The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum has formally launched the 'CSS Shield' initiative, a structured mutual support mechanism designed to provide collective financial assistance to bereaved families of deceased CSS officers. The program operates on the principle of 'Contribute for Family, Support with Dignity' and aims to ensure a dependable support system within the service community.
Under the new initiative, the Forum seeks to provide at least ₹15 lakh to each bereaved family, with plans to progressively enhance this amount as participation increases. The initiative builds on existing voluntary efforts where CSS officers have collectively contributed approximately ₹1.30 crore since 2020, providing financial assistance to families of approximately 65–70 deceased officers, particularly during the COVID-19 period when multiple officers lost their lives.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, speaking at the launch event, welcomed the initiative and stated that such collective efforts can create a new culture of standing by families in times of sudden loss. He emphasized that the mechanism aligns with the Personnel Ministry's larger effort to make government service systems more responsive to the needs of employees and their families. The Minister suggested that the initiative could expand to include scholarships for children of deceased CSS officers as participation and corpus grow.
The program was attended by office-bearers and members of the CSS Forum, serving CSS officers, and family members of late Shri Mohan Chandra Bhatt and late Shri Rajendra Singh, both of whom were honored during the event. Dr. Jitendra Singh presented financial assistance to these families as part of the initiative's launch.
The CSS Forum, representing approximately 13,000 members of the Central Secretariat Service, envisages significantly increasing the support amount as participation grows. The initiative reaffirms the Forum's commitment to strengthening the spirit of 'Together We Serve, Together We Support' within the CSS community.