Cabinet okays evaluation unit revamp for better public services

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 12

The Delhi Cabinet today approved the proposal of the Finance and Planning Department to revamp and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation unit so as to ensure effective design, development and implementation of government policies.

The decision, taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, acknowledges the fact that advances in analytical tools and techniques related to monitoring and evaluation in the last decade combined with an increasing diversity of schemes warrant a scientific approach to policymaking.

In March this year, the Aam Aadmi Party government released a “Comprehensive Outcome Budget” which links all its major schemes with tangible output and outcome indicators, and establishes annual targets for each.

Also, the government in October announced Rs 5 crore “Policy Impact Fund” to assess the outcome and determine the impact of schemes and policies.

The newly formed evaluation unit will create a roadmap for effective use of scientific methods of monitoring for improved policymaking and better delivery of public services.

Besides guiding outcome budgeting, it will help the government to conduct independent surveys and evaluations.

Referring to the Outcome Budget (2017-18), Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia termed the move “bold” saying it is for the first time any government in the national Capital has articulated and made efforts towards strengthening the evaluation functions of the Planning Department.

“This is because our government believes in the fundamental value of data-driven policymaking and the role scientific surveys and evaluations can play in helping elected governments better deliver public services and with the highest cost-effectiveness,” Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio in the city government, stated.