Jammu, January 23 (Scoop News) – The 4-months foundation course for Junior Scale KAS probationers’ 2010 batch started here at the new IMPA complex today. Chief Secretary Madhav Lal presided over the function. Director General IMPA R.K Jeerath and course coordinator Ms. Indu Aima besides other faculty members were also present to welcome the new batch of civil servants.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary said that the new IMPA complex at Sidhra will provide an enabling environment for the new batch and will certainly have a positive impact in shaping their service career ahead.
Madhav Lal called upon the probationers to make optimum use of the training programme to get familiarized with the purpose and functioning of the government. He exhorted probationers to learn and equip themselves with various rules and regulations that govern civil services and get conversant with matters related to planning and development, accounts and finances, Legal framework and host of allied issues during the foundation course.
“With the enactment of Public Service Guarantee Act and Right to Information Act in the state, the accountability of a civil servant has become explicit and his responsibilities clear” he said adding that probationers should try to familiarise themselves with all the facets of good governance.
“You have to also deal and work together with the new grass root institutions that have now been established in the state and you are to act as an interface between the elected representatives and the public” Lal said adding that as future decision makers you need to equip yourself with requisite knowledge and administrative skills to handle various assignments.
“During the course of your job you will also have to provide and share various professional inputs with both the elected representatives’ as-well as with your senior officers, hence you also need to develop a professional attitude towards your work” he said.
During his speech, Chief Secretary asked the probationers to reflect and ponder about the public perception regarding corruption in administration and why it has developed and how they can contribute and be instrumental towards removing that perception from the general masses during their service careers.
Director General IMPA R.K Jeerath while welcoming the probationers said that public administration and role of civil servants as perceived during the British period has changed radically especially recently with new developments and initiatives that have been taken to ensure accountability and transparency in all the spheres of public administration. This has led to a change of perception especially among officers who now consider themselves as public servants, he added.
The four month foundation course which started today will culminate on 23rd of May 2012.