Itanagar, Aug 4 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, highlighted the urgent need for ongoing capacity building of civil servants to ensure that governance keeps pace with the changing aspirations of citizens in a swiftly evolving landscape.

During the opening session of a five-day lead trainers' workshop under Mission Karmayogi—India's ambitious civil service reform initiative—CM Khandu stated that a future-ready, citizen-centric, and responsive bureaucracy must possess the right blend of attitude, knowledge, and skills to tackle the governance challenges of the 21st century.

"Mission Karmayogi is not merely a training program. It represents a movement—a transformative journey aimed at reorienting our government employees to transcend the ordinary, act with empathy, serve with humility, and solve problems creatively," remarked CM Khandu.

He emphasized that this five-day initiative is not just about learning new skills; it is about changing mindsets. "Real change, which is enduring, originates from within us—how we present ourselves and how we treat those who enter a public office," the Chief Minister stated.

The training workshop, organized for officials from both Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura, is being facilitated by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) of the Union government, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Commission through its Administrative Training Institute.

Welcoming the initiative, CM Khandu advocated for culturally sensitive development, warning that neither tradition nor progress should be sacrificed for the other. "If development undermines our cultural values, it is a tragedy. Conversely, if we reject progress in the name of preserving culture, that is equally tragic," he remarked.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of enhancing the happiness index alongside governance reforms. "Development should lead to greater happiness for the people. If governance improves but happiness declines, we have missed the mark," he asserted.

The Chief Minister reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting inclusive development, especially for marginalized groups, and stated that 'Mission Karmayogi' would strengthen efforts to assist the "last person in the queue".

To achieve the mission's goals, he called for a transition from rule-based to role-based human resource management, modernization of training across departments, digital upskilling, improved service delivery, and fostering a culture of transparency and performance.

Describing Mission Karmayogi as the world’s largest capacity-building initiative, CM Khandu commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership in launching such a transformative reform.

While addressing the lead trainers, he encouraged them to fully engage with the training and return to their districts prepared to mentor the next group of master trainers.

CM Khandu urged a focus on a citizen-first mindset, prompting trainers to evaluate key questions: "How welcoming is your office? How responsive are you to public concerns? Are your staff respectful and accommodating? How effectively are issues resolved?"

He set a two-month deadline, until September, for the completion of Mission Karmayogi's training modules across Arunachal Pradesh.

Present at the event were Manish Kumar Gupta, Chief Secretary; R. Balasubramanium, CBC Member (Human Resources); Shyama Prasad Roy, CBC Joint Secretary; and CBC consultants, along with lead trainers from Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.