Arunachal CM urges APCS officers to champion holistic development

United News of India

7 days ago

Itanagar, May 30 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday urged the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service (APCS) officers to take ownership of the state's growth—both physical and financial—and contribute meaningfully to its holistic development.
Addressing the 16th Triennial Conference of the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Service Officers Association (APCSOA) at the Banquet Hall here, Khandu said that the state civil service officers are not just administrators but integral members of the communities they serve, as most of them are indigenous to the state.
'This gives you an unmatched advantage in understanding the cultural intricacies, traditional institutions, and emotional landscapes of our people,' he noted.
Commending the conference theme, 'Civil Service at the Crossroads: Reimagining Public Service for a New Era', the Chief Minister said the role of modern civil servants goes beyond administration; it is transformational.
'You are the first point of contact for the public. You are the ones who interpret government schemes in a language the people understand, bridge tradition and modernity, and foster a sense of ownership among citizens toward development initiatives,' he emphasized.
Calling the civil service officers as the backbone of the state's governance, Khandu said their performance reflects not just their individual capabilities but also the credibility of the political leadership and the effectiveness of the government.
He urged officers to act as role models for the youth. 'You are living proof that excellence and integrity can walk hand in hand. Use your position to mentor, inspire, and lead by example,' he said.
Reaffirming the government's commitment to empower the civil services, the Chief Minister assured continued support in terms of resources, training, and autonomy to enhance officers' morale and capacity. He mentioned initiatives like assured career progression and regular capacity-building training programs, including a four-month course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.
The Chief Minister also lauded the officers for their contributions to Arunachal's achievements in e-governance. He stated that Arunachal Pradesh may be the only state in the country to have achieved 100% implementation of e-Office across the Civil Secretariat, all district headquarters, and directorates.
'Our e-Vidhan, e-Cabinet and e-File platforms are success stories which are being talked about nationally,' he remarked.
Encouraging greater engagement, the Chief Minister called upon the APCS officers to be proactive members of 'Team Arunachal' by sharing feedback and suggestions to help shape effective policies.
'We politicians will frame policies, but it's you who implement them on the ground. You are best positioned to advise where our focus should be,' he added.
Khandu concluded by advising officers not to sit pondering over challenges at the ground but to immediately start looking for solutions.
The inaugural session of the one-day conference was also attended by Deputy CM Chowna Mein, Chief Secretary Manish Gupta, and Advisor to the All India State Civil/Administrative Service Association, Shivdular Dhillon.
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