the term of the Punjab Governance Reforms Commission by one year, as its term had expired on January 8.
In the past two years, the commission has submitted three reports for improving the functioning of various departments and governance.
The chairperson of the commission, Dr Parmod Kumar, told TNS that the commission would soon submit three more reports that would cover reforms in the labour and economic fields.
The prime objective of the commission is to recommend ways to streamline the functioning of public dealing by suggesting ways and to reduce procedure and minimise physical interaction between people and government departments that ensure citizen-friendly services.
The commission has also been assigned the task of suggesting ways to check drug addiction and caste-based social assertion.
After commenting on the state of affairs in Punjab in its first report, the commission deliberated on fiscal management, citizen services, social security schemes, police station reforms and institutional framework for the delivery of services in its second report.
In the third report, which had been recently submitted, the commission has provided a framework for citizens’ interaction with the government.
Parmod Kumar said the commission was ready with more reports that would deal with the issue of reforms in areas of urban development, physical security, safety and justice, social security and welfare schemes.
The recommendations of the commission had been well-received by the state government. To ensure accountability, the state government has indicated bringing in of a legislation ensuring 50 services to “aam admi” as a right. These services area spread over the Departments of Revenue, Electricity, Police, Food and Civil Supplies, Health, Transport, etc.
The commission has already recommended several improvements in the healthcare sector. It has also recommended that private healthcare be brought under the government’s control.
Another crucial recommendation of the commission under the consideration of the government is to formulate a Food Regulation Act and the setting up of a state-level advisory committee to end confusion over the jurisdiction of the Health Department and the municipalities to inspect the quality of food.
The government has also accepted the recommendations of the commission to set up a wide network of community-policing centres