How Can Arunachal CM Inspire Civil Service Officers for State Development?

Itanagar, May 30 (NationPress) Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday urged the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service officers to embrace ownership of the state and play a pivotal role in its comprehensive development, both in terms of infrastructure and economy.

While addressing the 16th Triennial Conference of the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service Officers Association (APCSOA) here, Khandu emphasized that state civil service officers are not only administrators but integral members of the communities they serve, as the majority are native to the state.

“This unique position provides you with an unparalleled advantage in grasping the cultural nuances, traditional frameworks, and emotional contexts of our populace,” he pointed out.

Commending the conference theme, ‘Civil Service at the Crossroads: Reimagining Public Service for a New Era,’ the Chief Minister asserted that modern civil service officers must take on roles that are not just administrative but also transformational.

“You serve as the initial point of contact for the public. You are responsible for conveying government initiatives in a manner that is comprehensible to the citizens. You mediate between tradition and modernity, preventing alienation and nurturing a sense of ownership among the populace for every developmental effort,” he remarked.

Khandu described civil service officers as the backbone of the state's governance structure, emphasizing that their performance reflects not only their own capabilities but also the effectiveness of political leadership and the credibility of the government.

He reminded the officers that their involvement in the state civil service comes with a heightened responsibility to serve as role models for the youth.

“You exemplify that excellence and integrity can coexist. I encourage you to leverage your position to mentor, inspire, and lead by example,” he urged.

Reaffirming the state government's commitment to empower and enhance the state civil services, Khandu assured that the government would continue to provide necessary resources, training, and autonomy to maintain high morale and improve capabilities.

In addition to ensuring guaranteed career advancement for APCS officers, Khandu noted that the government has also organized regular capacity-building training sessions, including a four-month program at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie.

Acknowledging the significant progress made by the state in e-governance, Khandu revealed that Arunachal Pradesh may be the only state in India to have achieved 100% implementation of e-Office across the Civil Secretariat, all District Headquarters, and Directorates.

“Our e-Vidhan, e-Cabinet, and e-File platforms are national success stories,” he stated.

Khandu urged the APCS officers to become proactive members of Team-Arunachal by actively sharing their insights and suggestions with the government, assuring them that these inputs will be considered in policy formulation. “We, the politicians, will draft policies, but you are the ones who will implement them on the ground. Therefore, you are in the prime position to identify areas that need focus,” he added.

Khandu advised the officers not to dwell on challenges but to seek solutions promptly. The inaugural session of the one-day conference was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Chief Secretary Manish Gupta, and Shivdular Dhillon, Advisor to the All India State Civil/Administrative Service Association.