Mere assurances
The Modi government never tires of affirming its commitment to good governance (sushasan). Providing a transparent and accountable administration that works for the welfare of citizens has avowedly been its guiding principle from the outset. Walking the talk is supposed to be a key element of this people-centric approach, but the ground reality is not so reassuring. Nearly 75 per cent of the assurances made by Union ministers in Parliament in 2024 have not been fulfilled, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The situation was hardly better a decade ago; during 2015 and 2016, two-third of the assurances given by Central ministers in Parliament were either dropped or left pending.
It was in 2018 that the Online Assurances Monitoring System was rolled out by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to ensure that promises made by ministers in Parliament were systematically tracked, monitored and fulfilled. The overarching aim was to enhance accountability, transparency and efficiency, but the implementation has left a lot to be desired. Ministers are expected to keep their word within three months, but their apparent lethargy and apathy are undermining the government’s credibility.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has ‘assured’ the Rajya Sabha that the government takes all assurances made by ministers on the floor of both Houses of Parliament seriously. If that is indeed the case, why are erring ministers not being hauled up or replaced? It is also a poor reflection on the functioning of the Standing Committee on Government Assurances, which is tasked with holding ministries/departments accountable for lapses in timely implementation. The promises and pledges made by political leaders during election rallies are usually taken with a pinch of salt. However, the people expect at least a modicum of commitment when such assurances are made by elected representatives in Parliament. The government should go all out to curb the erosion of public trust. At stake is the sanctity of parliamentary democracy.
