'Civil services officers foot soldiers of government'

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 14: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today said that politicians and bureaucrats are invariably always under most stringent scanner in the system of governce.

Dr Sangma also urged upon the State Civil Service officers to upscale their level of commitment so that they are able to change the perception of the people.

The Chief Minister was addressing the officers as the chief guest at the annual conference of the Meghalaya Civil Service Officers’ Association (MCSOA), here on Saturday.

The Chief Minister reminded the bureaucrats that they are virtually like foot soldiers of the government as they are closely connected to the ground realities in the places of posting adding that they should take this as an opportunity to use the challenges they are confronted with and their experiences to find the best mechanism to improve the delivery system.

Stating that the whole efficiency of implementation of government’s policies and programmes, designed to benefit the people, ultimately depend on them, Dr. Sangma said that it was therefore necessary to the officers necessary training to upscale their skills and expertise.  The Chief Minister also stressed the need for multi-tasking in their duties and called for innovation and creativity in their approach to delivery of governce.

“We cannot be good in only one subject. We have to be as good as a specialist in all the subjects and this is a situation for all of us as ministers in the cabinet and as civil service officers,” he said, adding that this conference should be a platform to invoke a process of thinking among the officers to renew their commitment that can bring the best out of them.

“It not enough to have a brilliant mind but it has to be blend with a compassiote heart,” Dr Sangma said. He also added that the officers should take the very first opportunity from the first posting to utilize those knowledge which will ultimately benefit and served the people and eble to fulfilled the purpose.

It may be mentioned that there are altogether 178 MCS officers in the State.

Earlier, Chief Secretary PBO Warjri in his address said that in governce it is important to make decisions which are credible and correct and also sustaible in accordance to the rules and laws.

Warjri also said that as the Meghalaya Civil Service organization is the backbone of the government and therefore it is important for the civil service officers to imbibe in themselves the values of integrity and to separate their responsibilities from persol life while discharging their duties without being influenced by nepotism and favoritism.

The Chief Secretary also expressed his happiness that Meghalaya has the largest number of women in civil services, adding that this in itself is an opportunity to prove that women are able to carry out their duties with dignity and purpose.

Meanwhile Additiol Chief Secretary KS Kropha, said honesty and integrity is very important in this kind of job and according to him that the credibility these days are in serious doubt and the general perception is that we has been failing as the service, failing as administrators and public servants in discharging the duties faithfully and effectively.