PM for independent evaluation of government schemes, open information policy

10 September 2008

Mumbai: Prime minister Manmohan Singh has called for an independent evaluation mechanism for his government's flagship programmes such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme and the National Rural Health Mission and a more open information policy that goes beyond the Right to Information Act.

''We need independent evaluation of many of these programmes based on data that is generated both by the government and by others,'' the prime minister said at a conference of state and union territories on managing statistics.

''Ideally the government should be at arm's length from the process of independent evaluation,'' he said, adding, ''We should make full use of common talent pool which exists in our universities, management or research institutions and also in our non-governmental organisations.''

The government, he said, is considering a proposal for posting all but strategic information in the public domain.

''The central government is also examining a data sharing policies to bring all non-strategic information in the public domain. A pro-active policy of disclosure will be in keeping with the spirit of the Right to Information Act. Information collected at huge cost, with the tax payers' money, should be made available to the general public without their having to ask for it. This will improve the quality of the data as it will be subject to informed public scrutiny'', the prime minister said.

 ''The acquisition, processing and dispersal of information are essential activities for any modern state to perform its role of economic management. It is of special importance in an open economy where information needs to be made available to non-government stakeholders. Information contributes to knowledge. Information also confers power. Information is undoubtedly a great economic asset,'' he said.