“Anonymity is one of the greatest strengths of civil services”; 10 things PM said on Civil Services Day

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday cautioned civil servants that the use of social media should not lead to a decline anonymity which has been one of the greatest strengths of civil services, even as social media and mobile governance are being leveraged to connect people to government schemes. While presenting the PM’s awards on the occasion of the eleventh Civil Services Day, PM further urged senior officers to ensure that their experiences should not become a burden that stifles innovation of younger officers. Here are 10 things PM Modi said on the occasion:

1. PM reminds the civil servants that the conditions prevailing today are quite different from about two decades ago, and would evolve much further over the next few years. 

2. PM adds how the government was earlier the sole provider of goods and services which left a lot of scope for ignoring one’s shortcomings. But now, people very often perceive that the private sector offers better services than the government.

3. With alternatives now being available in several areas, the responsibilities of government officers have increased, PM says. He adds that this increase is not in terms of scope of work, but in terms of the challenge.

4. PM emphasizes the importance of competition, which brings qualitative change. 

5. The sooner the attitude of government changes from regulator to enabler, the faster this challenge of competition will become an opportunity, he adds.  

6. The presence of government in a sphere of activity should not become a burden, he says.

7. PM mentions about the quantum jump in the applications for Civil Service Day awards, from less than 100 last year to over 500 this year, adding that the focus should now be on improving quality, and making excellence a habit.

8. PM urges senior officers to ensure that experience does not become a burden that stifles innovation of younger officers.

9. Anonymity is one of the greatest strengths of the civil services, PM says. He cautions officers that the use of social media should not lead to a decline in this strength, even as social media and mobile governance are leveraged to connect people to benefits and government schemes.

10. In “reform, perform and transform”, Prime Minister says that political will is needed for reform, but the “perform” part of this formulation must come from civil servants.