True public servant – uttamhindu.com

Addressing the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) contingent that had come to Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Draupadi Murmu said that only those public servants whose hearts beat for the poor and the deprived are true public servants. The President said that upliftment of the marginalized sections of the society should be his top priority. Murmu said, ‘You should try to understand the relationship between ‘file to field’ and ‘field to file’. With this people-centric vigilance and sensitivity, you will be able to connect with the files in a more meaningful way. The President told officials to ‘always think about the people who will be affected by the files you are working on.’ These officers are currently posted as Assistant Secretaries in various Central Ministries and Departments. He said, I have closely seen the difficulties and problems of the deprived class people living in backward areas. I have also seen some sensitive public servants who made extra efforts to help such people. The President said that a compassionate public servant is one whose heart beats for the poor and the downtrodden and this is what makes him different from a mere career bureaucrat. He said that an inclusive, progressive and sensitive society gives more space to women in all spheres of life. Murmu said, the country is on the path of women empowerment and women-led development. I am very happy that the historic ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Act’ has been passed by both the Houses of Parliament. Women are breaking the walls of conservatism. They are playing an increasingly larger role in all aspects of growth and development.

President Draupadi Murmu’s statement that a true public servant is one whose heart beats for the poor and the downtrodden is a truth that cannot be turned away from, but the other side of the picture is that there is a small section of public servants like this. Who believes in keeping distance from the common people. Such class has less sympathy towards Dalits and the poor, they talk to them only to fulfill a responsibility. The President’s advice to the officers that you need to support the link between ‘file to field’ and ‘field to file’ is very important. When a senior official listens to a poor or distressed person with patience and sympathy, half of his suffering goes away at that very moment. If an officer hurts the sentiments of a poor person, his pain becomes greater than before.

In a democracy, the ultimate power is in the hands of the common people, but some officials use that power against the common people. Due to which democracy weakens, the dream of an independent India that the poor had dreamed of is also broken. As a result, resentment towards the system also increases in the society.

The success of democracy lies in respecting the sentiments of the common people and moving forward by solving their problems. The officer who has positive feelings for the poor and Dalits in this spirit is a true public servant. This is the message President Draupadi Murmu (IAS) is giving to the officers. If the higher officials act by understanding the advice given by the President and the sentiment behind it, then not only will the poor and Dalits of the society get relief, but the confidence of the common people in the system will also increase. The dream of Swaraj seen by our freedom fighters will also come true.