New Delhi: Information and Broadcasting
Minister Ambika Soni on Friday indicated that a mechanism would
soon be evolved wherein junior ministers would be actively
involved in policy-making decisions of their respective
ministries along with their seniors.
"When a government is formed and portfolios are
allocated, it takes some time for senior ministers and their
deputies to understand each other, their strengths, weaknesses
and decision-making prowess," Soni told reporters on the
sidelines of a function here.
"...within six months or so, a mechanism will
definitely be evolved wherein Ministers of state (MoS) will be
able to assist their senior ministers in a more able manner in
processes of decision making," she said.
Responding to media reports that many MoS have been
complaining of not having much work, Soni said cabinet
ministers should ensure that they give more work to their
associates so that they gradually become capable of handling
works of greater responsibility.
"I think it is upto us, senior ministers, to allocate
more work to our junior ministers. The Prime Minister has
given all of us a responsibility (of running ministries along
with junior ministers) and we should try to live upto his
expectations.
"Our deputies should not feel that they don't have
much work. Allocating work to them, gives them an opportunity
to know and understand their ministries and even their senior
ministers," she said.
Soni noted that many ministries have "too much work"
while the workload on some ministers is comparatively less.
To a question on Government's plan to fill up vacant
gubernatorial posts in some states, the minister said, "by
January 26, all such states will see Governors unfurling the
national flag."
The post of Governor is laying vacant in West Bengal,
Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 15, 2010, 16:25