The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Crisis will increase demand for Civil Services: Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary

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Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Crisis will increase demand for Civil Services: Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The global economic crisis will make a career in the civil services a good choice, Chief Secretary to the government of Tamil Nadu K.S. Sripathi said at a function in Loyola College on Saturday.

Mr. Sripathi was being felicitated for his achievements by the Loyola Alumni Association as part of its Homecoming programme. He said that although the civil services had taken a backseat to professions like engineering in which hefty pay packets and lucrative placements are offered, the pattern was changing due to the financial crisis. Regarding the power crisis in the State, Mr. Sripathi said that such a crisis had not occurred for over a decade. The main reason for the crisis was industrial demand, which had increased by 46 per cent in the last year alone. This was also indicative of development in the State, he said.

The Chief Secretary said that the Indian economy was not as affected by the global recession as some western and European countries, as it was not completely dependent on import and export revenue. Nonetheless, “we are still limping towards our goal with inflation decreasing and the growth rate not falling by much,” he said.

After being showered with accolades from Rev. Albert Muthumalai, Principal of Loyola College, and Rev. Peter Xavier, secretary of Loyola College, among others, Mr. Sripathi confessed to being overwhelmed and questioned whether he truly deserved such praise.

Fundamental sciences

He emphasised the need for more students to take up fundamental sciences and pursue research as a profession. Mr. Sripathi studied and worked in the department of Chemistry at Loyola College before joining the civil services.

Mr. Peter Xavier, who was an undergraduate student at the college when Mr. Sripathi was a post-graduate, said that he was touched by his serenity, affability and dedication, and that Mr. Sripathi had adhered to the motto “Let Your Light Shine” throughout his life.

N. Seetharaman, an alumnus of the batch of 1934 was also honoured.

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