Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AFP photoThe new experiment of bringing the external affairs and overseas Indian affairs ministries under the same minister has led to new equations between the two ministries. For ten years during the rule of Manmohan Singh, the two ministries were under different ministers, with Vayalar Ravi ruling the overseas Indian Affairs Ministry for a long period. While the External Affairs Ministry is dominated by foreign service officers and has full scale embassies in countries where there is sizeable Indian presence, the overseas Indian Affairs Ministry is led by IAS officers and operates from Delhi with minimal budget.
Ravi and his officers had to use their charm to persuade Indian ambassadors and High commissioners to ensure implementation of the ministry's agenda. Since consular services like renewal of passports was done by the embassies, the two ministries had developed a working relationship, but the IFS dominated. The Indian community in foreign countries had to maintain relations with both the ministries to ensure that its agenda was implemented not only within Indian government, but also with foreign government
In his promise to bring more synergy in the functioning of the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought two or three ministries under the control of a single minister, but the seperate setup in these ministries continues. Thus the foreign secretary will not have a role in the overseas Indian Affairs Ministry as the secretary of that ministry would report directly to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Same is the case with Power and Coal Ministries, which are under Minister Piyush Goyal. The ministries will function seperately and put forward their proposals, and it is for the minister to ensure there is synergy.
Sushma Swaraj is using the teams from both ministries to handle the crisis involving Indian workers and nurses who are stranded in strife-ridden Iraq. The External Affairs Ministry had handled the crises in countries like Libya and Lebanon by arranging evacuation of non resident Indians stranded in those war torn countries by ships. Now also, attempts are being made to see that Indians trapped in Iraq reach the southern port of Basra and other safer exit points.
After reviewing the performance of these combined ministries—Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also talks of corporate affairs—Modi may come forward with more restructuring ideas to change the way the government is functioning.
Modi, who had earlier plans of combining all forms of surface transport—railways, highways and shipping under one minister then changed his plan, and had given railways to Sadananda Gowda and Nitin Gadkari got highways and shipping. Similarly, the plans to merge information and broadcasting with culture was not done, and both have seperate ministers. A team in Prime Minister's office is studying the reports of administrative reforms committees which had recommended synergy of ministries to implement Modi's goal for minimum government and maximum governance. Indications are that Modi would give the broad directions for the reconstruction of the government when he addresses the nation for the first time from the ramparts of the red fort.
Tailpiece: Team Modi wants to use new technology to magnify the address from the Red Fort and consultations are on with the defence ministry that organises the independence day functions at the Red Fort.
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