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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has asked the District Collectors to make the forthcoming ‘Bharat Nirman’ project of Government of India a success. Addressing the National Conference of District Collectors in New Delhi today, Dr. Singh said that the Collectors are the critical agents for ensuring the new deal promised to rural India genuinely transforms the lives of millions of people. He said that the Employment Guarantee Bill that is likely to be passed by the Parliament in the next session will add to the responsibilities of District Collectors as they will be the key officers for implementing this ambitious programme.
Dr. Singh told the 264 assembled District Collectors that in a poor country like ours, the behaviour and conduct of key decision-makers has a multiplier effect. The character, ability and steadfastness towards the ideals of the constitution are the resources that District Collectors will have to rely on, to make the vision of developing our country a reality.
The Prime Minister said that the Collectors have become agents of change, of Good Governance and of development administration. They need to work with the people and the local Panchayati Raj bodies to ensure the development of the weakest sections. He asked them to promote innovation, improve service delivery and enhance public-private partnerships.
The Prime Minister told the Collectors that a security of tenure at the district level demanded by many of them is a valid and just demand. He said security of tenure is essential for fixing accountability and assured them to take the matter to the National Development Council. He announced setting up of an Innovation Fund to promote innovation in governance at grassroot level and also consider setting up a national award for outstanding public service.
At the end of the second day of the National Conference of District Collectors, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Shri Suresh Pachouri said that with the initiative of the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, five regional workshops of District Collectors were organised which resulted in the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. He hailed Dr. Manmohan Singh for reviving this tradition. He said that Dr. Singh’s ideal of reformed civil service and administration will bring about deep and abiding changes in the administrative system.
The ‘Model Code of Governance’ drawn up by a Committee of Secretaries was presented to the Prime Minister at the Conference. A Digital Repository and portal for District Magistrates was launched by the Prime Minister and a DVD containing 73 reports on Administrative Reforms since 1812 was also released by the Prime Minister on the occasion.
AD/SK
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