PM Modi criticises bureaucracy, compares document journey to ‘Char Dham Yatra’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the cabinet members at a meeting of ministers and took a dig at the bureaucrats. In a 40-minute speech, the Prime Minister told his cabinet colleagues that his third term will move at the same pace as his first two terms.

Taking a jibe at bureaucracy, PM Modi said that a lot of government work also depends on paperwork and documents change hands many times and many times, delays are caused due to bureaucracy. The PM likened the journey of documents to the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ and pointed out that handling documents is sometimes even more difficult than the latter, which is typical of him.

“Char Dham yatra ke baad humein toh moksh mil jaata hai, par files ko 16 dham yatra ke baad bhi moksh nahi milta (The cycle of birth and death can end after undertaking the four-place pilgrimage, but there is no vision of salvation for the following files)” PM Modi said, News18 learnt.

The Prime Minister has on many occasions encouraged the bureaucracy to act like agents of change and work in sync with the ruling government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a review meeting to review the progress of seven priority projects worth over Rs 76,500 crore in 11 states and Union Territories. A press statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office stressed the need for timely completion of the projects.

“Government officials, both at the central and state levels, must realise that delays in projects not only lead to escalating costs but also deprive the public of the expected benefits of the projects,” the Prime Minister is said to have told officials at the PRAGATI meeting.

At the meeting of ministers, outgoing cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba elaborated on the work done by the government since its third term in office. Officials also gave detailed presentations on budget announcements, infrastructure projects, and education and health matters.