Srinagar, Sep 15 (KNO): Stressing that an individual officer can change the system instead of waiting for the system to change first, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday urged 55 newly appointed civil servants to use the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) CM Omar distributed appointment orders to 55 newly selected candidates of the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), comprising 28 Junior Scale officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) and 27 Accounts Officers of the J&K Accounts (Gazetted) Service, at a function held at SKICC Srinagar.
“You have got a chance which very few people get. Take advantage of that stability and assurance and think about how you would like to see Jammu and Kashmir at the end of your service,” the Chief Minister said.
CM Omar congratulated the officers and their parents and families, acknowledging the effort, perseverance and sacrifices that had gone into their selection.
He said some candidates may have succeeded in their first attempt while others may have reached the stage after their second or third attempt, but all had ultimately completed a difficult journey involving examinations, interviews, personality tests and background checks.
“No one has ever done you a favour. None of us has ever done you a favour. You have to thank God first, then your parents and your family who gave you the courage and the strength to go on this journey,” he said.
He cautioned the officers that receiving appointment orders should not be considered the destination of their journey.
“If your aim is only to reach here, then you may have come to the wrong place. This is not the destination of your journey. This is a new beginning of your journey,” he said.
He said the officers may have covered only around 10, 15 or 20 per cent of their professional journey and that the bigger question was how they would be remembered when they eventually completed their service.
“Now you have to decide how people will remember you when you complete this journey. And only you can decide that,” CM Omar said.
He acknowledged that parents, families, teachers and coaching centres may have helped candidates reach the stage, but said no one could decide what legacy the officers would leave behind through their own conduct and work.
‘CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED’
The Chief Minister said public servants are generally remembered for either their competence, honesty and hard work or for dishonesty and corruption.
“We remember two types of officers. One type is those who are very capable, honest, hard-working, who have done a lot for the country. When we take their name, we get respect,” he said.
He added that dishonest and corrupt officers were also remembered, but not with the same respect. “The truth is that we remember those officers who are extremely unworthy, dishonest, corrupt. We remember their names too. But when we take their names, we don't do it with respect,” Omar said.
He further told the officers that it is now their decision whether they wanted to be remembered with respect at the end of their careers.
The Chief Minister said that many of the newly appointed officers could serve for the next 25 to 30 years or more, and urged them to think about what they would want to say about their careers when they reached the age of 80 or 90.
He expressed hope that the passion, enthusiasm and courage he saw among them would ensure they did not disappoint their parents, families, themselves or the people they were going to serve.
‘EVEN ONE OFFICER CAN SHAKE THE SYSTEM’
The Chief Minister Omar urged the officers not to adopt the attitude that they could do little unless the entire administrative system supported them.
“Don’t tell yourself, what can I do until the system works with me. You can make the system, if you want to make it,” he said.
He cited the example of Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, saying that despite being posted far from Jammu and Kashmir, Mundhe had become widely recognised for his work.
He said Mundhe did not allow concerns about postings or transfers to stop him from taking decisions and acting on issues.
He recalled an instance involving the Bombay High Court, saying that after a hearing in which the Food and Drug Administration was told that it could not “pick and choose” and had to treat everyone equally, Mundhe sent an officer to inspect the kitchen of the High Court canteen. “He said, we have to treat everyone equally. So let’s go to the High Court and see,” Omar said.
He also invoked the example of former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, saying Seshan did not allow the fact that he was an individual officer to prevent him from transforming the functioning of the Election Commission.
Omar said the examples showed that officers need not wait for the entire system to work in their favour before attempting to bring change.
‘THERE IS A STORY BEHIND EVERY FILE’
The Chief Minister said the newly appointed officers would soon have files before them as part of their official responsibilities. “Files will come in front of you. Earlier, they were paper files. Now, they will come on the computer,” he said.
But he asked them to remember that administrative files represent real people and real problems. “There is a story behind every file. There is a compulsion behind every application. There is a reason behind every complaint,” Omar said.
He acknowledged that every complaint or grievance may not necessarily be justified, but said there is still a reason behind every grievance that officers should try to understand. “It is up to you. You will like to hear or read that story. You will try to solve that problem,” he said.
Omar urged the officers to develop sensitivity towards people approaching the administration and to look beyond the paperwork to understand the circumstances behind applications and complaints.
‘DON’T KEEP POSTINGS AND PROMOTIONS IN MIND’
The Chief Minister asked the officers not to make postings, promotions or the possibility of becoming IAS officers the central focus of their careers. “You will get postings. You will get promotions. Many of you will become IAS officers. Don't keep that in mind. Just think that you have got a chance, which very few people get,” he said.
He noted that thousands of candidates enter the competitive examination process, with candidates dropping out at every stage, while only a small number eventually reach the civil services. “And you are here,” CM Omar said.
He asked them to use the stability and assurance of government service to think about the long-term development of Jammu and Kashmir.
EDUCATION, CITIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE AMONG KEY CHALLENGES
CM Omar asked the new officers to think about what kind of Jammu and Kashmir they wanted to see by the end of their service.
He said they did not have to possess an answer to every problem but could identify areas where they could contribute.
“How can the education system of Jammu and Kashmir be improved? How can children be retained in education? How can the cleanliness and beauty of cities be improved? How can the effects of climate change be reversed?” he asked.
He said these were among the major challenges that would require sustained administrative attention.
The Chief Minister also cautioned the officers that the challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir could change considerably over the next 10 to 20 years.
He said that if a similar programme had been held around a decade ago, Artificial Intelligence would probably not have been discussed as a major challenge or opportunity for governance. “We wouldn’t have even mentioned Artificial Intelligence. We never thought that Artificial Intelligence would be in this state,” Omar said. “Today, in today’s world, we don’t even know what problems we will be facing after 10 years,” he added.
He nevertheless urged the officers to focus on improving the problems confronting society today while remaining prepared for new challenges.
‘YOU WILL BE HERE WHEN WE ARE GONE’
CM Omar told the officers that political and administrative leadership would change over time, but the newly appointed civil servants would remain part of the government system for decades. “And you are here. We are here. We won’t be here tomorrow. But you will be here,” he said.
He asked them to make use of that continuity and stability to contribute to the long-term development of Jammu and Kashmir.
ASSURES OFFICERS OF SUPPORT
The Chief Minister assured the newly appointed officers that the government would extend support to them as they begin time their professional careers. “I hope that all of you who have joined this family today can take advantage of this opportunity and help Jammu and Kashmir reach the heights that we all desire,” he said.
“As long as I am here, as long as my colleagues are here, I will do my best to help you reach the heights that you all desire,” CM Omar added.
He said he would continue to follow their careers over the next 20 to 30 years, describing the newly appointed officers as his “first batch”.
“I have accepted all of you. Let's say that you are my first batch,” he said, expressing hope that they would continue to meet at different stages of their professional journeys.
The Chief Minister congratulated the officers once again and wished them success, saying he hoped God would make their path easier.
He urged them to have the courage and strength to distinguish between right and wrong and to choose the right path even when doing so was difficult.
“Take the right path. Make the right decision. And serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Chief Minister said.
Pertinently, Ministers Javid Ahmed Dar and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, M Raju, senior officers, newly appointed officers and their parents were present on the occasion—(KNO)