Urging Government officials "to take Reform, Perform, Transform to the next level", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked them not to lose sight of the goal of the 21st century - 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Modern India'. Addressing the Valedictory Function of the 96th Common Foundation Course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) via video conferencing, the Prime Minister underlined the emerging new world order in the post-pandemic world.
He said the world is looking towards India at this juncture of 21st century. “In this new world order, India has to increase its role and develop itself at a fast pace”, he said. He asked the officers to keep in mind the importance of this period with special focus on the ‘biggest goal of the 21st century’ i.e. the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Modern India. “We can’t afford to lose this opportunity,” he said. He also inaugurated the new sports complex and dedicated revamped Happy Valley Complex to the nation. Modi greeted the officers on completing their course and conveyed his wishes on the joyous occasion of Holi. He noted the uniqueness of the outgoing batch as this batch is entering the active service in the year of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. “Your batch will play a key role in the nation’s development in the Amrit Kaal of the next 25 year,” he added.
Referring to the views of Sardar Patel on civil services, the Prime Minister said that sense of service and duty has been the integral part of the training. “In all your years of service, these factors of service and duty should be the measure of your personal and professional success”, he added.
He said work is never a burden when done with a sense of duty and purpose. He told the officers that they have come to the service with a sense of purpose and to be a part of a positive change in the context of the society and the country.
The PM emphasised the need to embrace the experience from the field as real feel of the issues of the file come from the field. Significantly, he said that files do not contain just the numbers and statistics but they contain life and aspirations of the people. “You do not have to work for numbers but for the lives of the people”, he said.
He said that in this period of 'Amrit Kaal', we have to take Reform, Perform, Transform to the next level. That is why today’s India is moving ahead with the spirit of ‘Sabka Prayas’.
He 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. The Prime Minister gave the officers task of identifying 5-6 challenges of their districts at local level and work for those issues. He said identification of the challenges is the first step in the rectification of the challenges.