PM wants to involve more experts in governance

Prime minister Manmohan Singh today said he would like to involve more intellectuals and experts in the processes of governance, but made it clear that this would be done at a pace that will not create any "side effects".

"There is enormous reserve of knowledge, wisdom, and experience available outside the political system," Singh told reporters on his way back from the G8 summit in Italy. "It has to be harnessed in the service of the Indian people."

He was asked whether more experts would be inducted into government after the recent appointment of Infosys Technologies co-chairman Nandan Nilekani as chairman of an authority to steer the ambitious scheme for creating a multi-purpose unique identification database of citizens.

"I would like to involve more and more intellectuals in the processes of governance of our country," Singh said. "It is a process, we have made a beginning, and it is my hope that in due course of time, we can enlarge this process."

But the prime minister said it would be his effort to do so "at a pace at which it does not create any side effects".

He said the 54-year-old Nilekani's appointment had been widely welcomed. "I sincerely hope that in due course of time, we can enlarge the involvement of top intellectual elements in processes of governance," he said.