‘Tell India’s Story Authentically’: LS Speaker Om Birla

• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed IIS officer trainees, stressing the need for “authenticity and integrity” in telling India’s stories.
• He emphasized that IIS officers are crucial for disseminating credible, timely, and transparent information to counter misinformation.
• Birla underscored the foundational importance of understanding parliamentary processes and leveraging technology to bridge the gap between government and citizens for Viksit Bharat 2047.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th July: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today underscored the critical need for India’s stories of resilience, innovation, inclusion, and development to be told with “authenticity and integrity.” Addressing the 2023-24 batch of Indian Information Service (IIS) Officer Trainees at Parliament premises, Shri Birla stated that in today’s fast-paced information age, disseminating credible information is paramount for shaping public discourse and policies.

Birla highlighted the immense responsibility of IIS Officers in narrating the story of a new India and shaping public understanding in the world’s largest democracy. He acknowledged the increasing challenges faced by information officers in the era of digital media and 24/7 news cycles, where “misinterpretations and fake narratives spread fast.” In such an environment, he asserted, an Information Officer’s ability to provide “clear, fact-based, timely information backed by sound understanding of governance, becomes essential.”

The Speaker urged the young civil servants to act not just as the voice of the government but also as “interpreters of policy, facilitators of public understanding and defenders of transparency.” He emphasized that IIS Officers serve as a vital “bridge between the state and its citizens,” necessitating a deep understanding of India’s diversity and democratic ethos, especially as the nation undergoes rapid socio-political transformation under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership.

A foundational understanding of parliamentary processes and democratic ideals is crucial for civil servants, Birla stressed. He explained that Parliament is the supreme legislative institution where national discourse, lawmaking, and government accountability take shape. He exhorted the officer trainees to acquire a “deep and robust” understanding of parliamentary procedures, including how a bill becomes a law, the stages of debate, committee scrutiny, and the nuances of legislative processes. He also highlighted the significance of Parliamentary Questions, Zero Hour, and Special Mentions as reflections of public concern and political accountability, and the vital, often unseen, work of Parliamentary Committees.

Birla urged the officers to effectively translate complex parliamentary discussions into information that the public can easily understand and trust. He reminded them that “every word you write and every statement you issue carries the weight of national interest.”

The Speaker exhorted the young officers to dedicate themselves to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 – a developed, just, inclusive, innovative, and globally respected India – making this vision their daily motivation. He affirmed that democracy remains the most effective model of governance for ensuring transparency, accountability, and participation.

Highlighting the transformative role of technology, Shri Birla urged officers to proactively integrate emerging tools like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and e-governance platforms into their daily functions. He noted that “leveraging technology can bridge the gap between the government and citizens,” streamlining public services and accelerating decision-making. A tech-savvy bureaucracy, he concluded, is vital for a future-ready, citizen-centric administration.

The officer trainees, currently on a three-day attachment with the Parliament of India, also observed house proceedings in Lok Sabha. Vice Chancellor of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) – Dr. Pragya Paliwal, Registrar of IIMC – Dr. Nimish Rustagi, IIS Course Director – Rashmi Roja Tushara, and senior officers of Lok Sabha Secretariat were present at the event.