Use your work as opportunity to transform governance: PM to IAS officers

PM Modi was interacting with over 80 additional secretaries and joint secretaries serving in the government.

“Don’t restrict yourself to files but go to the field to understand the true impact of decision making.”

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to cast his vote for the country's next President at the Parliament House in New Delhi, India, July 17. (REUTERS)

This was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advice to a group of senior IAS officers who met him on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a release on Friday.

Modi interacted with over 80 additional secretaries and joint secretaries serving in the government. This was the second of five such interactions.

The prime minister said officers should not look on their work as just a duty, but an opportunity to make a positive transformation for governance in the country, the release said.

Modi urged them to use technology interventions to simplify governance processes.

He asked the officers to focus their attention on 100 most backward districts of India, so that they can be brought up to the national average level on various development parameters the release said.

“Responding to observations made by the officers, the prime minister emphasised that officers must not restrict themselves to files, but go to the field, to understand the true impact of decision-making,” it said.

During the interaction, the officers shared their experiences on subjects such as performance based administration, innovation in governance, waste management, river and environment pollution, forestry, sanitation, climate change, value addition in agriculture, education and skill development.