What gives more satisfaction and happiness to a government servant? When do values and ethics take over organisational processes? What does the DG want to convey to the IG and the constable in this caselet? The knowledge of the ethical principles you gained in the last article might help. Let’s see…
UPSC Ethics Simplified takes you to one such situation in the form of a caselet. This caselet is an extension of the concept discussed on April 16 (Three Ethical Principles — the concept). It is advisable to revisit the concept article before reading the caselet below.
Relevance: The topic is a part of UPSC CSE General Studies Paper-IV Ethics syllabus. Caselets are particularly relevant in the Case Study section. Aspirants will find the article useful for their Essay paper and situation based questions in personality test too.
Moreover, the essence of the article will help aspirants in their professional lives or in life in general.
Nanditesh Nilay writes for UPSC Ethics Simplified fortnightly on Sundays. The first article will be a concept while the second article will be a caselet based on the concept. Don’t miss the Post Read Questions and Express Inputs below.
THE CASELET
Values promote better than organizational processes
He was the Director General of the Railway force. But one morning, DG was feeling uneasy as he had read terrible news of child trafficking. He was worried about the pain these children underwent but could also understand the pain of their parents. What bothered him the most was the possibility of exploitation of those kids. As a leader, he felt that everyone in his department should have a moral understanding of this issue and empathise with it. He called his IG immediately and proposed an intervention on ethics and values for the Railway force. But the IG believed that if the system is robust, human trafficking can be checked through railways or any other means of transportation. IG was not convinced about such training on Ethics and Values. IG was in a hurry that day. He said, “Sir, today I was discussing the same thing with my parents, and there was a spark in my father’s eyes. The first time he accepted my profile as a police officer, as till now he felt I am not doing good things.” DG smiled and so did IG.
In one of the review meetings, the department awarded a railway constable for returning a mobile phone to an elderly couple by contacting them. It was a great gesture. The constable even shared that the couple blessed and hugged him. While he was leaving the conference hall, the DG said, “Tell me, jawan. Suppose you found a missing child on the train and later you would have been successful in returning to their parents, how would you feel? Whether your happiness and satisfaction with your duty would have been the same as returning that mobile phone?” The constable was looking at him with awe. He was not finding any answer from his side. But his body language was certainly preparing him for the higher sense of sensitivity and larger consciousness in society. He returned quietly.
That was the last day of DG in the office. He was surrounded by his officers. When he was returning with farewell garlands and getting ready to board his personal car, he saw someone. That person was that constable. He was looking emotional and in tears. “Sir, I found a few kids a day before yesterday. I took them to their home and it was a highly satisfying effort, sir. Please let me touch your feet. You will never retire for all of us. You are the epitome of values. Hope the training in values and ethics will be refining us day by day, ” he said. Listening to this, the DG hugged him and put those garlands around the constable’s shoulders.
Later, he asked, “Why have you not informed the department? You would have been appreciated and awarded.” The constable replied, “My happiness was more to see that reunion. And trust me, sir, it was like becoming an inspector when I saw the happiness of their parents. Values promote us better than other processes of the organisation.”
Post Read Questions:
1. What was the point of difference in the attitude of DG and IG with reference to the issue?
2. From the frame of the constable, what difference did you find in his attitude in the two incidents discussed?
3. What does the caselet tell us about the personality of DG? Do you think he was fit to lead the department and why?
4. Between the lines, can you locate the ideas of western philosophical principles, that you studied last time as the concept, in this caselet?
5. “Values promote us better than other processes of the organisation.” Discuss. Do you agree with the statement?
EXPRESS INPUT
Thought Process
Where is ‘ethics’ placed in your duty? Do you think of a larger good or believe in going by the books? Is duty central to your morality or do you believe in greater happiness benefitting community at large? Why values hold an important position than the organisational processes? The moral compass doesn’t limit you to the certain trainings, processes, rewards or rules. Can administrative, organisational and training process can keep ethics for larger society as its basis and to what extent?
Points to ponder
Going by each paragraph:
Para 1:
But one morning, DG was feeling uneasy as he had read terrible news of child trafficking. He was worried about the pain these children underwent but could also understand the pain of their parents. What bothered him the most was the possibility of exploitation of those kids. As a leader, he felt that everyone in his department should have a moral understanding of this issue and empathise with it. He called his IG immediately and proposed an intervention on ethics and values for the Railway force
Why does the DG feel so? What does it tell about his leadership? Which idea/s of philosophical school fit here?
But the IG believed that if the system is robust, human trafficking can be checked through railways or any other means of transportation. IG was not convinced about such training on Ethics and Values. IG was in a hurry that day. He said, “Sir, today I was discussing the same thing with my parents, and there was a spark in my father’s eyes. The first time he accepted my profile as a police officer, as till now he felt I am not doing good things.” DG smiled and so did IG.
Why do you think IG believed differently? What does it tell about his leadership? Which idea/s of philosophical school fit here?
DG smiled, and so did IG
How did the two smiles differ from each other?
Para 2:
“Tell me, jawan. Suppose you found a missing child on the train and later you would have been successful in returning to their parents, how would you feel? Whether your happiness and satisfaction with your duty would have been the same as returning that mobile phone?” The constable was looking at him with awe. He was not finding any answer from his side. But his body language was certainly preparing him for the higher sense of sensitivity and larger consciousness in society.
Why do you think DG asked such a question to the constable? Happiness, satisfaction, duty, sense of sensitivity, larger consciousness in society- what do these terms hint us at?
Para 3:
“Why have you not informed the department? You would have been appreciated and awarded.” The constable replied,” My happiness was more to see that reunion. And trust me, sir, it was like becoming an inspector when I saw the happiness of their parents. Values promote us better than other processes of the organisation. “
Why values and ethics hold higher position in service? What and Why does the constable feel more rewarding? Which idea/s of philosophical school fit here?
— Edited by Manas Srivastava
The writer is the author of ‘Being Good and Aaiye, Insaan Banaen’. He teaches courses on and offers training in ethics, values and behaviour. He has been the expert/consultant to UPSC, SAARC countries, Civil services Academy, National Centre for Good Governance, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Competition Commission of India (CCI), etc. He has PhD in two disciplines and has been a Doctoral Fellow in Gandhian Studies from ICSSR. His second PhD is from IIT Delhi on Ethical Decision Making among Indian Bureaucrats. He writes for the UPSC Ethics Simplified (Concepts and Caselets) fortnightly.