CSS Shield Launches to Support Families of Deceased Officers
The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has emphasized the need for responsive service rules for government employees and their families. During the launch of the ‘CSS Shield’ initiative by the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum, he highlighted the importance of collective efforts in creating a culture of support for families experiencing sudden loss.
Addressing attendees at the event, Dr. Singh expressed that implementing the CSS Shield is a matter of collective will and the willingness to contribute. He remarked that when colleagues unite to assist bereaved families, it sends a significant message that transcends the organization.
The CSS Shield initiative aims to provide mutual support to the families of CSS officers who have passed away. The launch event included members of the CSS Forum, currently serving CSS officers, and family members of two deceased officers, Shri Mohan Chandra Bhatt and Shri Rajendra Chandra. As part of the initiative, Dr. Singh presented financial support to their families.
Dr. Singh pointed out that the CSS Shield reflects the Personnel Ministry’s broader objective of enhancing government service systems to better address the needs of employees and their families. He noted that several service-related provisions have already been modified to meet contemporary requirements and that the government is open to further changes that enhance responsiveness.
Under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr. Singh highlighted on-going efforts to regularly review and amend rules and procedures, ensuring that government systems remain sensitive to the needs of workers and their loved ones.
Moreover, he suggested expanding the initiative’s scope to potentially include scholarships for the children of deceased CSS officers, thus extending support to families well beyond their immediate period of grief.
Emphasizing its foundational principle, “Contribute for Family, Support with Dignity,” the CSS Shield is designed to create a structured and reliable mechanism to assist families of fallen officers. The CSS Forum representatives noted that prior to the formal launch, they had been supporting bereaved families through voluntary contributions, particularly noting the increased need for solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw several CSS officers lose their lives.
Since 2020, members of the CSS have contributed approximately ₹1.30 crore to support the families of around 65 to 70 deceased officers. The CSS Shield is now formalizing this support to ensure consistency and reliability moving forward.
With a goal of providing at least ₹15 lakh to each bereaved family, the initiative aims to amplify its contributions as participation grows among the approximately 13,000 members of the Central Secretariat Service.
The launch event also included heartfelt tributes to late Shri Mohan Chandra Bhatt, who served in various capacities within the CSS, and Shri Rajendra Chandra, who dedicated approximately twenty years to the Administration Division of the Department of Revenue. The CSS Shield launch reaffirms the Forum’s commitment to support its members and their families during difficult times, bolstering the sense of community encapsulated in their motto, “Together We Serve, Together We Support.”
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