Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday came up with an interesting proposal to control the bureaucrats and get the works done quickly without facing the bureaucratic hurdles.
Naidu delivered a strong message to senior bureaucrats, Heads of Departments (HoDs), and secretaries, emphasising the need for a fundamental shift in bureaucratic functioning.
Speaking at a high-level conference with top officials, the chief minister underscored that governance reforms must be pursued with urgency to make administration faster, simpler, and more accountable.
Naidu remarked that although the Constitution of India has been amended several times to serve the nation’s needs, officials often hesitate to amend business rules that could help improve public service delivery.
“If business rules have to be changed to do good for the people, what is wrong in it?” he asked, asserting that outdated processes should not obstruct efficiency.
Stating that file disposal must not only be faster but also smarter, Naidu criticised the practice of creating unnecessary files that burden the system.
He suggested that, wherever required, the government would consider amending the Business Rules to eliminate redundant procedures.
“To simplify governance, all needless regulations must be removed. Departments must undergo full-scale transformation,” he said.
The chief minister called for the expanded use of technology, including data-lake systems, to enable more transparent and effective management.
He insisted that every department must undergo regular audits and that performance-tracking metrics for each official and each department are now fully available with the government.
“Officials must work with this visibility in mind,” he cautioned.
Naidu reiterated that every officer must act with vision, accountability, and a clear understanding of their responsibility to citizens. He urged government staff not to approach tasks with negativity or reluctance.
“When a programme is launched or an instruction is issued, some individuals only think about how to avoid implementing it. This mindset must change,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of attitude in public service, Naidu noted that many officers deliver excellent results but must also refine their conduct and approach while dealing with people.
“Officials must respond positively to citizens and applicants. Even if the results are good, behaviour matters just as much,” he added.
