Union Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan emphasized on Friday that effective coordination between elected representatives and government officials is crucial for making national development and public administration more efficient, accessible, and citizen-focused.
Key Address at Chintan Shibir
The senior official delivered his remarks during the second day of the state government's Chintan Shibir, currently underway at Dharampur. Somanathan highlighted the complementary roles played by different stakeholders in the governance process, noting that elected representatives reflect public aspirations while officials ensure compliance with rules and procedures.
He detailed several initiatives the Union government is implementing to boost economic growth, including industry promotion policies, creating business-friendly environments, and enhancing governance standards. Significant efforts are being made at both central and state levels to address concerns where entrepreneurs and startups frequently face unnecessary hassles from tax departments.
High-Level Participation and Discussions
The event saw participation from prominent figures including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, cabinet ministers, and senior bureaucrats. Participants engaged in intensive group discussions at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram in Dharampur, covering multiple critical sectors.
During capacity-building sessions, ministers and officials examined cadre restructuring, continuous training frameworks, performance evaluation systems, and platforms to develop a future-ready workforce.
Comprehensive Sectoral Reviews
Public health and nutrition discussions focused on assessing Gujarat's progress and challenges concerning key indicators such as maternal and infant mortality rates, anaemia, and various forms of malnutrition including wasting, underweight, and stunting among children.
Public safety deliberations centered on strengthening critical infrastructure encompassing roads, bridges, public buildings, water supply, and drainage systems. Delegates also scrutinized fire safety protocols, emergency response mechanisms, traffic management systems, and the role of technology and transparency in ensuring citizen safety.
The services-sector group analyzed employment-rich segments including IT and ITeS, Global Capability Centres, financial services, logistics, port-linked services, gig and care economy opportunities, and emerging green services.
The Chintan Shibir represents a significant platform for strategic planning and collaborative problem-solving among Gujarat's key decision-makers and administrators.
