Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India needs to develop at a faster pace to find its role while the new world order shapes up in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister said that the whole world is looking at India. “In the circumstances created by Covid-19, a new world order is emerging. In this new order, India has to develop itself at a faster pace,” he added. The Prime Minister was addressing a valedictory function of the 96th Common Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie via video conferencing. He said that the current batch of civil servants will play a big role in the development of the country in the next 25 years.
“Over the years, I have spoken to and spent a long time with various batches of civil servants. But this batch is very special. You are starting your work in the 75th year of India’s Independence. In this Amrit Kaal, you will play a big role in the development of the country in the next 25 years,” said PM Modi.
He further urged the civil servants to keep the goals of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and laying the foundation of “New, Modern India” at the top of their priorities. “You always have to keep the goals of 21st century India in mind. The goal of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the goal of laying the foundation of New, Modern India,” said PM Modi. Urging trainee civil servants to focus on the “biggest goal of the 21st century” Aatmnirbhar Bharat and Modern India, Prime Minister Modi asked them to “reform, perform and transform” to the next level.
The Prime Minister also stated that the inauguration of the new sports complex and revamped Happy Valley Complex will give a new direction to the Academy. “During training, you were enlightened with the vision of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Service and duty have been a vital part of your training. The importance of service and sense of duty has been an integral part of your training,” he added.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the new sports complex and dedicated the revamped Happy Valley Complex to the nation.
Based on the principle of “Mission Karmyogi”, with new pedagogy and design, the 96th Foundation Course at LBSNAA comprises 488 (Officer-trainees) OTs from 16 services and three Royal Bhutan Services (Administrative, Police, and Forest). The new pedagogy based on the principles of “Mission Karmayogi” was designed to harness the adventurous and innovative spirit of the youthful batch, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in an official statement.
As per the PMO, the 96th Foundation Course is the first Common Foundation Course at LBSNAA based on the principle of Mission Karmyogi, with new pedagogy and design. Emphasis was put on transforming the Officer Trainee from a student/civilian into a public servant through initiatives like interaction with the Padma Awardees in the spirit of “Sabka Prayas”. All 488 Officer Trainees were given first-level training in Krav Maga and various other sports.
The Prime Minister also recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s mantra that every decision should be evaluated on the touchstone of the welfare of the last person in the last line. “That’s the reason why we introduce PM Gati Shakti. Once we identify the problem, it is easier to find solutions,” he added, while asking trainee officers to never let their sense of service and duty sag. The Prime Minister advised the officers for recording their aspirations and plans at the time of their departure from the Academy to revisit them after 25 or 50 years to evaluate the level of achievement. “Try identifying five challenges in the sector of your choice. It is very important to find these challenges locally faced by society to find solutions. When we have the power of ‘Jan Bhagidari’ then 1+1 does not equal 2, but 1+1 equals the strength of 11,” he said.
“When you are involved in decision making, try to understand the root cause of what happened in the past and understand their reasons. Never make a hasty decision. Always make an informed decision. He said identification of the challenges is the first step in the rectification of the challenges. He gave the example of the government’s identification of challenges of providing pucca houses and electricity connection for the poor, which were addressed by schemes like PM Awas Yojana, Saubhagya Scheme and schemes for Aspirational Districts.
He further said to work by understanding the difference between files and fields. “You will have to connect with the field for the real feel. Figures contained in the files are not just numbers. Every figure, every number, is a life. You have to work for every single life, not for mere numbers,” added PM Modi.