‘Bureaucrats should be role models of good governance; change the image of Babu log’

Narendra Modi government on Monday initiated steps to reorient the work culture of bureaucrats with ministers asking officials to address people’s concerns in a polite, decent and caring manner and be the role models of good governance.

“All of us will have to look at ourselves as truly public servants in our effort to change the image of the government, change the image of Babu log as people call us,” Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goel told the officers of the three Ministries.

He was addressing a conclave Sampark, Samanvya evam Samvad (Connect, Coordinate and Communicate) being organised for the officers of Ministries of Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy.

Mr. Goel asked the officers to “give people confidence that we are responsive to their needs, we are concerned about their problems and we will act judiciously, in a transparent manner.”

He said that the concerns of the people should be addressed “in a polite, decent and very caring fashion” so that people start looking up at “you as a role model of good governance“.

“I would request you to look at this proceedings with a bit seriousness,” he told the officers, who were given the copies of My Autobiography — the second autobiography of Alex Ferguson, a former Scottish football manager and player who successfully managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013.

“I am getting so many phone calls telling me that three departments alone can add between one-and-a-half to two per cent to the economic growth....We do not have the luxury of time. Result should be evident within this year,” Mr. Goel said.

Addressing the officials, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who was the chief guest at the conclave, said the BJP-led NDA government is for poor and bureaucrats should serve them with compassion.

“We are for poor. They are the new-aspiration class. They have given us mandate and we have to serve them.

“...Compassion and feeling for the people, oneness with the people, duties for the people...That is I think that has to be the base of every officer,” Mr. Javadekar said.

Author Chetan Bhagat was roped in by the Government to gave the bureaucrats a pep talk.