Tuesday, June 28 2005 17:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Stressing that the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government attached highest importance to good governance reforms, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today (Jun 28, 2005) said the Centre was committed to providing a Government that is transparent, corruption-free and accountable.

"In the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP), this Government has made a solemn pledge to the people of our country, to provide a Government that is transparent, corruption free and accountable and to provide an administration that is responsible and responsive.

"In fulfillment of this resolve, the Government attaches highest importance to the Good governance reforms agenda," Patil said in his address at the ninth Inter State Council (ISC) meeting in New Delhi. Listing out the agenda for the meeting, the first council meeting being held under the UPA regime, Patil said, "Blue print of Action Plan on Good Governance, Disaster Management and implementation report on the decisions taken by ISC on the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission." Patil said good governance was associated with efficiency and effective administration at all levels in a democratic framework.

The meeting is being presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and attended by Union Ministers P Chidambaram, Laloo Prasad, Arjun Singh, Sharad Pawar, Ramvilas Paswan, H R Bharadwaj and T R Baalu, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Chief Ministers and Lt Governors.