Integrity must guide financial decision-making, says VP Radhakrishnan
New Delhi, Dec 22
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Monday reminded defence accounts officers of the need to maintain the highest standards of integrity and vigilance since public money represents the hard-earned contributions of taxpayers.
Addressing the Officer Trainees of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) of the 2023 and 2024 batches at the Vice President's Enclave, Radhakrishnan said, "Prudent financial management is essential to ensure the operational readiness of the Armed Forces."
The Vice President stressed the need to maintain the highest standards of integrity, transparency, vigilance, and accountability, especially since public money represents the hard-earned contributions of taxpayers.
"As the accounting and financial authority of the Defence Services, officers must understand and assimilate the challenges faced by the Armed Forces while discharging their duties," he said.
He also stressed the importance of continuous capacity building in an era marked by rapid technological and scientific advancements. He encouraged officers to make effective use of platforms such as iGOT Karmayogi for lifelong learning.
Speaking on values in public service, the Vice President said that while knowledge is essential, character is paramount.
He reminded the officers that among India's 140 crore citizens, they have been entrusted with a rare opportunity to bring about positive change in society and must exercise this responsibility with humility and dedication.
Responding to a question from an officer trainee on expectations from civil servants in the journey towards Viksit Bharat, the Vice President urged them to remain innovative, adaptive to modern technologies, enthusiastic in their work, empathetic in approach, and ethical in administration.
Underscoring the significance of the Indian Defence Accounts Service, the Vice President said that the Service plays a critical role in managing the financial resources of the Indian Armed Forces and allied organisations.
He said that the Defence Accounts Department has a rich legacy of over 275 years, making it one of the oldest departments of the Government of India.
— IANS
Reader Comments
"Character is paramount" – this line hit home. In a country where scams sometimes make headlines, hearing our leaders emphasize ethics to the officers who manage our defence budget is reassuring. Hope they take it to heart.
Good speech, but the real test is in implementation. We need systems that are as vigilant as the officers are expected to be. Transparency portals where major defence expenditure is tracked would be a great step forward.
As someone working in finance, I appreciate the focus on prudent management. Defence is a critical sector, and efficient use of funds directly impacts national security. The mention of iGOT Karmayogi for continuous learning is very practical.
275 years of legacy! That's incredible. With such a history comes great responsibility. Our armed forces protect us; the least we can do is ensure their financial backbone is strong and corruption-free. Best wishes to the officer trainees.
The VP's words on empathy and ethics are key. Often, officers in such roles can become just number-crunchers. Understanding the human cost and the soldier's challenge is what will lead to truly responsible financial decisions.
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