Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spelt out 10 priority areas for his government even as he asked his ministers to set their own 100-day targets.
More freedom and empowerment of bureaucracy, removing hurdles to boost economic growth, reforms to attract investments, and timely implementation of policies top the Government’s agenda.
Sources said that all the ministers and officials have been told to keep in mind the 10-point agenda while chalking out their own targets.
Earlier in the day, briefing mediapersons after the second Cabinet meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Prime Minister has directed his Ministers to prepare an agenda for 100 days.
Fixing targets “Each Ministry will have to prepare a time-table and fix the priority for 100 days, which they will submit to the Prime Minister,” said Naidu. Modi will also meet each Minister besides holding meetings with the secretaries of various departments.
Naidu said that the Prime Minister’s emphasis was on efficient governance and delivery and implementation of schemes/programmes. Pending issues of the previous regime will be taken up on a priority basis, he said.
The Prime Minister wants his ministers to give top priority to letters from, and issues raised by, State governments. Grievances of, and requests by, Members of Parliament and the general public will have to be taken up in the same way.
Federal character The thrust on giving priority to issues concerning States, Naidu said, was in keeping with the ‘true spirit of federalism.’ He explained that Modi, who has been Chief Minister of Gujarat, understands the importance of the federal structure.
Naidu said that as the new Government plans to build a team for the long term, Cabinet Ministers have been asked to take along their Ministers of State. In previous establishments, many MoSs had complained of no work. To a question on prices, Naidu said issues such as rising prices, agriculture and women’s security would be a priority as these are focus areas for the BJP-led Government. “Expectations of people are high. Different sections have different priorities. Every section is important,” he said.