National Civil Services Day celebrated

Civil servants are facilitators and not the masters- D.C

Amritsar Apr. 21 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Promising to constantly endeavor to improve, upgrade and modernize the systems and processes it adopts and operate in the best interests of the country, the District administration celebrated the National Civil Services Day at Bachat Bhawan here today. The IAS, IPS, PCS and PPS officers posted in the district participated in it.

Congratulating the fellow officers on the Civil Services Day, Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Ravi Bhagat called upon them to resolve to rededicate and recommit themselves to the cause of the people. He said that this day provides a unique opportunity for introspection as also working out future strategies to deal with the challenges being posed by the changing times.

Addressing the civil servants of the district, he said that we have to remember the major difference between the Civil Service of the British Raj and that of the Indian Republic; the British had established the Indian Civil Service to protect and consolidate their rule in India. Whereas the Civil Service established in post-Independent India is meant to serve the people in a democratic framework of Governance. Our Civil Service therefore has to be loyal to the Constitution and not to the Government of the day. This also means that we have to take responsibility of the public well being. The Civil Servants have to remember that they are not just doing a Job. It is a Service; a service to the common man individually and collectively. People also look upon the civil servants for resolution of their issues. So, the civil services are expected to perform the role of ‘facilitator’ or ‘enabler’ and not a ‘master’ or ‘controller’.

He said that excessive caution, reliance on precedents and following the beaten path have to give way to innovation and inventiveness and to trying out new methods. He added that to deal with the newer challenges, civil servants need to continuously update themselves. They have to continuously expand their horizons through learning and training. Only this would equip them to keep pace with the changing times.

Thanking the administration for organizing the Civil Services day, Mr. Pardeep Sabbarwal Commissioner Municipal Corporation said that this event has provided them an opportunity to reaffirm themselves to collective commitment to serve the country and the people to the best of their ability. It has been an occasion for the civil servants to introspect and reflect on their role and performance so that they may work more effectively and more meaningfully, to the best of their abilities despite challenges like shortage of infrastructure, skilled manpower, dedicated staff, corruption and nepotism.

Earlier, all the officers present shared their experiences of their first posting and the current posting and the changes and challenges faced in their service. They all listened to the telecast of hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s Speech on the National Civil Services Day.