By TCN News,
New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today asked the new IAS recruits to give utmost attention on maintaining communal harmony in the society because “without that, India can break apart.” The PM was addressing the IAS Probationers on 10th Feb. here in New Delhi.
“Maintenance of communal harmony is absolutely necessary. Without that, India can break apart. And therefore communal harmony is a must, given a ray of hope and also a sense of purpose to the young people from tribal communities, from scheduled castes community is equally important and as administrators of various districts, various parts of our country, I would urge you to pay special attention to the needs of SCs, STs, minorities and women,” said the PM.
PM Manmohan Singh interacting with IAS Probationers batch 2010 in New Delhi on 10th Feb 2011 [PIB Photo]
“Today our country is faced with many challenges and the challenges of Naxalite activity, the challenges of terror, the challenge of what I should describe as communal tensions, it is our duty to ensure that we should do our very best, to learn what are the factors which lead people to go astray from the mainstream thinking, what is it that we can do to bring back the misguided elements in our society. The law and order has to be administered and administered effectively. But we must also recognize that when we deal with problem areas in particular, when we deal with Scheduled Caste people in particular, that there are root causes of social and economic discontent and it is our duty while administering law and order, pay particular attention to promote the well being of the disadvantaged sections of the community.”
He also asked the fresh officers of the coveted service to focus on good governance, administration, probity and poverty alleviation.
“We are a mixed economy. Private sector co-exists with the public sector. And for the management of this mixed economy we need a strong, purposeful visionary Government. We cannot wish away the role of the Government in public life of our country and therefore what type of development we will have would very much depend upon the quality of public administration in our country. You have the unique opportunity to make India strong, prosperous and a country which will be lauded all over the world in terms of its achievements, in terms of its commitment to the eradication of poverty, ignorance and disease which still afflicts millions and millions of our people.”
“Our primary task is to get rid of this mass poverty and we have made considerable progress since independence but much more needs to be done. And in making this happen, the role of public administration is of critical importance. First and foremost any civilized country requires a public administration which is able to enforce law and order and provide a feeling among people that we have a just and caring administration. There can be no development without the maintenance of law and order and the maintenance of law and order in a country as vast as ours, as complex as ours would require special skills,” said the PM.
The PM stressed on mutual and good relations between states and the Union. He urged the officers to keep in view the national interest even while doing their duties in the states.
“India lives in States and States have to prosper. Therefore, Public Administration in States must be purposeful, must be dynamic but please do not forget that our Constitution has made India one large common market. You may work in a particular State, you may belong to a particular State, but never lose sight of the all India perspective that what you do and what you do not do has implication of the development over a billion people that live in our country and you have to play the leading role in strengthening the unity and integrity of our country, in ensuring that all classes and all groups of our people live in peace and amity. Therefore for this reason it is very essential to pay particular attention to the needs of the under privileged sections of our society. It was the dream of the Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi to wipe the tears from the eyes of each and every suffering Indian. That ambition may be too much to ask for but our task will never be complete unless we get rid of mass poverty.”
Emphasizing character and probity in public life, the PM said:
“It is equally important that there should be emphasis on character, on probity in public life. We cannot allow corruption in public services. And if we really look upon ourselves as the servers of the people of India, we must never forget that India is still a country where millions and millions of people go hungry, they are under fed, many of our children are under nourished. And when in public life politicians or public servants depart from the code of conduct which lays emphasis on maximum possible integrity in personal action and behaviour, then you are hurting those very people who are part of the suffering humanity of our country.”