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Thursday, October 2, 2014

Government sets up five-day workshop for bureaucrats asks them to sit together and brainstorm

The Modi government now wants senior bureaucrats across the country to sit together and brainstorm in order to come up with innovative ideas, telling all states that civil servants must not remain confined to the narrow domains of their respective services and not share their experiences with their peers.

A first-of-its kind fiveday long 'Inter-Services Workshop' is being organised by the Centre in November, which will be an annual feature, so that senior bureaucrats who have put in 12-14 years of service can sit together and share their experiences of governance with each other, the Prime Minister-led Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has written to chief secretaries of all states on September 26.

"There is no institutional mechanism by which officers at senior levels cutting across different services can come together and interact on a regular basis. It has been observed and felt that in absence of such a mechanism the officers remain confined to the narrow domains of their respective services, thereby defeating the very purpose for having such an extensive civil service in the country," says the DoPT letter to all states.

It adds that need for such an institutional interaction has been "long felt" in the backdrop of the pivotal role being played by the Indian Civil Service in policy formulation, planning and implementation in the country.

It has added that the aim of the workshop will be to share experiences of respective services, best practices adopted in policy, procedures and delivery mechanisms and the outstanding work done by the officers of different departments and other sectors.

"There will also be discussions on common problems affecting civil services and having a brainstorming session/s on the role and future of civil services in this rapidly changing scenario in the globalised environment. A comprehensive 'Way Forward' may also be worked out," the DoPT has said, saying it is a good initiative to begin with by bringing together officers who have put in 12-14 years of service.

"It is believed that sharing of experiences of respective services, best practices adopted in policy, procedures and delivery mechanisms and the excellent work done by the officers of different departments and other sectors, discussions on common problems affecting different services and having a brainstorming on the role and future of civil services in this rapidly changing scenario will go a long way in strengthening the civil services in India and in turn having a strong and vibrant administrative framework in India," the DoPT letter says.

The DoPT has added that such a mechanism, apart from keeping the officers informed of the dynamic changes in different sectors of governance, could ideally serve as a platform for them to interact on different issues of governance, share experiences on best practices and come out with innovative and conceptual ideas. DoPT has asked states to nominate officers from all civil services like IASIPS, IFS, IRS and IES among other services for the same.

Source:-The Economic Times

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