The government is reported to have swung into action to tone up its administrative arm to expedite the processing and clearing of files at the Secretariat.
In the wake of complaints about the slow pace in the system, the secret section of the General Administration Department has garnered details about the file position from various departments in December 2016 and January and has prepared a status report for addressing the issue. The report is understood to have come up for discussion at a high-level consultation on Monday.
Except for the General Administration, Local Self-Government, Food and Civil Supplies and SC/ST Development Departments that have set a record of clearing more than 80 per cent of the files in January, the performance of most others has been far from satisfactory. The General Administration Department has sketched the process right from the origination of a file to its disposal for evolving a feasible solution to the issue.
Almost all departments, except the Public Works Department, had responded to the data collection process. The Department of Non- Resident Keralites Affairs has a dismal record in processing and clearing files. Out of the 1,800 files pending at the department in January, it could clear only 70 and it has almost been the same in December too. Other than office work, the department personnel are reported to have stated that they are being tasked for field work. This burdening of duties is being cited as the reason for the delay in clearing the files.
The Revenue Department, which receives the maximum number of files, has 1,212 pending in January. The track record of Labour and Skill Development, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry is also not worth writing home.
Official sources told The Hindu here that budget preparation and also tasks related to the Assembly session beginning on Thursday have been progressing without any hitch. Answers to questions fielded by MLAs are being prepared by the heads of departments and the Secretaries concerned are monitoring the process.
