Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the new buildings that house the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Central Secretariat brand are an important milestone in India’s journey towards “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and reflect the government’s commitment to citizen-centric governance and national progress.
Inaugurating the new PMO, named Seva Teerth, and two Central Secretariat buildings, named Kartavya Bhawan 1 and 2, Modi also said the towers were built to fulfill the aspirations of the people of India.
“Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavan 1 and 2 mark an important milestone on India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat. They reflect our commitment to citizen-centric governance and national progress,” he said at an event attended by central ministers, senior bureaucrats and other central government officials.
The Prime Minister said that historic structures like South Block and North Block, which still house important ministries like Defence, Home and Finance apart from the PMO, were built to embody the ideals of the British Empire, but Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhawan were built to realize the aspirations of the people of the country.
“Decisions made here will serve as a basis for furthering the aspirations of 140 million citizens rather than reflecting the will of the monarch. It is in this spirit that I dedicate Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhawan to the people of the country,” he said.
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Modi said that many important decisions shaping the future of the nation were taken after independence and key policies were developed in buildings like South Block and North Block. However, it is important to remember that these structures were originally built as symbols of the British, he said.
He said that the capital of India had moved from Calcutta to the buildings on Raisina Hill, which were built according to the wishes of the British royal family.
As the nation moves towards Viksit Bharat, it is vital that India sheds all traces of colonial thinking, he said.
The Prime Minister said that on the way to a developed India, it is imperative that India moves forward, freed from the slave mentality.
“It is unfortunate that symbols of slavery continue to be worn here even after independence,” he said.
Modi said today that everyone is witnessing a new history being made and this day, February 13, is witnessing a new beginning in the journey of India’s development.
“Scriptures attach great importance to Vijay Ekadashi. On this day, any decision one takes forward is sure to bring victory. Today we all enter Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhawan with the determination to build a developed India. The divine blessing of being victorious in our goal is with us,” he said.
PM Modi reiterated that Race Course Road, where the Prime Minister’s residence is located, has been renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg and it was not just a name change but also an effort to transform the mindset of power into the spirit of service.
“The renaming initiative is not just a change of words; the same ideological thread is behind all these efforts – the independent identity of independent India. A brand freed from shackles,” he said.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister also released an occasional postage stamp and a coin inscribed with the new Seva Teerth building.