Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio who inaugurated the function said that, these days there is a general concern everywhere for upgrading and updating the knowledge and skills of the bureaucracy, so as to enable them to keep pace with the changing needs of the society, and keep them abreast of the increasing application of the computers and the use of latest technology in administration. The CM said that people looked up to DCs and SPs as the representatives of the Govt in the districts, and often felt that they have answers to all their problems. He also added that they should know not only how to run their own offices, but also know how to deal with the people and their expectations within the limited resources at their disposal. He further said that it is necessary that they were armed, not only with the knowledge of rules, procedures and methodology, but also with appropriate ethics as moral values, so that they lead by example and be the role model for the people.

DCs and SPs who occupy the most vital public administration posts should posses the most impor tant qualities or ethics, he said. Rio also said that he has been worrying about the gradual decline in the regard or respect the people have towards Govt authorities. He felt that some of the DCs and SPs behave too much like diplomats, trying to arrive at consensus or compromises at any cost, instead of boldly exercising the powers vested on them. Rio also asked the DCs and SPs to change their value system and attitude towards public service, and to mould themselves into a better and more sensitive public servant. Mentioning that the hall where the programme is being held has been aptly named "Imagine Nagaland Hall" he said that this hall was first used by us for a massive exercise, involving wide strata of our society, to imagine and fantasize the Nagaland of our dreams. The exercise had resulted in an array of bold and exciting new ideas, which have been duly documented for use by planners and policy makers, he added. The resource persons of the seminar were MP from Karnataka, HTS Sangliana, PN Bhandari, and Tripathi.

Source: The Sangai Express