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Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and former IPS officer, on Monday reflected on the legacy of the bureaucratic system in the country. He said that the Indian Civil Service (ICS) was established to serve the interests of the Britishers and their colonial rule in India. He stated that the civil service has undergone significant evolution since independence.
"The British established the Indian Civil Service (ICS) to govern and control their Indian territories, with the primary goal of maintaining their colonial rule," Lalpura said on the occasion of Civil Service Day. Having said this, Lalpura asserted that the civil service has evolved significantly since Independence. He said that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru "envisioned dismantling the colonial administrative structure and building a new system that would serve the needs of Independent India". "The reality is that their rule was designed to serve their own interests, not the welfare of the Indian people. Fast-forward to independent India, our civil service has evolved significantly. Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, had initially envisioned a different role for the bureaucracy," he said. Advocating for a change in approach, the former IPS official stated that bureaucrats in the country need to be people-friendly and dedicated to the country's development, as they play a crucial role in implementing policies and ensuring effective governance. "Allegations of corruption and criminal charges against some bureaucrats are undermining their reputation. This highlights the need for a change in approach. As an independent nation, our bureaucracy needs to be people-friendly and dedicated to the development of the country," Lalpura added. He further suggested that there was a need for merit-based selection to attract the best talent to serve the nation, as well as to facilitate digital transformation, which would improve transparency and citizen engagement. "By leveraging technology, we can improve service delivery, transparency, and citizen engagement. By ensuring merit-based selection, we can attract the best talent to serve the nation. Our goal is clear: to make India a beacon of hope and progress for the world," Lalpura said. Acknowledging that civil servants remain the backbone of the nation, the former IPS officer emphasised the role of bureaucracy in nation-building, stating that empowering bureaucracy can lead to achieving the vision of a progressive India. "The role of bureaucracy in nation-building cannot be overstated. Our civil servants are the backbone of our governance system, and their contributions are essential to achieving our national goals. Let's work together to empower them to drive growth, innovation, and progress. By empowering our bureaucracy and leveraging its strengths, we can achieve our vision of a prosperous, innovative, and progressive India," Lalpura said. (ANI)
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