The Hindu Business Line : Alternative medicine

THE Prime Minister, Dr Mamohan Singh, has apparently lent his weight to a proposed reform meant to tone up administrative efficiency and accountability in government by replacing the present system of annual confidential reports (ACR) with performance appraisal reports (PAR). It is puzzling why, as made out in the media, this should be confined to only members of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and not to officials across the board. Whatever it be, the proof of the pudding being always in the eating, the real question is whether the new move is going to make a difference to the situation.

Reportedly, the new system will have two tiers: On an annual basis, it will subject the officials to a micro-evaluation of their performance with reference to a number of attributes and benchmarks. It will include self-assessment against the goals and targets set by the officials themselves in regard to the various government schemes coming under their charge. The PAR will be initiated by the immediate superior and reviewed by the next higher level, without being required, as at present, to be counter signed by the political head in the case of Joint Secretaries and above. On a quinquennial basis, there will be a peer review of their performance on a broader plane taking account of their reputation among their fellows, the public and other stakeholders coming into contact with them and the Government.

If the objective is to make the officials "smart" (sensitive to public aspirations and expectations, moral in their attitude and approach, accountable in all respects, responsive to complaints and suggestions, and transparent in decision-making and dealings), the extant system itself is capable of yielding the desired results. The ACR format includes all the relevant criteria by which the officer's performance is to be judged, and has a special slot for reputation for integrity.

Any system is only as good as the quality of the people working it. If the reporting and reviewing officers exercise the utmost objectivity and diligence, the present system itself is good enough. If they are lackadaisical, no amount of window-dressing will mend matters. However, the new move has some merit as an alternative medicine to cure a long-standing malady.

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