Officers of 12 services to be deployed as ‘Rath Prabharis’ to showcase 9 years of Modi govt

Digital Desk: Officers from 12 allied central government services, including income tax, customs and central excise, audit and accounting, forest, postal, telecom, Indian Economic Service, and Indian Statistical Service, will don different hats for a little more than two months beginning on November 20.

As part of a unique campaign called "Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra," they will be deployed as "rath prabharis" (special officers) and travel around 2.69 lakh gram panchayats of the nation in specially-fitted "raths," showcasing the accomplishments of the last nine years of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

From 20 November to 25 January 2024, a nationwide campaign will be organized to disseminate information, raise awareness, and expand services to gram panchayats. Moreover, it would reach out to welfare program participants in rural areas, including those who have not yet received benefits or have been excluded.

The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra takes place in conjunction with the parliamentary elections that are set for early next year when Modi will be running for a third term in office, and the upcoming assembly elections in five states that begin next month.

The Modi government has employed bureaucrats in the past to promote and disseminate details about its social programs.

Since 2014, when Modi took office for the first time, the government has periodically dispatched officers, primarily from the Indian Administrative Service, around districts to raise awareness of and monitor the execution of some of its most important programs, such as the Aspirational District Programme.

To highlight the accomplishments of the government, a significant number of officers from allied services, including income tax, customs, statistics, and forestry, are being deployed for the first time.