Appreciation
Courses for Probationers of All India and Central Services and Government
Officials
In
a parliamentary system of governance, the Executive, represented by the permanent
Civil Service, plays a major role in carrying out various policies and programmes that are approved by Parliament. The Civil
Service and Officers of the Government have to be accountable to the Parliament
at all points of time insofar as the implementation of the policies, projects
and programmes approved by Parliament is concerned.
They have to assist and brief the Ministers in answering Questions in
Parliament and also in replying to discussions in the House. At various times,
they may also have to appear before Parliamentary Committees to apprise the
members of action taken in respect of specific governmental activities, give
evidence, explain omissions and commissions, if any, etc. That being so, it is
necessary that officers who are part of the permanent Executive have a sound
understanding of the pre-eminent role of Parliament in our democratic set-up.
With this in mind, the Bureau regularly organizes Appreciation Courses in
Parliamentary Practices, Processes and Procedures for Probationers of All-India
and Central Services and for middle- and senior-level officials of the
Government of India.
The
Appreciation Courses are intended to provide to the participants a direct
exposure to the environment, culture and traditions of parliamentary institutions,
so as to enable them to appreciate better the nature of their role and place in
the overall context of our parliamentary system, leading to a more informed
response on their work in relation to Parliament. The Appreciation Courses also
seek to provide the participants an insight into the constitutional position of
Parliament in relation to the other organs of State, proper perspective on the
pivotal role that Parliament plays in our democratic set-up, the
multifunctional role of Parliament as a law-making body, the institution which
secures Executive accountability to the elected representatives, etc. The
interactive sessions with senior parliamentarians also extend a rare
opportunity to the participants to benefit from their experience and get to know
their expectations of the Civil Service while working in the various
governmental agencies as policy makers or administrators. The grass-root
experience of the Members of Parliament stands to help the officers to
understand various issues from a parliamentary perspective.
These
week-long Appreciation Courses broadly cover a series of structured lectures,
discussions and Question-Answer sessions and interactive meetings involving
eminent parliamentarians, Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees, senior parliamentary
and Government officials, experts and others. Meetings with dignitaries in the
Capital and informal get-togethers of participants and the Faculty members are
other features of such Courses. Scripts or synopses of the Lectures are made
available to the participants in advance so as to make the discussion sessions
more interactive and participatory. The participants are also taken to witness
the proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament, if they are in Session,
besides the Parliament Museum.
Parent
institutions may write to the PRIDE at least two months in advance seeking
specific dates for their officers/probationers. They may also furnish full
particulars of all participants and accompanying officers. Arrangements in
respect of journey to Delhi, local transport, and boarding and lodging will
have to be made by the sponsoring institutions.