A group of 175 2020 batch IAS officers who are currently deputed in various Ministries and Union Ministries as Deputy Secretaries called on the President of India Smt Droupadi Murma at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (August 25, 2022).Addressing the officers, the President said that as civil servants, they play an important role in making India a global hub for knowledge, supply chain, innovation, technology development and various other areas. At the same time, India must strengthen the leadership position it has taken in the areas of socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable development.
Pointing to the fact that by 2047, the officers of the 2020 batch will be among the top decision-makers, the President said that by working with passion and pride, they can ensure that the India of 2047 is much more prosperous, stronger and happier. . She said that to shape this India in 2047, they must work with a modern service-oriented approach. She noted that Mission Karmayogi is a major initiative to make our civil officer more modern, dynamic and responsive in their approach.
The President said that with the huge growth in infrastructure, it is easier to reach remote parts of the country. She said officials are expected to reach out to the last person or the poorest person in their area of responsibility and improve their living conditions. They can open up opportunities for those who are not aware of social programs or development programs. She reminded them that any welfare initiative can be considered truly successful only if its benefits reach the poor, downtrodden and other people in the lowest strata of our society. She said civil officer should try to reach out to such disadvantaged people. The underprivileged should have no difficulty in reaching out to them for help.
The President said civil servants should be guided by devotion to public service, empathy and compassion for the weaker sections, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and conduct, impartiality and objectivity. They are expected to be particularly vigilant and active with regard to the constitutional provisions relating to Panchayati Raj institutions, administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes and the provisions on the administration of tribal areas in the North East mentioned in the Sixth Schedule.
The President said civil servants should be fired with a passion to make their area “number one” in terms of human development indices. And they should be proud to be making a difference in the lives of the underprivileged. They should be sensitive to the people they are bound to serve. She said that ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ – the whole world is one big family – is part of the great Indian ethos. “Bharatamev Kutumbakam” – all India is my family – should be an integral part of the ethos of civil servants belonging to the All India Services.