Don't grudge scrutiny by public, media: Govt to officials

Government officials should not grudge the increased scrutiny by the public as well as the media and learn instead to adapt to it as transparency and accountability are prime areas of emphasis for the present NDA dispensation, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said here today.
Addressing a delegation of officers belonging to Central Secretariat Service (CSS), Singh, a Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, said it was the resolve of the BJP-led government to make governance easy and, at the same time, ensure a work-friendly environment for the officers.
The CSS officers had called on the minister to thank him for the speedy disposal of their promotion cases leading to the empanelment of as many 37 officers in one go to the post of joint secretary.

"The government is in favour of doing away with avoidable delays in promotions and empanelments so that the officers can work with enthusiasm and a positive frame of mind," he said.
Singh, who is also the Minister of State for Personnel, said that with the passage of time, the pressure on officers has increased because of the increased expectations on one hand and increased scrutiny by the public and the media on the other.
"But instead of grudging this changing scenario, we would have to learn to adapt to it and do our best because transparency and accountability are prime areas of emphasis of the Narendra Modi government," he said.

Singh said the DoPT will also contemplate various steps to improve the facilities and privileges available to IAS officers coming on deputation to the national capital so that they do not find themselves at a disadvantage on account of issues related to transportation facility, admission of their children in schools, etc.
"In order to deal with the stress of the officers, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has of late started a number of new measures, including regular daily 'Yoga' for officers across the country from April 1," he said.