inauguration of DoPT’s Basic Leadership Skills Module and Learning Resource Centre

Dr. S. K. Sarkar, Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) inaugurated the rollout of the Basic Leadership Skills (BLS) Module for Central Secretariat Services (CSS) Officers at the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) here today. This was followed by the inauguration of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) by Dr. Sarkar at the Library Building at ISTM. Both these events are in consonance with the Result Framework Document (RFD) 2014-15 of the DoPT. The BLS module was rolled out at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie last year in the Foundation Course of Civil Services Officers and the Integration of BLS module with the relevant existing training module of ISTM for CSS officers is now being done with an aim to build leadership qualities among CSS officers. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sarkar said that the civil servants have to function in a complex and challenging environment today when there are increasing expectations of performance and ability to respond more efficiently and effectively to the needs of the citizens. Keeping this in mind it becomes imperative that all levels of civil service officers be trained in leadership skills to impart their duties effectively and take forward the vision of a citizen centric Government. The BLS rollout at LBSNAA, Mussoorie and ISTM, New Delhi substantiates the focus of DoPT in Leadership Development in Government. Later inaugurating the LRC, Dr. Sarkar said that the Center has been set up in line with the recommendations of the National Training Policy (NTP) - 2012. LRC`s mandate is to identify and adapt the leading national and international practices in the field of training techniques and technologies and strengthen the Trainers Development Programme (TDP) to develop a cadre of high quality trainers. Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator remarked that the Learning Resource Center is a great initiative that will help to promote innovative training techniques in central and state training institutions. Congratulating the DOPT on the occasion, Ms. Grande said that better training will contribute to further improve the delivery of public services.  Revised Rules for Declaration of Assets by Public Servants Under Provisions of the Lokpal Act The Central Government has notified fresh rules for the public servants to furnish information and annual return containing declaration of assets and liabilities. Under the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Rules, 2014 every public servant shall made a declaration of his/her assets and liabilities in the specified formats as on the 31st day of March every year to the competent authority on or before of 31st day of July of that year. Making an exception for the current year the notification stipulates that public servants who have filed declarations, information and annual return of property under the prevailing rules shall file the revised declaration, information or annual returns as on August 1, 2014 on or before September 15, 2014. However, employees may be exempted by the competent authority for reasons recorded in writing from declaring assets if its value does not exceed 4 months basic pay or rupees two lakhs, whichever is higher.