To achieve holistic development goal, a civil servant acts as an enabler and active facilitator of growth rather than a regulator. What specific measures will you suggest to achieve this goal?

Q.5(b): To achieve holistic development goal, a civil servant acts as an enabler and active facilitator of growth rather than a regulator. What specific measures will you suggest to achieve this goal? (Answer in 150 words) – 10 marks

Civil servants form the backbone of governance, entrusted with the dual responsibility of ensuring rule-based order while also driving inclusive development. In the 21st century, their role is evolving from being mere regulators enforcing compliance, to becoming enablers and facilitators of holistic growth. 

Civil servants acting merely as regulators:

When civil servants confine themselves to a rule-bound, compliance-oriented, and control-driven approach, they risk undermining innovation and inclusivity.

• Bureaucratic red tape: Excessive focus on procedures over outcomes breeds inefficiency.
• Command and control attitude: Treating citizens as subjects rather than stakeholders erodes responsiveness and empathy.
  • E.g.: Delays in service delivery, rigid licensing systems, and corruption scandals highlight cases where officers act only as regulators, obstructing holistic growth.

Civil servant acts as an enabler of growth: 

• Policy implementation with empathy: By delivering welfare schemes with integrity, efficiency, and compassion, they enable inclusive development.
  • E.g.: Armstrong Pame (IAS, “Miracle Man of Manipur”) mobilised resources and people to build a 100-km road in Tamenglong district, enabling connectivity in a remote area.
• Promoting equity and social justice: Ensuring rights-based entitlements like food security, education, and healthcare.
  • E.g.: IAS officer Smita Sabharwal, known as the “People’s Officer,” enabled citizen-centric governance by introducing grievance redressal systems in Telangana.
• Building institutional capacity: Training local institutions, empowering panchayats, and strengthening self-help groups reflect capacity building and subsidiarity.
  • E.g.: IAS officer Ritu Maheshwari in Noida promoted digitalisation for service delivery, enabling efficiency and transparency.

Civil servant acts as a facilitator of growth: 

• Catalysing Public–Private Partnerships (PPP): By fostering partnerships, they facilitate investment, innovation, and service delivery.
  • E.g.: Dr. Rajendra Bharud (IAS), from a tribal background, facilitated healthcare and education reforms in Nandurbar (Maharashtra) by engaging NGOs and private players.
• Encouraging participatory governance: Acting as bridge-builders between government and citizens.
  • E.g.: Durga Shakti Nagpal (IAS) facilitated people’s participation in curbing illegal sand mining through awareness and enforcement.
• Facilitating sustainable development: By integrating ethical stewardship, environmental ethics, and long-term vision into planning.
  • E.g.: Shanmuga Priya (IAS) in Tamil Nadu facilitated eco-restoration of water bodies, improving both environment and livelihoods.

Measures need be taken to achieve the goal: 

• • Ethical leadership and role-modeling: Senior officers must lead by example in integrity, compassion, and fairness, setting the tone for the entire organisation..
  • Collaborative governance approach: Civil servants should act as bridges between government, NGOs, and citizens, ensuring inclusiveness and trust-building.
    • E.g.: Kerala’s Kudumbashree initiative, where bureaucrats facilitated women SHGs in poverty eradication.

• Ethics in policy implementation: Policies should be executed with justice, empathy, and equity, ensuring benefits reach the weakest first.

• Adaptive & innovative administration: Encourage experimentation, creativity, and local innovations in problem-solving. 
• Community empowerment & ownership: Promote citizen participation and empowerment so people become partners, not just beneficiaries.
  • E.g.: Anna Hazare-led Ralegan Siddhi water conservation initiative was supported by proactive administrators.

Therefore, transformation is indispensable for realising the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, where governance is not merely about compliance but about empowering every citizen to participate in nation-building.

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