In the colonial period the Indian Civil Service used to be the basic foundation for the continuation of the British oligarchy. But to the Indians, as ample instances are, these officers were neither Indian, nor Civil or Servant.
The independent nation has come a long way from those days of colonial hegemony. But even in this heyday of Parliamentary Democracy the Government happens to be paralyzed in absence of its band of District Collectors who by virtue of its dedication in stark contrast to their colonial ex-rulers has stolen the center of attraction. These officers of the Indian Administrative Service though are entrusted with the formal duties of handling law and order, revenue collection, taxation and others including the control of planning permission and the handling of natural and man-made emergencies, but in reality they happen to be the greatest source of hopes and confidence to the hapless citizens.
Most of all the role of the District Collectors is best emphasized whence they become a part and parcel of the development process. As a key Member Secretary of the District Planning Committee his job remains to supervise on all matters ranging from preparation of District plans, providing effective guidance to the scheduled and daily review of its proper implementation. He acts as the bridge between the two contending partners both as representative of the agent and also as representative of the people in the district and as the main source of technical and administrative support to local governments.
