(Image source from: One month of NDA government: PM Modi focuses on 3 areas})

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed his office to take up three areas that need immediate attention and action as the NDA government is about to complete its first month in office this week.

As the new government is all out to bring back the economy into shape, PM Modi wants his bureaucrats to multi-track on three areas. Firstly, to improve Centre-State relations. Secondly to adress issues related to grievances and public complaints. Thirdly to ensure quick supply of vital equipment, something that is long overdue, to the armed forces.

The bureaucrats have been instructed by Modi to reduce delays, cut red tape and bring greater accountability and efficiency into the administration. Now Modi's civil servants have to process all complaints made on websites of government departments and on social media accounts, especially those relating to banking, pensions, telecom, health, problems in flights, train tickets and journeys.

A system has also been put in place via a special cell in the Prime Minister's Office to monitor the prompt redressal of these complaints.

During his electoral campaign, the PM had promished to strengthen the federal structure of governance by improving the Centre's relation with all the 29 State.

Modi is determined to improve his government's record in Centre-State relation compared to the previous government. The PM has issued orders that any request for assistence from the state governments that are more than three months old has to be attended to immediately. His bureaucrats have been given instructions to meet state representatives in turn. The cycle of meetings should be such that each state representative gets to meet Modi's civil servants once in three months time.

The armed forces had been sending repeated alerts to the government about outdated and inadequate equipment. With a view to resolve the issue, Modi held a series of meetings with Defence Minister Arun Jaitley along with the chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy. The three heads of the defence force have been asked to list out weapons (in order of priority) need. Besides a plan to formulate best use of funds for modernising India's armed forces is also in the offing.

Another significant development is that PM Modi will meet service chiefs directly once every month. During such meeting the three heads can brief him on any security related issues.

The PM is also out to boost the morale of the armed forces. The plan to build a national war memorial has been revived. As planned it shall be built in the country's capital near India Gate. Mr Modi also has plans to urgently implement the one-rank-one-pension policy for soldiers, which envisages that soldiers holding similar rank and number of years in service will get the same pension irrespective of their retirement year.

(Picture Source: newindianexpress.com)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)