Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the arrest of a young Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) officer over bribery, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Revenue and Disaster Management, Arabinda Kumar Padhee has written an emotional letter to all department colleagues.
In his letter, copy of which was released to the media on Saturday, Padhee has called upon all officers and employees of the Department to accord the highest priority to transparency, integrity, sensitivity and public service, while remaining honest, sincere and committed to their duties and responsibilities.
He expressed his deep anguish and distress over the recent incident involving the young ORS officer who was caught by the Vigilance authorities on allegations of accepting a bribe.
Describing the incident as a serious wake-up call, the ACS has urged everyone to remain vigilant and uphold the highest standards of ethics, integrity and transparency in public service to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
In his letter, the Revenue Secretary has emphasised that government service is not merely a means of livelihood but an opportunity to serve the people. A single incident should not be allowed to define the performance or image of the entire Department. He has expressed confidence that the majority of officers and employees are serving the public with sincerity, integrity and dedication.
As the administrative head of the Department, he has reiterated his personal commitment to discharging all responsibilities with the highest standards of ethics, discipline and transparency.
In this regard, he has called for adopting a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption and urged all officers and employees to strictly adhere to prescribed rules and procedures, while ensuring that no negligence or compromise occurs in discharge of their official duties.
The senior officer has further stressed the need for officers working at different levels of the Department to foster mutual respect, cooperation and a strong sense of responsibility, while collectively striving to create a healthy and positive work environment. He has sought everyone’s cooperation in making the best use of their abilities and potential to fulfil public expectations and aspirations and build a transparent, dedicated and citizen-centric administration.
Preserving public faith and trust in the Revenue Department and upholding its dignity and reputation are the collective responsibilities of every officer and employee, he said, urging everyone to remain guided by conscience, uphold a sense of humanity and recognise that public trust is the greatest asset.
