Driving Progress Through Efficient Public Administration Delivery
Rakesh Kumar Pal
The annals of world history vividly illustrate that civilisations reaching their pinnacle did so by recognising and embracing the principles of good governance which ultimately led to the establishment of welfare states as perceived by Gandhiji, King Vikramaditya and Ashoka's empires and several others that merit mention. The rulers of these kingdoms implemented governance models carefully crafted to prioritise the well-being of their subjects, aiming to approach the ideal of a utopian society. In return, these rulers garnered the unwavering trust and confidence of their subjects, who bestowed upon them a steadfast faith in their leadership.
Gandhiji often emphasised that the real India resided in its villages. By this, he meant that the basic village dwellings served as the cradle of democracy and their humble inhabitants were the torch-bearers of the core principles of democracy. Gandhiji recognised that democracy was deeply rooted in these simple communities, given India's historical commitment to egalitarianism. So when the country became independent, these villages were bestowed with Panchayati Raj that could be considered as the precursor to the vibrant and humming democracy of the country.
Administrative Reforms Commissions
Administrative Reforms Commissions (ARCs) have played a significant role in improving the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of administrative systems within governments. Till now, two ARCs have come for examining the public administrative system of the country and to make recommendations for reform. The first ARC was established on January 5, 1966, and the second on August 31, 2005. The First ARC was chaired by Shri Morarji Desai, and after he relinquished the charge, Shri Hanumanthaiya took it over, and the second was chaired by Shri Veerappa Moily. The ARCs are mandated to ensure high standards of efficiency and integrity in public services, and to make public administration responsive to the people. ARC reports are revered among the IAS fraternity like a bible whose recommendations need to be imbibed by all the civil servants to overcome tricky administrative issues.
In line with tradition, the Government of India, recognising the nation's penchant for effective governance, introduced the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration. These prestigious accolades honour outstanding contributions and achievements in public administration, aiming to inspire innovative practices that enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness of the country's governance systems. Established in 2006, these awards boast of a distinguished legacy, rooted in the overarching objective of promoting the welfare of the populace. They commend remarkable initiatives and projects undertaken by civil servants and organisations across all tiers of government, spanning central, state, and local administrations. Encompassing a diverse array of categories from administrative innovation to transparency and accountability-they serve as a beacon for fostering citizen-centric governance.
Genesis of the Awards
"Civil Service" word dates back to the British time when the British East India Company civilian staffs were involved in administrative jobs and were known as 'Public Servants'. Its foundation was laid by Governer General Lord Warren Hastings and later more reforms were introduced by Governer General Lord Cornwallis who was given the epithet of "Father of Civil Services in India". Lord Cornwallis introduced two divisions of the Indian Civil Service covenanted and un-covenanted. The covenanted civil service consisted of only Europeans (i.e., British personnel) occupying the higher posts in the government. The uncovenanted civil service was solely introduced to facilitate the entry of Indians at the lower rungs of the administration.
After a long drawn battle, the country became free, but with it came gigantic administrative challenges that a new born nation has to face. Sensing this precarious situation, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel rose to the occasion and guided the first batch of probationers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1947 at Metcalfe House, New Delhi with these words "You are the pioneers in the Indian Service, and the future of this Service will depend much upon the foundation and traditions that will be laid down by you, by your character and abilities and by your spirit of service." He added: "The days of the Indian Civil Service of the old style are going to be over and in its place we have brought into being the All-India Administrative Service. The change is both significant and epoch-making. In the first place, it is an unmistakable symptom of the transfer of power which is taking place from foreign to Indian hands. Secondly, it marks the inauguration of the All India Service officers entirely by Indians and subject completely to Indian control. Thirdly, the Service will now be free to or will have to adopt its true role of national service without being trammeled by traditions and habits of the past…"
To commemorate this day when the then Home Minister, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel addressed the ICS probationers on 21st April 1947, 21st April is celebrated as the Civil Services Day as an occasion for the civil servants to rededicate them-selves to the cause of the citizens and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work. A department under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, namely, ‘Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances’ (DARPG) has been entrusted with the work of commemorating this historic day on 21st April of every year.
Awards Criteria
As part of Civil Services Day, Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration are presented to Districts/Implementing Units for implementation of priority programmes and innovation cate-gories. Earlier, individual civil servants were conferred with the PM Awards but now the best performing districts are awarded. With participation from a large number of Districts across the country in the Awards scheme, the scale of the entire process is very large. The Civil Services Day provides an opportunity to the budding civil servants to connect with each other and learn the good practices being implemented across the nation. This recognition is eagerly awaited by all the public administrators to celebrate outcomes of work done in the entire year.
Each year, a rigorous selection process is undertaken to identify deserving recipients of the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration. Nomi-nations are invited from central, state, and local governments, and a panel of experts evaluates the nominations based on pre-defined criteria such as innovation, impact, scalability, sustainability, and replicability.
The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and dissemination of best practices. Award-winning initiatives are often documented and disseminated widely to inspire and guide other government agencies and stakeholders in adapting similar approaches to address governance challenges.
To maintain its efficacy, the awards scheme is revamped periodically. In 2021, the Scheme was revamped with a new approach with the objective to encourage constructive com-petition, innovation, replication and institutionalisation of best practices. Under this approach, emphasis is on good governance, qualitative achievement and last mile delivery, rather than only on achievement of quantitative targets.
Utility of the Awards
The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration play a vital role in nurturing a culture of excellence and innovation within the Indian bureaucracy. By acknowledging and honouring exceptional individuals and organisations in the public sector, these awards act as a catalyst for fostering positive change and enhancing governance, service delivery, and citizen engagement. Some may question why civil servants, who are already among the highest-paid government employees, require such awards. However, it can be argued that even the most senior bureau-crats are human beings who, like everyone else, require motivation to excel in their roles. What could be more encouraging than receiving recognition directly from the Prime Minister for outstanding contributions to bureaucracy?
The PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration include a trophy, scroll, and a Rs. 20 lakh incentive for the recipient District/Organisation to be used for implementing projects or programmes or addressing resource gaps in any area of public welfare. Additionally, a letter of appreciation is issued by the Secretary, DARPG to officers who contributed to the initiative, with copies sent to the Secretary of the relevant Central Ministry/ Department/Chief Secretary of the concerned State/UT. Another copy of the letter is forwarded to DOPT for inclusion in the officer's Performance Appraisal Dossier.
Conclusion:
The esteemed IAS cadre under the Civil Services bears a significant responsibility towards the citizens of our nation. Prior to independence, the Indian populace has endured malad-ministration due to both internal disorder and foreign governance. Consequently, there is a profound expectation among the people that these administrators will address their pressing issues and contribute substantially to their betterment. Recognising the necessity for change, the leaders of our independence era swiftly understood the imperative to revamp the existing Indian Civil Service (ICS) to garner the trust and support of the populace. Given that the ICS carried the remnants of British influence, lacking in indigenous character and a genuine sense of service, Sardar Patel initiated a comprehensive overhaul. Introducing the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), he ensured indigenous control for the first time. To maintain the morale of these IAS officers, it is essential to foster an environment that encourages excellence and duly rewards exceptional performance.
(The author is Asst. Library & Information Officer at Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grivances. Feedback on this article can be sent to feedback.employmentnews@gmail.com.)
Views expressed are personal.