New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that country’s constitutional ideals of social, economic and political justice, and equality of status and of opportunity are most pertinent to the functioning of the Public Service Commissions.
She said that the Public Service Commissions should not only be guided by the ideal of equality of opportunity, but also try to achieve the goal of equality of outcomes.
The Commissions are change-agents which promote equality and equity, President Murmu said. She was speaking after inaugurating the National Conference for the Chairpersons of Public Service Commissions, being organised by the Telangana Public Service Commission, at Hyderabad, Telangana.
She said that the preamble of the constitution guarantees the Fundamental Right of equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and the Directive Principles guide the state to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the people. These guideing principles are pathways for the Public Service Commissions.
The President said that impartiality, continuity and stability are imparted to the process of governance by what is called the ‘permanent executive’ or the body of public servants selected by the Public Service Commissions.
Integrity, sensitivity and competence of the civil servants are of utmost importance for implementing the people-oriented policies at national and state levels, she said.
According to Murmu, the service commissions should give highest priority to the aspect of honesty and integrity of the candidates they recruit, as these are paramount, as well as non-negotiable.
She underlined that lack of skills and competencies can be dealt with through learning interventions and several other strategies, but lack of integrity may cause grave challenges which may be impossible to overcome.
Murmu said that young individuals seeking employment as civil servants should have the inclination to work for the marginalised and the vulnerable, adding that servants should be particularly sensitive to the needs and aspirations of women, while gender-sensitisation should be given high priority by the commissions.
The President said that India, as the world’s fastest growing major economy, and also a nation marked by enormous diversity, needs most effective governance systems across all levels.
PSCs are change agents and should promote equity in opportunities: Prez
