'Cab Sec' Asks IAS Officers to Introspect
IN a hard hitting letter addressed to all Chief Secretaries of States/Union Territories and a separate letter with similar contents to Secretaries of all Ministries/Departments of Government of India, the Cabinet Secretary of India reminded them that the disturbing incidents of the recent past calls for a serious introspection by Civil Servants and the urgent need to ponder over the manner in which their duties are discharged by fulfilling their responsibilities and the need to refurbish their image.
He said that the Civil Servants are appointed on the basis of a fair and open competition. They must respond in full measure to the faith that citizens have reposed in them and meet their hopes and aspirations of good governance. Integrity, honesty, objectivity, impartiality, transparency, accountability and devotion to duty are the core values which civil servants should cherish and these should form an integral part of the decisions and actions.
He stressed that the issue of corruption needs to be addressed fairly and squarely and the Government's policy of zero tolerance for corruption must be implemented fully and effectively. Preventive vigilance should be strengthened and transparency must be introduced in decision making and in all the systems. Stringent action must be taken against officers found guilty and disciplinary proceedings must be expedited.
He further advised that Civil Servants need to stand by and uphold the core values and senior officers must set an example and mentor their colleagues. The Civil Services must work wholeheartedly to provide good governance.
He requested the Chief Secretaries and the Secretaries to share these sentiments with all other officers and resolve to serve the nation and the citizens in a committed manner.
Such rhetoric only symbolizes tokenism which otherwise does not yield any concrete results. It is common knowledge that Civil Servants are neither Civil nor Servants. Another unfortunate remnant of British Raj which has neither re-invented itself nor lived upto its potential in Modern India.