Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India, stated that civil services are the foundation of governance and have been crucial in the implementation of government policies.
Addressing senior officers and other dignitaries at the launch of the book ‘Reflections on India’s Public Policies,’ co-authored by 1984 batch officers of the Indian Administrative Service, the Vice President stated that India’s governance model, with its focus on transparency, accountability, digitisation, innovation, and entrepreneurship, is the envy of the world.
He also said that “Empowerment and upliftment of vulnerable sections have been effected with successful schemes, ensuring that even the most marginalized citizens have access to essential services”.
The Vice President urged civil servants to perform their duties with “PRIDE” for the country. He explained that this included impartial Public service, the application of the Rule of law at all levels, Integrity in engaging with the public, Devotion to duty, and Efficiency in accomplishing policy objectives.
He also emphasized the crucial role that retired civil officials may serve as a significant national human resource. He underlined that the “Retired Civil Servants are eminently positioned to neutralise and antidote false and anti-national narratives, from within and without, seeking to unjustifiably taint and tarnish our constitutional institutions and democratic values”.
The Vice President acknowledged that democratic government has unique challenges and urged civil workers to demonstrate an unshakable and persistent devotion to the rule of law and the Constitution. He also highlighted “Political ingratiation of officials with the ruling dispensation in some parts of the country is severely straining the sublimity of Federalism. This calls for systemic focus by all concerned”.
