Re: What should a young bright graduate do ?

["venu gopal" <venu_gh@hotmail.com>]

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I have been inside IAS for 14 years. I am very optimistic about the role of
the service.
Despite the changing role of government due to liberalisation, globalisation
and privatisation, IAS still has a lot of positive role to play.The service
still offers a wide variety of jobs cutting across different sectors which
would enrich one's experience in dealing with people's problems, hopes and
aspirations and in taking part in their efforts to secure a better
livelihood.  Any important task for the government, be it conducting
elections or taking up literacy campaigns or watershed programmes, or taking
up relief works in case of natural disasters like the case of supercyclone
in Orissa, it is always an IAS officer who does the job.
In several cases like the last case, it was IAS officers who handled
everything despite very adverse press, lack of dynamic political leadership
and attempts for intense politicization of the whole work due to impending
elections. While it is not only their privelege to do so,it is generally the
IAS officers who uphold certain principles and the rule of law and stand up
to the politician. At the same time, it must be kept in mind that important
assignments may not be given to some officers for some time. But they cannot
do it for all time due to the sheer need for efficient officers in the
system.There is also the issue of frequent transfers andlack of continuity,
but I think over a period of time, it is possible to secure some minimum
tenure to hold an assignment  It is necessary for bright and sincere youth
to try to enter the IAS especially when they want to uphold values.
But at the same time, I would say that this is not the only option for a
young person. There are many alternatives outside the Establishment in the
non-governmental sector where one can play a useful role by concentrating on
a limited area and work on specific issues. Both these alternatives have
their relative merits and demerits.
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