IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has urged the younger generation to step beyond the world of social media, stay connected with real-life issues and think carefully about their goals and responsibilities.
Speaking about the growing influence of technology, Mundhe said human beings are social beings and cannot live entirely in isolation. He referred to the COVID-19 pandemic to underline the importance of human interaction and social connections.
He also questioned whether people verify information before forwarding it on social media. With young people spending increasing amounts of time on reels and virtual content, he stressed the need to remain aware of what is happening around them.
Think about the future and society
Mundhe encouraged young people to look beyond social media and consider bigger questions about their lives. He asked them to think about what they want for their families, what they can contribute to society and where they want to see themselves a decade from now.
He also spoke about poverty, describing it as a circumstance rather than a reflection of a person's character. According to him, a person's character becomes evident from the decisions they make when faced with difficult situations.
Lessons from public service
Recalling his posting in Barshi during district training, Mundhe said attempts were made to defame him and register a case against him after he acted against encroachments and worked to widen roads.
He said such experiences made him question whether he had done anything wrong by taking action in the public interest.
On administration, Mundhe said officers should avoid acting in haste. However, once a decision is taken, it should be implemented with speed and efficiency.
Drawing on 21 years in public service, he said his approach has been to first understand a department, its functioning and the existing system before attempting to change it.
‘Improve the system’
Mundhe said officers taking charge of a new assignment should quickly identify what is working, what needs improvement and how the system can become more effective. The objective, he said, should be to improve the system rather than merely become another part of it.
Citing his experience with PMPML, Mundhe said only about 900 of 1,800 buses were operational despite salaries being paid to drivers and conductors attached to the entire fleet.
Notices were issued and action was taken against those who were not working, following which changes were made to the system.