NEW DELHI: Meant to reflect the spirit of service rather than ‘power’, the new complex housing the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) shall be called ‘Seva Teerth’ (service pilgrimage), as per officials. Earlier called ‘Executive Enclave’ under the Central Visa Redevelopment project, Seva Teerth right now is in the final stages of completion. The Executive Enclave was meant to house the PMO, besides offices of the Cabinet secretariat, National Security Council Secretariat and India House, which will serve as a venue for high-level talks with visiting dignitaries.Seva Teerth shall be “a workplace designed to reflect the spirit of service and where national priorities take shape,” officials said and added that the choice of name is part of a quiet but profound shift taking place in the country’s public institutions.For instance, only last week, the home ministry wrote to the states and Union territories to rename governor’s houses as ‘Lok Bhavan’ or ‘Lok Niwas’ instead of ‘Raj Bhavan’ as the latter ‘smacks of colonialism’. Several states/UTs have already implemented the directive. Officials said the renaming of ‘Rajpath’ as ‘Kartavya Path’ and PM’s residence as 7, Lok Kalyan Marg instead of 7, Race Course Road, reflect the PM’s focus on changing the orientation of bureaucracy to ‘seva’ (service). The nomenclature ‘Lok Kalyan Marg’ conveys welfare, not exclusivity and is a reminder of the responsibility that lies ahead for every elected govt. “The idea of governance is moving from ‘satta’ (power) to ‘seva’ (service) and from authority to responsibility, they said, adding that the change is not just administrative, but cultural and moral,” said an officer. They added that the spaces of governance, under PM Modi, have been reshaped to lay stress on ‘kartavya’ (duty) and transparency.For instance, the Central Secretariat is now known as Kartavya Bhavan, a vast administrative hub built around the idea that public service is a commitment.“The change in nomenclature marks a deeper ideological transition and shift in mindset….Today, govt officials must speak the language of seva, kartavya and citizen-first governance,” said an officer.
