Dear Friends,
Congratulations to our Civil Servants on Civil Services Day!
The credit for establishing the Civil Service in Independent India goes to Sardar Patel. He wanted and argued for a Federal Civil Service mainly to protect the Unity and Integrity of the country. During his time, Political Integration of the Country was a prime issue. However, by definition, any Civil Service is also meant to serve the society. Sardar Patel completed the task of Integration of the country at one stroke. The Civil Services definitely played a vital role in that process. It provided a framework for Unified National Administration in the country in the form of All India Services. Our Civil Servants still continue to do that task in a very commendable way.
However, Sardar Patel’s vision of making this service a Federal Service could not be achieved. This is because the rulers thereafter wanted to have their control over it and use it in desired manner. This problem has reached to unbearable limits in the tenure of the present UPA Government. We have to remember that this is the major difference between the Civil Service of the British Raj and that of the Indian Republic. The British had established the Indian Civil Service to protect and consolidate their rule in India. Whereas the Civil Service established in post-Independent India is meant to serve the people in a democratic framework of Governance. Our Civil Service therefore has to be loyal to the Constitution and not to the Government of the day. This also means that our Civil Service has to take ownership of the public action they are doing and the public assets they are creating.
Unfortunately, Sardar Patel did not get time to re-orient the Civil Services for the next task-Socio-Economic Integration of the Country. Though the Civil Service has largely played their given roles, this task is still incomplete. While the issues of Security and Integrity of the country remain equally important, efficiency and effectiveness in the Developmental Administration is the major need of the hour. The Civil Servants have to remember that they are not just doing a Job. It is a Service; a service to the common man individually and collectively. People also look upon the civil servants for resolution of their issues. Like any measurable performance, the civil service has to be responsible for the output and outcome of their deeds. From my experience in Gujarat, I can say that with the right political will, direction and intervention, the same Civil Service can be made to deliver on this front as well. On this Civil Services Day, I wish that the Civil Service of India becomes as useful to the Nation in the task of bringing Local Inclusiveness and Global Innovativeness as it has been on the front of National Integration.
I wish our Civil Servants the best in Service of the people and Nation!
Yours,
Narendra Modi
