NEW DELHI, Feb 21 � With its image dented by a rush of scams, the government today pledged to address �frontally� the concern over �lack of probity and integrity� in public life and vowed to bring back black money stashed abroad, reports PTI.
Committing itself to improving the quality of governance and enhancing transparency, it promised to eliminate corruption in public life through a series of steps, besides electoral reforms and ensuring accountability in judiciary.
The government promises were contained in the address by President Pratibha Patil to the joint sitting of Parliament, which marks the commencement of the Budget Session.
In her 50-minute speech, Patil also expressed serious concern over inflation and said the government�s �foremost priorities� in the coming financial year would be to combat it and protect the common man from the impact of rising food prices.
The other priorities of the government would be to sustain the momentum of inclusive economic growth, maintain an �uncompromising vigil� on internal and external secrurity fronts and to pursue a foreign policy which will protect India�s interest in the global fora.
Against the backdrop of a series of scams that has hit the government, the President said, �Our citizens deserve good governance; it is their entitlement and our obligation.
�My government stands committed to improving the quality of governance and enhancing transparency, probity and integrity in public life.�
Outlining five �foremost� priorities of the government, the President said it will �address frontally the concern regarding lack of probity and integrity in public life.�
She noted that a Group of Ministers (GoM) was considering all measures, including legislative and administrative, to tackle corruption and improve transparency.
The Group will consider issues relating to the formulation of a public procurement policy and enunciation of public procurement standards, review and abolition of discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers.
Introduction of open and competitive system of exploiting the natural resources, fast-tracking of cases against public servants charged with corruption and amendments to laws for quicker action against them are also part of terms of reference of the GoM.
