When I first encountered the idea of Mission Karmayogi, it did not strike me as a reform. It felt more like a reminder — that governance is, at its heart, an act of seva. It is not about the pursuit of recognition or reward, but about the quiet satisfaction, the santushti, that comes from doing one's work with sincerity.

At the heart of this Mission lies a transformative truth: that the strength of our administrative system rests not in its rules, but in its people. For me, capacity building is not treated as a box to be ticked, but as a culture to be nurtured. I wanted to build a workplace where learning is as natural as conversation, and as inclusive as a shared lunch table. It is an act of curiosity that connects every role, every reform, to a larger purpose: Jan Seva and Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

"We often seek reward before effort and ask, 'Mujhe kya milega?' Yet the truth remains unchanged — kaam karoge, tab apne aap mil jaayega. The act of doing one's duty with sincerity brings its own reward. Real recognition is not given; it is earned in the quiet pride of contribution and the lasting satisfaction of service."

In my tenure as the Secretary of the Department of Legal Affairs, I successfully concluded Phases I and II of the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Program, through 20 batches, marking a major milestone in its capacity-building journey, and achieving 100% saturation. Every officer, contractual employee, and even our MTS colleagues came together — because no one is too junior to learn, and no one is too senior to listen.

We have learned that progress doesn't always need paperwork and structure alone cannot change culture. At DLA, each week I used to host Chai Pe Charcha, an informal huddle with Group Heads to take stock of ongoing initiatives. It's simple, human, and astonishingly effective. Concerns are voiced openly; ideas are exchanged freely. Hierarchy pauses, and insight steps forward.

Another space that has redefined our internal culture is our monthly Tiffin Baithak, inspired by our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. What began as an informal lunch gathering with the Law Secretary became a forum for cross-learning and collective problem-solving. Around shared meals, officers discuss challenges, exchange thoughts, and often end up finding solutions that meetings never could.

"In our Department, we wanted learning to feel aspirational, not obligatory. We began recognising officers across all levels for their milestones on the iGOT platform — not through ceremonies, but through personal acknowledgment and conversation. The best part? When an officer, after completing a course, says, 'Madam, ab mujhe samajh mein aaya ki hum kya kar rahe hain' — that sense of connection between their task and the larger purpose of governance — that is where Mission Karmayogi truly begins."

During my tenure, I also made small but meaningful structural changes within the Department premises. The Conference Room has been renamed "Karmayogi Sabhagar"; administrative sections have been renamed under the four Sankalp values of the Hon'ble PM: Ekta, Vikas, Garv and Kartavya. These are not mere signboards, but daily reminders of who we are and why we serve.

I believe capacity building is not a program that begins and ends with a calendar, it is a relay. Each of us runs our lap, carries the baton for a while, and how sincerely we run our lap determines the strength of what we pass on. The baton we hold is not just of responsibility, but of seva bhav.

As we look ahead, our goal remains simple: to make our offices not just functional, but living classrooms of innovation, empathy, and excellence — where knowledge circulates freely, curiosity is encouraged, feedback is welcomed and where santushti defines success as a public servant.

That, to me, is the true meaning of reform:
Not loud change, but lasting change.
Not compliance, but conviction.
Not recognition, but santushti.