Thursday, May 02, 2013

Govt asks bureaucrats to give new ideas on how to celebrate Civil Services Day

The award winners at CSD, 2013
THE government is looking for fresh ideas on how to celebrate the Civil Services Day next year. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the nodal department that anchors the annual event, has formally asked for…
new suggestions and ideas on the format of Civil Services Day. All civil servants of the country are eligible to submit fresh ideas.
In fact, the Civil Services Day is celebrated every year on April 21. On this day in 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers at All India Administrative Service Training School at Metcalfe House, Delhi. The government has for the last eight years organized the event annually.
The present format of the programme is as follows:
(i) Inaugural session in which Prime Minister addresses civil servants and confers the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.
(ii) Keynote address by a dignitary.
(iii) Three parallel panel discussions.
(iv) Presentation on the conclusion of the panel discussions is made in the valedictory session.
This year, a number of bureaucrats wrote to BoI complaining that only IAS officers were picked up for the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in various categories. Civil servants of most services were ignored. “Is it a Civil Services Day or IAS Services Day”—one officer wrote sarcastically.
But now, you can be a part of the change. The civil servants with new ideas on the format and topics of discussion for the panels can write to csday.arpg@nic.in. You can also leave your comments in the comment box below and initiate a debate in BoI too.

Action and Appointments
a) Shikhar Agarwal, a 1993 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS and currently private secretary to Adviser to PM (director level), on Prime Minister’s National Council on Skill Development, has been appointed as Director General (Employment and Training) under the labour ministry at the rank of a joint secretary.
b) Anthony Lianzuala, a 1982 batch ICAS officer, has been appointed as Managing Director of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) at the level of a joint secretary.
c) Vikram Dev Dutt, a 1993 batch UT cadre IAS and presently on compulsory wait with the ministry of textiles, has been appointed as a joint secretary in the ministry of defence.

4 comments:

  1. First of all thanks to BoI for acting as an informal forum which has led to taking formal decisions like the one taken by DARPG. Thanks are also due to DARPG for taking such a swift decision.

    In this context, it is humbly and informally requested to DoPT to ask for the data of strikes resorted to by the Promotee Group A officers of I-T Department. So far, no action has been initiated by CBDT against the Group A Officers who went on strike on several occasions. If Group A officers, supposedly the leaders of any department go on strike, what message do we send to the general public and other departments? The pain caused to the DRs due to the strikes called by the Promotee Group A officers is ...
    (i) During the strike days the DRs are posted by the Administration to take additional charges of the posts of Promotee Group A officers and ITOs, instead of initiating action against those errant officials. The worst part is that the ITOs who are Head of Offices in mofusil areas also go on strike.
    (ii) The image of the Department takes a beating in the eyes of the taxpayers and internationally acclaimed professionals who visit the department.
    (iii) The persons holding the designations such as Addl.Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Dy Commissioner, Asst.Commissioner cannot be separated from DRs. The same mud and dust gathered by the PRs in the eyes of the public due to rampant strikes stick to the DRs as well. How can Group A Officers as a whole hold high in the eyes of the general public?

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  2. What is the point of holding a Civil Service Day when those who attend the function are mostly there because of compulsion and not by choice. Moreover it is now a well accepted fact that all sermoning and all surveys/reports/reccommendations things would not change even slightly. I over my tenure of 20 years in Govt have seen thing only deteriorating and IAS hegemnoy strenghening. But a ritual has to be performed like the famous ACR reforms so be it. Keep Going and waste public money for an annual ritual.

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  3. Its a good development. Thanks to both BOI and DARPG for the same. I always felt that the civil services have to be very dynamic in any country for the country to prosper. DARPG is a nodal agency for bringing in administrative reforms in the country. Postings in DARPG should not be considered as punishment or loop line postings. Its a challenge and an opportunity to work for the country. Will definitely send my suggestions to the DARPG on this issue.

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  4. How about first ensuring that all the civil servants who were selected the preceding year were actually awarded their joining by the time this function is held. There are still 17 candidates selected in 2012 whose service is not confirmed, no thanks to dopt

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