New Delhi, May 6 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday asked officers of the Indian Railways to "put in their best efforts" to serve the people of the nation and "uphold the high standards and dignity" which has been maintained over the years.

Addressing a group of probationers of the Indian Railways Traffic Service, Indian Railways Accounts Service, Indian Railways Personnel Service, Indian Railways Stores Service, Indian Railways Service of Engineers and Railway Protection Force at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mukherjee said the progress of the Indian Railways was unthinkable without the involvement of its employees.

"The probationers will have to look after a wide range of services from traffic operations to financial management, human resource development, safety, security and also improving the quality of services in railways.

"They should serve the people of the nation by putting in their best efforts. He called upon them to uphold the high standards and dignity which has been maintained over the years," the president said.

"The progress of the Indian Railways is unthinkable without the active involvement of each one of its vast number of employees."