Delays in policy implementation tarnish govt’s image

By Yu Jincui Source:Global Times Published: 2012-10-22 1:05:03

A media survey by the Xi'an-based Huashang Newspaper on Saturday concluded that it takes at least 70 days for a central government order to be delivered to the grassroots level and carried out.

The findings of the survey generated a wave of anger over local governments' ability to implement policies.

The trigger was a report in the paper on Saturday. It claimed that a policy allowing people over 65 years of age to have free access to scenic spots in Shaanxi Province was carried out by the Temple of Great Maternal Grace, one of the famous tourist attractions, more than five months after the policy was issued by the Shaanxi Provincial Committee on Aging.

Although the management authorities of the temple defended themselves by saying that they hadn't receive any guidelines from the higher authorities on details of providing senior citizens with free entry to the temple, the explanation hasn't been accepted by the public.

The implementation of policies, governmental orders and regulations certainly needs to go through a detailed process, from issuance to implementation.

 We are not sure how the conclusion that they take 70 days to implement was reached, however, it is certain that in many cases the process of implementing a superior government-mandated policy is very murky.

Improving the government's ability to implement policies is one of the key tasks of governmental reform. This kind of reform was included in the Report on the Work of the Government in 2006 for the first time, and was highly emphasized in the reports released over the following years.

The public has increasingly strict requirements in terms of governance and administration efficiency.

To avoid misinterpretation, the government should make the implementation of governmental orders transparent, notifying the public of the necessary procedures and difficulties it encounters when implementing these policies to clear away public suspicion of weak governance.

In an information era when communication is considered rather direct and swift, low governmental efficiency is unacceptable.

When unreasonable delays appear in the process of implementing a policy, relevant authorities should get involved to uncover the problems. Some policies which could benefit the people may be detrimental to vested interest groups who will obstruct the implementation of these policies.

Breaking the existing network of interests should therefore also be given special attention.



Posted in: Observer

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