Church praises new efficiency bill of Madhya Pradesh State
(Aug.05,2010) The head of the Church in India’s central Madhya Pradesh State, has
praised the passing of a bill that aims to ensure state officials deliver services
more promptly. “This is a very people-friendly legislation aimed at serving the people,”
said Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal. The new law has the potential to break the
vicious circle of corruption in government, he said. The state legislature passed
the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Guarantee Bill 2010 on July 30. It will help make
the state a more developed one, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan reportedly said
during a debate on the bill. Development agencies have rated Madhya Pradesh as among
India’s “sickest states” because of its poor infrastructure and high rate of malnutrition
and child mortality. The bill is awaiting the state governor’s assent before it formally
becomes law. The proposed law makes provisions to fine slack officials. The fine
can be up to 250 rupees per day after the stipulated time period. The chief minister
said he would also consider placing himself and other ministers under the bill’s purview,
if such an action is needed to maintain the pace of development. Archbishop Cornelio
said the law looks tough now but such laws gradually “lose their teeth” when it is
time to implement them. “The government must act honestly” to implement the law, he
added.