Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 3: Modi Government is committed to protect honest performing bureaucrats, so that they can deliver to the best of their ability and potential.
This was stated here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, while addressing a batch of 89 officers from State/Provincial Administrative Services of 18 different States of India, who were recently promoted and inducted into IAS and have concluded their training programme at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.
Referring to the recent legislation brought by the Government in the form of Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act bill, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it was a historic moment when the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) introduced a Bill in the Parliament to amend a 30 year old anti-corruption law and thus, introduced sufficient safeguards for the officers who are performing their duty with positive outcomes and honesty. He said, as per the new law, any action against a bureaucrat or an officer can be initiated only after prior permission, regardless of whichever the level or seniority of the officer in the hierarchy and this privilege will be available to the officer even after retirement. Moreover, he said, any anti-corruption case initiated against the officer will have to be concluded and decided within a timeline of two years, so that the officer does not have to suffer prolonged harassment and agony.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Modi Government has focused on the concept of “cooperative federalism” in letter and spirit. By increasing the State-share and also State representation in GST decision making,he said, the States have been made equal partners with the Centre and at the same time, officers from State Administrative Services who have put in 15-20 years will be able to go back and carry the Centre’s perspective after their promotion/induction into IAS and this is going to be a particularly important role for them to perform in the new scenario.
Describing the Civil Servant as an essential tool of governance, Dr Jitendra Singh hoped that the newly promoted IAS officers from the State Services have received enough exposure to live up to the making of “New India” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With their updated knowledge of the latest policies, programmes and priorities of the Government of India, he hoped that they would perform as instruments for collaborative working between the States and the Union.
Upma Chowdhary, Director, LBSNAA hailed the group of officers as one of the large batch inducted in the recent years.
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