Concept Note for Good Governance By HRM

           Good governance (GG) is the outcome of a government.  Government gets GG by marketing Social Products (SP) to the public. Different schemes/programs/projects etc. are SP.  These SP are manufactured in different departments of government.  Government servants (GS) are marketing their departmental SP. GS are key persons who market to achieve GG.

                 To keep GS motivated, HRM policies are in force.  GS are given promotion, benefits time to time.  These are the motivating elements which keep GS on track to keep their record outstanding by discharging their duty as per desire.

                 GS get carrier benefits based on eligibility.  Eligibility is decided by Annual Confidential Report (ACR).  ACR is maintained financial-year wise (1 April to 31 March of next year).  Current system of ACR recording is quite old, cumbersome, and based on British model of ICS.  This needs a change and to be replaced by an Indian Version.

What is ACR: GS give self appraisal as per rules in prescribed format. Then following stages will write their comments.

(A) (i) Reporting Officer (ii) Reviewing officer (iii) Accepting authority

                Each stage has to grade officer in one category-

(1) Bad (ii) Satisfactory (iii) Good (iv) Very Good (v) Outstanding

 (B) Each stage also required approving integrity. 

            These steps complete an ACR of each employee financial year wise.  Every year it repeats.  If employee is not satisfied with the entry of any stage, he has remedy to get satisfied by following procedures/steps laid down.

           Simplified proposal for adoption:

(i)           There is no need to write self appraisal.

(ii)          If none writes anything, entry is Outstanding.

(iii)        It must be time bound. If written beyond time limit, report is null & void.

   Ex: Reporting by May end, Reviewing by June end and accepting by July end.

             Why this simplified version is required.  Many cadres of different services are not managed well.  As a result PS are not getting their dues in time.  Hence, motivation is killed.   They work passively. Therefore, Governments are not able to give good governance to public.

               There are many reasons of cadre mismanagement. Non completion of ACR is one prominent among them.

Benefits of the proposal:

(i)           This is a Win-Win situation for all stakeholders.

(ii)           No financial & legal implications.

(iii)        Paper work and recording keeping will reduce considerably at all stages.

(iv)        Time and energy will be saved at all stages.

(v)         For getting completed the entry from all stages, an employee (practically) has to follow and pursue all stages.  Hence, time, energy and money are wasted.  This will be saved.

(vi)        For corrupt officials, it is as tool in their hand.  Some demand bribe for upgrading the officer or not to write bad.

If an officer is not satisfied with the report of any stage, he will follow the same procedures as it is currently in practice.

      Political Economy: It will benefit GS. It will generate a strong good-will about government among GS. It is a new innovative step so spillover effect will be nationwide.