Connect with people, open your doors: Cabinet Secy to colleagues

In a rather rare instruction, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan has written to the secretaries of all government ministries advising them to open the doors of the government to people from all walks of life.

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Flagging "perceived reluctance of officials to meet people", Somanathan said meeting visitors can give insights into the actual state of affairs in the field, help detect or clarify miscommunications or misunderstandings about the government's policy or intentions, give access to new ideas and provide an opportunity to rectify mistakes.

"No doubt, senior officers have time constraints which limit their ability to give appointments," he said, requesting the secretaries to be accessible to non-officials who may seek to meet them in connection with the work of the respective ministry.

Kant hails move

Former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant hailed Somanathan's move, saying "Well done, Cabinet Secretary. If we don’t meet, we will never comprehend the problems of the common man."

"Please also request other senior officers in your ministry/department to do the same," he advised.

Noting that people from various sections of society had told him of a perceived reluctance among several secretaries and other officers to give appointments to people other than officials, who may wish to meet with them in connection with the work of their ministries, Somanathan said meetings shouldn't be denied on the basis of people's vocation.

"Meeting should not be denied based on an individual's profession or background like a contractor, a member of a trade union, political party, or NGO, a private sector or a chamber of commerce employee, or someone under investigation by a law enforcement agency, having a dispute with the department on contractual matter and/or if the matter is sub judice or under arbitration," he said, adding that such meetings should be in office, and not in social settings.

"If you feel it is necessary as a precaution, you could ask another officer to be present," he said.