Speech by Hon'ble President of India, Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at the Function of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie and Release of Commemorative Postage Stamp

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very happy to be here at this beautiful and famous Hill Station frequently visited by many, especially at this time of the year. In 1962, I was here for training as a newly elected MLA for almost a month. Hence, it is an even greater delight to be at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at the launching of its Golden Jubilee celebrations. The purpose of setting-up of this Academy, vividly captured in its vision statement, was to provide quality training for building a professional and responsive civil service.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to address the IAS Officers participating in Phase III of the Mid Career Training Programme as well as IAS Officers of the 2007 Batch, who are currently here for Phase II of their Professional Course. In this Academy, officers of different age groups and seniority come together throughout the year. The varied mix and the interactions are ideal for exchange of ideas, experiences and innovative thinking, which can result in better administration. Having come through an intensive selection process and exposed to high quality training programmes, the officers of the Administrative Service must work in a manner which can be emulated by others.

Training of civil servants is a continuous and regular process. A strategic, need-based, outcome-based and competency-based approach to training directly related to the development needs of the country, is important. Since its inception, the Academy has played a stellar role in providing high quality training to the administrative officers of the country. I would like to convey my appreciation for the work done by the Academy and encourage it to continue its good work.

When India became independent in 1947 after centuries of colonial rule, it made every Indian proud. It was a moment of renewal, a time of euphoria which gave hope to the people that the ills of the past would be corrected by a government and an administrative system now run by their own people. Moreover, the circumstances under which we attained our nationhood were such that we needed to have a structure that would provide stability. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stated in the Constituent Assembly in 1949 that, "you will not have a united India if you do not have a good all-India Service which has the independence to speak out its mind, which has a sense of security The Constitution is meant to be worked by a ring of Service, which will keep the country intact". This was the ethos in which members of the then Indian Civil Service and the newly created IAS were trained and oriented. The administrative system for good reason was referred to as the 'Steel Frame' for its integrative work. It gave a national outlook to our country which has wide diversity and is vast in size. It was also due to the contribution of the members of the IAS in those early years that we were able to commence major works, such as the creation of infrastructure as well as begin development and social welfare programmes across the length and breadth of the nation. We slowly progressed from a nation dependent on the outside world for meeting our food requirements, to one which was able to look after its own needs. This was the phase of consolidation.

The next phase witnessed the beginning of our reform process in the mid 1980's. It was felt that if we were to be successful in making a tangible difference to the lives of our people, the administrative machinery and the mindsets of our administrators would also have to undergo a change. Speaking on this issue, the then Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi said, and I quote, "Our administrative system must become more goal-oriented. A new work-ethic, a new work-culture must be evolved in which Government is result-bound and not procedure bound A strong concern for efficiency must permeate all institutions." Unquote. This meant that our administrators would need to transform themselves into professionals and oversee the effective delivery of services.

The early reforms of the mid 1980s took on new strength with the economic reforms which began in 1991. This unleashed the potential of our people and since then, has led to a revolution of aspirations. People are no longer happy with what has been achieved, because they know that India and they themselves have a greater potential. Indeed, the world looks towards India with great expectation.

This is the great goal that our administrative system must gear up for. As the Government moves to do more for its people, its civil servants have to play a more dynamic and creative role. The Government is committed to bring about positive changes in the lives of the people and create growth opportunities for all. It has set forth a vision of an inclusive society, an inclusive economy and an inclusive growth process that is equitable socially and regionally. It seeks to achieve this through policies and programmes that promote the welfare of its citizens and that spur economic growth. You are the implementers of the schemes and in constant contact with the people. Your work, therefore, should be development-centric and your attitudes people-friendly. The business as usual attitude must change. We need officers who can find innovative means within the system to make it responsive to the needs of our people. This means they will have to be pro-active, adopt new approaches and find new ways of doing things which result in assigned tasks being done more efficiently and effectively. IAS Officers could be the harbingers of such a change. As the philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, and I quote, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Unquote. You must not become birds of passage; instead you must leave your imprint wherever you work and you can do that if you gain the faith of the people.

Institutions are coming under greater scrutiny. Information is no longer the preserve of a few and there is greater emphasis on transparency of work and accountability. Bureaucracy, at times evokes an image of red-tapism and opaqueness. This needs to be negated by you. There also is a feeling that money is being pilfered out of the system and as a result, it does not reach beneficiaries in full measure. This is a serious concern. Therefore, as officers you must see that resources are fully utilized for the purpose they are intended for, whether it is a road, it is a school, it is a hospital, an irrigation system and seeds for farmers, welfare schemes for SCs, STs and women and employment opportunities, among others.

Good governance is what people are increasingly expecting. It requires the civil servants to be accountable and to make people feel that the raison d'etre of the administration is to work for them. It also means establishing simpler and more convenient systems while dealing with the public. The effort should be to take government to the doorsteps of the people and in case of grievances, there should be a fast track mechanism to address them. You have not only to be sincere in your work but also have to impress on the staff who works with you to be sincere. Corruption is a cancer you have to eliminate from the administrative machinery.

Democracy has taken deep roots in our country. As part of the process of devolution, democracy has reached the grassroots level in villages in the form of Gram Sabhas and in the towns as elected urban bodies. People are now participants in the development process, not just recipients of welfare measures. As administrators, it is in your domain to establish a partnership with the people. Keep your minds open and be ever willing to listen, watch and empathize with those whom you work for. Learn to respect the poor - do not neglect them. It is only when you understand the pain of the poorest of the poor and the aspirations of the youth, can effective results be delivered.

I would also like to refer to your role in educating people to eradicate social evils - female foeticide, child marriage, and addiction. Many, who are earning their livelihood by working as labourers, squander away their income in addiction and remain poor even though they have employment. So, these social evils are not only against their own interest but also against the interest of their family, society and the nation. No economic progress can be successful if earned income does not go to increase the standard of living. So, you also have to work as an agent of social change and social reforms.

I am glad to see that more women are now joining government. I am told that last year the Academy received the largest percentage of women officers. Empowerment of women is important for bringing about the comprehensive development of our country. They need to be given education and imparted skills which would enable them to work and be financially secure. To achieve this, administration must have a gender sensitive approach. I am confident that all of you would bear this in mind in your work and implement in a mission mode, the vision of the National Mission on Empowerment of Women which seeks to make women equal partners in family, society and the nation building process, by ensuring their rightful share in the allocation of resources and decision making.

I would like to end by saying that do not let the power and facilities which come with your posts, make you inaccessible to the people or make the people feel you are not accessible. The Greek philosopher, Plato said, and I quote, "the measure of a man is what he does with power." Unquote. You shall be judged by what you do for the welfare of the people. That will be the only yardstick of your contribution to the nation. Infrastructure work and social welfare programmes must proceed forward, if we are to fulfill our tryst with destiny to make India a developed country, rooted in its civilisational values of living in harmony and bearing respect for all human beings.

If you do this, you would have been successful in making the IAS, the 'Indian Admirable Service'. In this way you will have earned the gratitude and good wishes of millions of our people who place so much hope upon you. I wish the Academy, its faculty and staff success in their future endeavours.

Thank you,  
JAI HIND