The Re-imagining Governance: Discourse for Excellence (RGDE) initiative was launched on Good Governance Day, December 25, 2023, and has since evolved into a vital platform for dialogue aimed at strengthening trust and excellence in public service.

Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi delivered a stirring keynote address on compassionate governance during the seventeenth edition of the Re-imagining Governance: Discourse for Excellence (RGDE) series, organised by PDUNASS, the premier training academy of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Thursday.

The virtual session, attended by EPFO officers and officials from across the country, underscored the need to infuse governance with empathy, moral accountability, and human connection. Speaking from Bal Ashram in Jaipur, Satyarthi warned of a growing moral vacuum in modern society and called for a revival of gratitude and compassion in public administration.

“Governance rooted in empathy, deep listening, and moral accountability is crucial for building responsible and effective institutions,” said Satyarthi. “We must recover our moral compass and restore humanity to our systems of governance.”

The RGDE initiative was launched on Good Governance Day, December 25, 2023, and has since evolved into a vital platform for dialogue aimed at strengthening trust and excellence in public service. With this session marking the seventeenth consecutive edition, the series continues to build a culture of thoughtful leadership within EPFO.

Cornerstone of Value-based Administrative Reform

At the Jaipur venue, Satyarthi was felicitated by Ajeet Kumar, Additional Central PF Commissioner (Rajasthan). The program was chaired by Ramesh Krishnamoorthy, Central PF Commissioner, and presided over by PDUNASS Director Kumar Rohit. The session was moderated by Uttam Prakash, RPFC-I.

In his closing remarks, Krishnamoorthy urged EPFO officials to take concrete steps in their daily work inspired by the values discussed. “Let us each implement at least one decision rooted in compassion,” he said. “This is how we bring the spirit of today’s session to life — not just in words, but in action.”

The RGDE series has become a cornerstone of value-based administrative reform within the EPFO, focusing on fostering insight, integrity, and institutional excellence. With a steady stream of thought leaders and policy influencers participating, the initiative continues to cultivate an ethos of empathetic and responsible governance across the organisation.

As the EPFO advances its mandate of social security and financial empowerment for millions of Indian workers, the emphasis on compassion and moral leadership — as articulated by Satyarthi — adds a transformative dimension to its evolving governance framework. By integrating such values into everyday decision-making, the EPFO hopes to not only enhance public trust but also become a benchmark for human-centric administration across the public sector.