Govt employees as good as those in private sector: Prabhu

Emphasising on rewarding performers to improve performance, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today said government employees do not lack talent and they are as good as those working in the private sector.
Addressing a large number of civil servants in a function here, he said there is a need to create a system where people will perform with all their ability.
"I do not think that getting people from outside or from private sector will solve all our problems. Also I am not convinced that government lacks any talent. What I am convinced about is the commitment of the people to work despite biggest challenges.

"It is not the private or public sector which is the solution. The solution lies in creating the organisation with the good people and at the same time working with the system. The systems are very important. Therefore we need to look at the system as a whole so that people will have the ability to perform well," Prabhu said inaugurating 10th civil services day here.
He said there is a need to identify performers and suitably reward them. "How do you get the best of talents available within the country in the system? That is something we need to think about. How do you reward a good performer. Today there is nothing like rewarding a performer.

"You have to think of a system where a good performer is properly identified. They get properly rewarded. They are properly promoted and those who are not doing good they need not be thrown out but how to actually make them doable that is the challenge," he said during the function being attended by senior officials of central government ministries and state governments.

Prabhu said people in the government are as good or as better as those working outside the government. "The challenge is how to use that huge human capital and how to harness it at the time when challenges are mounting," the Minister said.

"We need to develop a system where our delivery is better or at least at par with citizen expectations. Need to build systems and teams that can address today's challenges and future needs as well," Prabhu said.
He said no one can deny that the country has not done progress. "No one can say that nothing has been done in the country. We have done progress and we should be proud of that," Prabhu said.
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The Railway Minister pointed out that whatever is being done today is much better than in the past but it is still not sufficient as there is a need to strive further to meet people's aspirations completely.

He said the Indian economy has great potential to grow at 8 to 9 per cent which will propel India to be the second largest economy in the world.
Prabhu pointed out that the country has the capacity and capability to measure up to this task and meet the challenges of the growing economy.
"We need to deliberate and strategise to be able to achieve the targets," the Minister said.
Referring to the continuity of the bureaucratic machinery despite the political changes at the government level, Prabhu said the governance has the flexibility to reorient itself to ensure delivery and the key to success is to work as a team where political leadership and the bureaucracy together strive hard to achieve common objectives of good governance.

He emphasised the need for correctly identifying the deliverables and targets and then gear up government machinery at all levels to achieve them.
Referring to the growth story of Indian Railways in the recent past, Prabhu said that the railways was able to achieve an all-time high capital expenditure because of team work and united efforts and dedication.
Railways undertook doubling of lines and electrification - all with record performance, he said. Prabhu emphasised on coordinated efforts and team work to achieve the targets.
Referring to the success story of using social media in grievance redressal, the Minister said that the railways not only took immediate steps to redress grievances of the public but we also undertook deep analysis as to why there are complaints and then effected systemic changes and reforms which resulted in the reduction in complaints.

Prabhu called upon all stakeholders like Centre, State etc, to work for the common objective of the national development.