Govt employees as good as those in private sector: Prabhu

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said people in the government are as good or as better as those working outside the government.

Emphasising on rewarding performers to improve performance, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Wednesday said government employees do not lack talent and they are as good as those working in the private sector.

Addressing a large number of civil servants in a function in New Delhi, he said there is a need to create a system where people will perform with all their ability.

"I do not think that getting people from outside or from private sector will solve all our problems. Also I am not convinced that government lacks any talent. What I am convinced about is the commitment of the people to work despite biggest challenges.

"It is not the private or public sector which is the solution. The solution lies in creating the organisation with the good people and at the same time working with the system. The systems are very important. Therefore we need to look at the system as a whole so that people will have the ability to perform well," Prabhu said inaugurating 10th civil services day.

He said there is a need to identify performers and suitably reward them. "How do you get the best of talents available within the country in the system? That is something we need to think about. How do you reward a good performer? Today there is nothing like rewarding a performer.”

"You have to think of a system where a good performer is properly identified. They get properly rewarded. They are properly promoted and those who are not doing good they need not be thrown out but how to actually make them doable that is the challenge," he said during the function being attended by senior officials of central government ministries and state governments.

Prabhu said people in the government are as good or as better as those working outside the government. "The challenge is how to use that huge human capital and how to harness it at the time when challenges are mounting," the Minister said.

"We need to develop a system where our delivery is better or at least at par with citizen expectations. Need to build systems and teams that can address today's challenges and future needs as well," Prabhu said.

He said no one can deny that the country has not done progress. "No one can say that nothing has been done in the country. We have done progress and we should be proud of that," Prabhu said.

The minister hoped that the India will become world's largest economy in some years. "It is a matter of time whether it is 20 years, 25 years or it may be 30 years. There is no doubt about the fact that we will be one of the largest economies in the world," he said.