The Vice President of India inaugurated the two-day Civil Services Day event in New Delhi.
- It was the 12th Civil Services Day which was inaugurated on 20th April 2018 and the Vice President of India Mr Venkaiah Naidu was the Chief Guest of the event.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present awards for excellence in public administration on a concluding day on April 21.
Background
- April 21, is commemorated as the Civil Services Day in India.
- The Government of India observes this day every year as one dedicated to the civil servants since it was on this day in 1947 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, independent India's first home minister, had addressed the soon-to-be independent country's first batch of civil servants at Metcalf House in Delhi.
- In his speech, Sardar Patel had referred to the bureaucrats as the "steel frame of India".
- April 21 is thus remembered as the day when the civil servants dedicate themselves to the cause of the country's people and renew their commitment to people's service and excellence in work. The day is being observed regularly since 2006.
Keys facts
- Vice President also inaugurated an exhibition put up by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances on identified priority programmes and innovations.
- A book was also released by him titled “Emulating Excellence- Takeaways for Replication”.
- The book contains 9 chapters on best practices for priority programmes in which PM Awards were given on CSD, 2017 and are being given on CSD, 2018.
- A film on Journey to PM-Awards was also screened during the function.
- In this film complete selection process of PM awards including changes made in the process during 2016, 2017 and 2018 have been showcased.
- The Civil Services day is celebrated for the civil servants to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizen and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.
- The PM awards given during the event are for the effective implementation of identified priority programmes and innovation and are given to districts or implementing units and other central or state organisations.
- Four priority programmes have been chosen for the awards.
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban & Rural.
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
- Promoting Digital Payments
- In addition to these awards, there are awards for innovation for central and state organisations.
- Eleven awards for the four identified priority programmes will be given this year while two awards shall be presented to organisations of central or state governments or districts for innovations.
- During the awards event, the Prime Minister will release two books --
- “New Pathways”- comprising success stories on the implementation of identified priority programmes and innovations
- “Aspirational Districts: Unlocking Potentials”, on evolving strategies for transforming Aspirational Districts.
Highlights of Mr Naidu’s speech
- Mr Venkaiah Naidu delivered an inaugural address at the two-day event.
- He mentioned that a clean, competent, people-friendly, proactive administrative leadership is the need of the hour.
- He further said that ‘Swarajya’ has to be meaningful for each Indian and, for this ‘Surajya’ is inevitable.
- There is a need for honest introspection into the effectiveness and efficiency of our administrative structures and processes.
- There is a dire need to collectively transform India into a nation to be proud of.
- The Vice President called on officers of Civil Services to reorient their approach to look upon themselves as catalysts of change, as facilitators of change, as inspirational leaders for an aspirational India.
