Prime minister Manmohan Singh has issued a fiat to the ministries asking them not to name any new programme or scheme indiscriminately in the name of late former prime ministers Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi, as many such schemes have floundered before.

The decision may not go down well with the residents of 10 Janpath, but a confidential letter shot off to all ministries reasons that failure of programmes named after these might devalue their image.

The letter dated October 6, written by cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar on behalf of the PM, advises naming schemes after leaders like the Gandhis with discretion. It conveys the PM's worry that many programmes named after these leaders do not click.

CONFIDENTIAL

October 6, 2010

DO number 1/48/10/2010

Dear Minister,

As you are aware that number of programes under execution in the country are named after leaders particularly Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Ministers.

The practice has become widespread and indiscriminate. This reduces the value of identifying programmes with national figures particularly as implementation and impact of many of these programmes is not  always as ought. to be As such many of them many of them do not merit
such association.

I have therefore been directed to convey that in the light of what is stated above there is need to be sparing and selective in associating names national leaders with such programmes to prevent proliferation of such nomenclature.

With regards

KM Chandrasekhar
Cabinet Secretary