March 29, 2024

Lead by example, Khandu tells govt employees

TAP | Updated: February 23, 2018


ITANAGAR, Feb 23: First time ever in the history of governance in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday held an open interaction exclusively with all the state government employees working in the state civil secretariat at the newly inaugurated State Convention Hall at IG Park here. 
Addressing more than thousand employees in the new auditorium, Khandu called government employees, especially those in the Secretariat as the engine if the state is a train.
“We in the government, including the employees, are the engine of the train called Arunachal Pradesh. If the engine does not pull with sincerity, the train of development will not move in the required pace. We have to lead from the front,” he said.
 Khandu said the role of leading the employees from the front is of the Commissioners, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries. He urged them to lead by setting examples.
 “If you (Commissioners and Secretaries) work for 12-14 hours, your subordinates will at least work for 7 hours. You have to lead by setting examples,” he said.
The chief minister reiterated that the government always has a soft corner for its employees and therefore has initiated several steps for their welfare like enhancing retirement age, regularization of DPC, reviewing cadres of APCS, etc. He assured, going by the financial discipline and its effects, the government will also launch schemes for welfare of its employees.
 “But we expect similar response from your side in the shape of dedication, sincerity and honesty towards your duty and active role in implementing welfare schemes and projects for the people,” he said.
Underscoring the importance of digitalization, Khandu directed the IT Department to digitalize all offices by 2021 so that after 2021 all files are processed as e-files. To equip the employees with digital know-how, he said the government is contemplating to establish an state-of-art Administrative Training Center to impart training to state government employees. He pointed lack of training for employees that has been hampering work culture in offices.
Asserting that there has been a positive change in work culture of the state Khandu appealed the employees to further change their attitude towards their duties that will result in better work culture if they dream a better place for their children. Once it is changed, everything will fall in place, he told the employees.
Khandu blamed lack of proper planning in the past for backwardness of the state. 
He however said that the blame goes to everyone – the people, the employees and the politicians.“Had we all worked in team spirit with sincerity, we could have harnessed our abundant resources to the optimum and become self-reliant by now. Sadly we didn’t do it,” he pointed.
Khandu though emphasized that it was not too late to start and urged the government employees to reform their mindsets and start to believe in their capabilities so that they start to individually contribute to the growth trajectory of the state.
“Our system is in a mess. We will all agree on that. But we need change and if I go on to change it all at once, there will be hue and cry at several levels. So we are working behind the scene to slowly and steadily change the entire system, wherein I need and seek your cooperation and support,” he said.
The chief minister reminded everybody of the cabinet decisions made on Thursday that he pointed are aimed at rooting out corruption like the law on money-lending and land ownership.
He also urged the employees to participate in finalization of the Budget 2018-19 by submitting their suggestions through the recently launched web portal of the Finance department.
“We know there are much hidden talents within our employees but have not been exposed due to lack of opportunities. There’s time till 28th February. Please submit your innovative suggestions,” he requested while reminding that suggestions on all sectors are welcome from the employees anytime in the year.
On the occasion 47 employees from various levels were awarded commendation certificates for their sincerity towards their given duties by the chief minister.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and Chief Secretary Satya Gopal also spoke on the occasion.
Among others, ministers Kumar Waii, Honchun Ngandam, Bamang Felix, Dr Mohesh Chai, Jarkar Gamlin, Tamiyo Taga, KamlungMossang, Alo Libang, deputy speaker Tumke Bagra and several parliamentary secretaries and legislators were present.
 

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