Keep integrity, innovation, India in your heart: President to probationers

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday congratulated the probationers of the Indian Ordnance Factories Service and Indian Telecom Service for their selection, with a message to keep thoughts and actions of integrity, innovation and India in their heart.

Mukherjee was addressing the group of probationers at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The President said it gave him pleasure that they (the probationers) have by choice decided to opt for a career as public servants dedicated to serve the cause of India and its people.

Mukherjee said he has a message for them that should guide their thoughts and actions in the years to come.

"More than anything else, 3 Is -- Integrity, Innovation and India -- should be at the heart of their (probationers) thoughts and actions. It will be extremely important for them to have integrity of purpose, innovation in action and the interests of India at heart in every task that they undertake and every responsibility that they are called upon to fulfil," the President said.

The President said the Indian Ordnance Factories Service as well as the Indian Telecom Service deal with technology and manufacturing in the public sector.

"In serving the requirements of national security and communication needs of the country, both these services cater to elements of vital national interest."

He stated that ordnance factories are playing a significant role in contribution to national security.

"Modernisation and technological up-gradation are continuously required and in this area innovation is important. Their endeavour should be to address the requirement of our armed forces, para military forces and fulfil the same," the President said.

He said the probationers should remember that on their product depends a precious life.

"They should give in the hands of a soldier such trustworthy equipment which makes addition to his bravery and valour," he said.

The President said that young officers of the Telecom Service as civil servants should work for the people of India and use the information and communication technology to improve and widen the service delivery mechanism for them.

--IANS

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