Way Forward

♤ Appropriate Centre-State institutional framework should be created to standardize set of output indicators and processes for collecting and collating outcome related information.

♤ Effective feedback system such as social audit is required in implementation of every programme.

♤ The country needs to evolve ways and means to strengthen its institutions, without undermining them. Following steps have to be undertaken in this regard:

o strengthening the Public Accounts Committee

o professionalising the internal audit and vigilance organisation in the ministries

o building capacities for risk management techniques in the programme divisions

o making budget division and budget formulation activities independent of the executive to improve the outcome of programmes.

o as the outcome may not be co-terminus with the period of the budget. There needs to be defined intermediate outcomes as well.