SECURE SYNOPSIS: 28 AUGUST 2019
NOTE: Please remember that following ‘answers’ are NOT ‘model answers’. They are NOT synopsis too if we go by definition of the term. What we are providing is content that both meets demand of the question and at the same time gives you extra points in the form of background information.
Topic: population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Why this question:
The article states that there is no doubt India has a population problem, but any strategy to change fertility rates should be carefully thought.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the need to balance population control policies that are coercive and in what way such policies can become counterproductive.
Directive:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In short explain the context of the question.
Body:
Explain that Though India’s family planning programme is one of the oldest in the world (dating back to 1951), the forced sterilization campaign of the mid-1970s ensured any mention of “population” would take a backseat, at least at the national level. That 40-year spell was broken on 15 August when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the challenge of “population explosion” -keeping family size small is an act of patriotism.
Then explain the possible negative consequences.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
Introduction:
India projected to become the most populous country in the world by 2027 (currently at 1.37 billion). In 2050, India’s population is projected to be 1.69 billion, which will be higher than that of China. Undoubtedly, India has a population problem, but any strategy to change fertility rates should be carefully thought out. India’s population concern is largely restricted to Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and MP.
Body:
Implications of coercive laws of population control:
- Demographers like Srinivas Goli, a population studies professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, point out, citing the examples of Iran and China.
- Any large-scale “unnatural intervention”, even if purely incentive-based, can dramatically change the future age profile of a population.
- In Iran, in a short span between the late-1980s and early 2000s, the average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime plummeted from seven to less than three.
- While population growth rate fell steeply, the share of Iran’s population in the working age band also fell.
- According to a study on the two-child norm (Nirmala Buch, Economic and Political Weekly, 2005) which was adopted by several Indian states like Rajasthan, Haryana and Bihar, the move led to a spike to sex-selective and unsafe abortions.
- Since the state-level laws linked the ability to contest Panchayat or local body elections with family size, the study found that men divorced their wives to run for elections and families put children up for adoption to avoid disqualification.
But, the problems faced due to burgeoning growth of population:
- It is indeed a fact that population of India is growing and will continue to grow for the next couple of decades. This is because, as compared to the past, there are a higher proportion of people in the marriageable age group who will produce children, and people are now living longer.
- In India, the global demand for water in 2050 is projected to be more than 50 per cent of what it was in 2000.
- The demand for food will double in the year 2050 and even if India manages to feed its expanding population, its growth may not be ecologically sustainable.
- Women empowerment as people will not favour for sons because of cap of 2 child policy
- Though China’s one-child policy has been criticized as against human dignity and rights, it has improved and controlled the nation’s population by a possible 400 million people as per the report of East India Forum.
- If Population control won’t happen, there will be no resources left, and the growing population’s demand will increase to the next level, resulting in increasing death rates increasing in the country.
The Right Math behind population growth:
- Simply put, for every 1,000 people, demographers suggest that at least 550 must be of working age, in order to educate the young (below 15) and take care of the old (above 60).
- The government’s Sample Registration System in 22 states shows that TFR for India declined to 2.2 in 2017 after being stable at 2.3 between 2013 and 2016.
- Further, the country’s annual population growth rate fell from 2.5% in 1971-81—a time when ‘population explosion’ was bandied around commonly, and when India infamously experimented with forced sterilisation—to 1.3% in 2011-16.
- Any intervention which doesn’t pay attention to this delicate age composition balance is “ignorant and foolish”
- Success stories from within India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh) and from Indonesia and Bangladesh (predominantly Muslim countries) also show the central importance of investing in education and healthcare access to advance population stabilization.
- India will also find it hard to announce a nationally mandated two-child policy since it is a signatory to the Cairo declaration in 1994, which gives couples the “right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children”.
Conclusion:
Thus, the need of the hour is better education and awareness rather than an iron hand policy to control the population. Government should improve the implementation of poverty alleviation measures which can also help control population.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Why this question:
The article emphasizes on the fact that Complete penetration of clean cooking fuel and cookstoves in rural India requires a multi-pronged approach.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the significance of behavioural and attitudinal change required to bring change in cooking fuel methods in the rural pockets of the country.
Directive:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief explain the background of the scenario.
Body:
Explain first the need of getting rid of conventional cooking methods, necessity of clean cooking fuel methods.
What are the multiple factors that affect clean cooking choices?
Explain how the policies have evolved over time in terms of addressing the issue.
Discuss the significance of Ujjwala scheme and in what way it addresses the behavioral and attitudinal aspects.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way ahead.
Introduction:
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. India is home to more than 24 Crore households out of which about 10 Crore households are still deprived of LPG as cooking fuel and have to rely on firewood, coal, dung – cakes etc. as primary source of cooking.
The PMUY has helped the spread of LPG cylinders predominantly in the urban and semi-urban areas with the coverage mostly in middle class and affluent households. It aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel – LPG, so that they don’t have to compromise their health in smoky kitchens or wander in unsafe areas collecting firewood.
Body:
Achievements:
- The oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) estimates that LPG coverage in India (the proportion of households with an LPG connection) has increased from 56% in 2015 to 90% in 2019. There is a significant increase in eastern states, with 48% of the beneficiaries being SC/STs.
- The government reports show that around 80% of the beneficiaries have been refilling cylinders, with average per capita consumption being 3.28 cylinders.
- PMUY has resulted in an additional employment of around 1 Lakh and provide business opportunity of at least Rs. 10,000 Crore in last 3 Years to the Indian Industry.
- The scheme has also provided a boost to the ‘Make in India’ campaign as all the manufacturers of cylinders, gas stoves, regulators, and gas hose are domestic.
- PMUY reduces these ill-effects by providing clean fuel and cutting out on drudgery. Increased use of cooking gas will shrink the incidence of tuberculosis in India, based on the statistics from the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) on TB prevalence.
- PMUY has helped in reducing the drudgery for women. The time saved can be used in socio- economically productive activities like Self-Help Group activities.
- The World Health Organisation hailed PMUY as decisive intervention by the government to facilitate the switch to clean household energy use, thereby addressing the problems associated with Indoor Household Pollution.
However, given the scale of the scheme there are some implementation shortcomings of the scheme
Cost issues:
- Consumers were paying market price for refills till the loan repayment for stove and first refill was made. This led to some consumers not going in for such refills.
- Economic Burden: The increased monthly expenditure has shied many consumers away from LPG and lured them back to firewood and cow-dung cakes.
- The CEEW study across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha found people were unwilling to pay upfront Rs.900-1,000 for a 14 kg refill.
- A CRISIL Study shows that of those surveyed, 86% said they had not shifted from biomass to LPG because the price of installing a connection was too high. Almost the same number – 83% – said the price of refills was too high.
Administrative issues:
- The government claims that around 80% of the beneficiaries have been refilling cylinders, with average per capita consumption being 3.28 cylinders. But there are implementation issues with the scheme in Madhya Pradesh, for instance.
- Aadhar seeding also faces issues caused by data discrepancies, especially where the spelling of names is concerned as a result of which applicants can find themselves unable to register for the scheme.
Logistic issues:
- Lack of LPG cylinder bottling plants near rural areas and connectivity issues especially in the tribal areas.
- Last-mile connectivity and delivery still poses a great challenge.
Safety and Behavioural issues:
- Safety has been another concern about distribution of LPG connection, especially to BPL families. Lack of awareness and safety amenities in beneficiary households have increased the likelihood of accidents.
- Cow-dung cakes lying around the house all the time. Hence, LPG cylinders are used on special occasions or during some kind of emergency or when it’s entirely too hot to burn wood.
- The CRISIL report also noted that 37% of households in rural areas procure cooking fuel or free.
- Agency: Most rural women do not have a say in determining when a refill is ordered, even though the connection is in their name.
Way Forward:
- Increase Affordability: A case in point is state-run fuel retailers introducing a 5kg refill option to make purchases affordable.
- Increase Accessibility: Gas Agencies should be set up within 10km radius, especially in the rural and remote areas to increase accessibility.
- Increase Availability: Alternatives like Gas-grid and piped connections in cities and areas near the bottling plants can free up the cylinders for other areas.
- Promote ‘Give it up’: The initiative of the government to persuade the well-off to give up the LPG subsidies has added to the corpus of PMUY. Similar initiatives can be promoted.
- Encourage Private Players to set up LPG franchises at rural areas.
- Sensitization and Education of safe use of LPG though LPG Panchayats, NGO’s etc.
Conclusion:
PMUY is a novel scheme having twin benefits of women empowerment as well as environmental conservation. Ironing out the implementation issues can reap the envisioned benefits and lead to a sustainable future in energy consumption.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Why this question:
The question is amidst the recent state of affairs being witnessed in the erstwhile state of J&K which has been bifurcated into two UTs.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the relevance and context of Indian geography and the formation of UTs.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In short discuss about the UTs in India.
Body:
Explain in short, the reasons for which the union territories came into existence in India.
Explain the reasons behind the creation of each union territory
evaluate how it helped in geographical continuity and state in what way they are an Expression of India’s geography. Discuss the impact of having UTs in general on various aspects of the country.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance.
Introduction:
A union territory is a type of administrative division in the Republic of India. Unlike the states of India, which have their own governments, union territories are usually federal territories governed directly by the central Government of India.
The Central government on August 5 did away with the special status awarded to Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating certain provisions of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The government also introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill in the Rajya Sabha, bifurcating the State into two Union Territories (UT) — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature, similar to Delhi and Puducherry, while the UT of Ladakh will not, mirroring UTs like Chandigarh and Daman and Diu.
Body:
UTs- the history:
- After independence in 1947, States were divided into 4 lists: Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.
- In 1956, States reorganization act was passed and mostly states mentioned in Part C and Part D were either merged into states mentioned in Part A and Part B and left were termed as union territories.
- So, in 1956, Andaman and Nicobar, Delhi , Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura and Laccadive minicoy and amindivi island (later collectively becomes Lakshadweep) were 6 union territories of India.
- Then, Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Puducherry ceded to Indian. Some Union territories like Himachal pradesh, Manipur and Tripura later gained statehood.
- So, now only 7 union territories remains Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar haveli, Daman and Diu, Puducherry and Chandigarh.
Reasons behind creation of UTs:
- Small population and land size: The union territories (except Delhi) has very small populations and land size comparing to a state hence, running legislative assembly and a council of ministers for them will cost additional burden to exchequer.
- Strategic locations: Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands are far west and east end of our country and they are quite far from mainland hence it is easier to govern them directly through Central government because they are very strategically important for India and in case of any emergency, Indian government can directly act there.
- Protection of indigenous cultures: Some of the union territories have different culture than surrounding state like Dadra and nagar haveli, Daman and Diu (Portuguese), Puducherry (French) and most recently Ladakh.
- Administrative importance: Delhi and Chandigarh are two union territories which are important as administrative capital of India and administrative capital of Haryana and Punjab. So, control of these union territories is important for Indian government.
- Security situation and general backwardness: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are located on the borders neighbouring Pakistan and China. Having faced aggressions from both nations and constant terror incidents, the state was economically lagging despite natural resources.
Constitutional status:
- Article 1 (1) of the Indian constitution says that India shall be a “Union of States”, which are elaborated under Parts V (The Union) and VI (The States) of the constitution.
- Article 1 (3) says the territory of India comprises the territories of the states, the union territories and other territories that may be acquired.
- The concept of union territories was not in the original version of the constitution, but was added by the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act, 1956.
- citizenship (part II), fundamental rights (part III), Directive Principles of State Policy (part IV), Judiciary role, the Union Territories (part VIII), Article 245, etc. are applicable to union territories as it refers specifically to Territories of India.
- The executive power of Union (i.e. union of states only) rests with President of India. President of India is also chief administrator of union territories per Article 239.
- As per Article 240 (2), supreme power is accorded to the President in regulating the affairs of the all the union territories except Chandigarh, NCT and Puducherry, including powers to override the laws made by Parliament and the constitution of India.
- Union territories with their own elected legislatures and governments: Puducherry, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir (proposed from 31 October 2019),
Conclusion:
The Parliament has the power to redraw the political map of India. Over the years, the UTs are formed keeping in mind the geographical and other strategic factors. The direct control of the Union Government will help the socio-politico and economic developments of the UTs.
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Why this question:
The question aims to evaluate the effects of recent changes brought in the POCSO bill 2019 and the effects it has on rights of children.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the recent key amendments in the POCSO act.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Discuss the importance of POCSO in general with respect to protection of child rights.
Body:
Explain the key changes brought in recently in the POCSO act like The POCSO (Amendment) Bill will make punishment more stringent for committing sexual crimes against children including the death penalty.
The amendments also provide for levy of fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography. The amendment is aimed to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment.
Explain that the modification is made to address the need for stringent measures required to deter the rising trend of child sex abuse in the country on one hand and to address the menace of relatively new kind of crimes on the other hand.
Conclusion:
Conclude with appreciation of the amendments.
Introduction:
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed recently by both Houses of Parliament with an objective of stopping the rampant sexual abuse of children. The bill seeks to provide more stringent punishment, including death penalty, for sexual crimes against children.
Body:
Key changes proposed:
- Penetrative sexual assault: The bill increases minimum punishment for this offence from 7 years to 10 years. It also provides for with imprisonment between 20 years to life, with fine if person commits penetrative sexual assault on child below age of 16 years.
- Aggravated penetrative sexual assault: The Bill adds two more grounds to definition of aggravated penetrative sexual assault. These include: (i) assault resulting in death of child and (ii) assault committed during natural calamity or in any similar situations of violence. It also increases minimum punishment from 10 years to 20 years, and maximum punishment to death penalty.
- Aggravated sexual assault: The Bill adds two more offences to definition of aggravated sexual assault. These include: (i) assault committed during natural calamity and (ii) administrating or help in administering any chemical substance or any hormone to child for the purpose of attaining early sexual maturity.
- Child Pornography: The Bill defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct that involves child such as photograph, video, digital or even computer generated image indistinguishable from actual child. It also enhances punishments for certain offences related to child pornography.
- Storage of pornographic material: It increases punishment for storage of pornographic material with imprisonment between three to five years, or fine, or both. In addition, it also adds two other offences for storage of pornographic material involving children. These include: (i) transmitting, displaying, distributing such material except for the purpose of reporting it and (ii) failing to destroy or delete or report pornographic material involving child.
Positives:
- The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent due to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act.
- It intends to protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity.
- The amendment is aimed to establish clarity regarding the aspects of child abuse and punishment thereof.
- It is gender-neutral and thus looks into the sexual assault of both minor boys and girls.
Challenges:
- Lack of social awareness among the masses.
- Children find it difficult to understand many advertisements and campaigns related to abuses.
- There is advancement of law but it appears that it has no impact because the number of cases is multiplying.
- Problem with implementation of the law.
- Child protection committees not in place at village level.
- Politicization of rape cases on communal grounds.
- The rate of conviction under the POSCO act is only 32% as that of past 5 years and pendency is 90%.
- Absence of proper training at village level leads to child abuse.
- Judges don’t use the power to announce medical interim compensations to the victims.
- In a 2017 report, “Everyone Blames Me,” Human Rights Watch found that survivors (of the crime), particularly among marginalized communities, still find it difficult to register police complaints.
- Every case desires media attention equally and not only Unnao and Kathua rape cases.
Way Forward:
- Problems related to implementation of POCSO Act such as lack of adequate special courts, lack of sensitization for investigators and prosecutors in dealing with child victims, poor rate of convictions etc. need to be resolved urgently.
- The Supreme Court direction to set up special courts within 60 days of the order in each district having more than 100 pending cases under the act must be complied with urgently.
- The provision of death penalty should be widely discussed and debated and should be used only for the rarest of the rare cases.
- Massive awareness and sensitization should be created among the masses about child’s dignity and about the law in place.
- There needs to be an overhaul of the criminal justice system in the country rather than emphasising on the death penalty.
- POSCO Act needs to be part of school syllabus.
- Proper police training and a dedicated children cell at stations as that of a women cell.
- Many Indians – men and women – refuse to believe that sexual violence is a serious problem eating away at India’s vitals. It is essential to recognise that the crisis lies in the precise manner in which the existing criminal justice system unfolds.
- Instant medical relief and compensations should be provided to the victim.
- Children should be given a platform and proper environment to speak against such abuse.
- Check on technology.
- Strict action must be taken against the police officer found guilty of obstructing the probe or colluding with perpetrators of such cases.
- Providing sex education to children, which is neglected in India. This makes them more aware of various protective laws, good touch-bad touch etc.
Conclusion:
Society itself will have to take the responsibility of giving it the right direction. Without this, we cannot achieve all the promise that we had as a nation at the time of Independence. We must collectively rise to the occasion and create a safe India for our children.
Topic: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
5) “Collective responsibility is a myth in the Indian cabinet system”. Elucidate.(250 words)
Indian polity by Lakshmikanth
Why this question:
The question is in the backdrop of recent tussle in the appointment of Karnataka cabinet system. Likewise historically many states and even the central cabinet has witnessed the issue of collective responsibility.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the
Directive:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
First explain what you understand by cabinet system.
Body:
Discuss first the significance of cabinet system and what you understand by collective responsibility.
Discuss the provisions related to the collective responsibility in the constitution of India.
Explain the impact of the lacunae to not manifest collective responsibility in the cabinet.
Suggest solutions to overcome.
Conclusion:
Conclude that the quality of administration is largely conditioned by the leadership and direction provided by Ministers thus it is important to foster the collective responsibility in true sense.
Introduction:
Collective responsibility, also known as collective ministerial responsibility, is a constitutional convention in Parliamentary systems that members of the cabinet must publicly support all governmental decisions made in Cabinet, even if they do not privately agree with them. Article 75(3) of Indian Constitution states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People
Body:
Collective responsibility means members of a Cabinet follow an integrated policy, for which all of them accept responsibility and on which they stand or fall together. Even if there are differences among them on minor matters, they must always put up a united front in the legislature and before the country.
Lord Salisbury explained the principle of collective responsibility as: “For all that passes in the Cabinet, each member of it who does not resign is absolutely irretrievably responsible, and has no right afterwards to say that he agreed in one sense to a compromise while in another he was persuaded by his colleagues.”
Collective Responsibility is a myth in India:
- Since Independence, several Prime Ministers had difficulty in enforcing collective
- For instance, during the regime of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country faced a shortage of food grains, resulting in high prices.
- When the MPs criticized the Government for not tackling this problem properly, the then Minister for Food and Agriculture, said the members should direct their complaints against other ministries, including the Ministry of Irrigation and Power for not providing adequate water for cultivation; the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for not supplying fertilizers; the Ministry of Health for not checking the growth of the population; the Ministry of Railways for not providing an adequate number of wagons for movement of food grains; and the State governments for not effectively implementing the various policies relating to agriculture.
- Morarji Desai, who was Prime Minister from 1977-79, had a tough time ensuring the efficient working of his Charan Singh, the then Home Minister, publicly criticized Desai, mentioning several specific instances where he had violated the principle of collective responsibility.
- There have been numerous other instances where Prime Ministers have been unwilling or unable to enforce collective responsibility, thereby affecting the country’s progress.
- There have been a number of resignations in the past because of the differences with the Cabinet. Mathai resigned as a Finance Minister because he disagreed with the Cabinet on the question of scope and powers of the Planning Commission which was proposed to be set up then.
- D. Deshmukh resigned because he differed from the Cabinet on the issue of re-organization of States, especially on the question of Bombay.
- Collective responsibility becomes a bigger challenge when there is a coalition government, as the Cabinet comprises representatives of several parties, many of which have no clear-cut policies.
Implications:
- The inability of the Government to function on the basis of collective responsibility is the chief cause of infrastructural deficiencies, the heavy cost and time-escalation in implementing development projects, failure of poverty eradication schemes and the lack of dynamism in the export drive.
- It is not possible to achieve economic growth.
Conclusion:
The principle of Collective Responsibility may be regarded as fundamental to the working of the Parliamentary Government, as it is in the solidarity of the Cabinet that its main strength lies. The principle of Collective Responsibility means that the Council of Ministers is responsible as a body for the general conduct of the affairs of the government. All ministers stand or fall together in Parliament, and the government is carried on as a unity.
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the theme of a ‘good civil servant’ vis-à-vis whistle blowing aspect.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the aspect of whistle blowing in a civil servants’ life and in what way it makes her/him a good civil servant and how she/he has to manage the system to find suitable solutions irrespective of situations.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
In brief explain what makes a good civil servant.
Body:
Explain the key traits of a good civil servant first, then explain the whistle blowing aspects and the need to balance for solutions to different situations.
Such answers are best explained using suitable solutions.
Conclusion:
Conclude with significance of good civil servants for the system to run more efficiently and effectively.
Introduction:
A good civil servant is one who is kind, responsive, fair, has sense of duty , objective judgement skills with a hint of rebellion (They challenge their own ideas and biases, they challenge the way it has “always been done”).
Body:
In the course of civil service, an officer is bound to face challenges of various types. One must find innovative solutions to such problems by working around the problems. However, when there are inevitable situations, it becomes necessary to whistleblow, albeit within the system.
Merits of whistleblowing:
- Exposing Unethical Behavior: When corporations and government agencies step over legal and ethical lines, whistle-blowers can make these practices public knowledge, which can lead to violators being held accountable.
- Take care of things internally: Stronger whistleblower protection laws all over the world, such as in the EU and Australia, mean that if you do not listen to and act upon whistleblowing tips internally, people may decide to report externally, for example to the media, and are legally protected if they do so.
- Reduce losses when misconduct occurs: Whistleblowing benefits organisations through significant loss savings. Organisations that did not have a whistleblowing system in place suffered losses that were twice the size compared to those who did have a whistleblowing system.
- Build trust in your brand: 50% of the participants responded that building trust was the main benefit of a whistleblowing system. An openness to whistleblowing demonstrates a commitment to high ethical standards and builds trust in the company.
- Ensure legal compliance: Having a system in place for whistleblowing benefits organisations by reducing compliance risk.
Demerits of whistleblowing:
- The world, government, corporates and even society to an extent do not like whistleblowers and some countries go so far as to call them ‘traitors’
- The case of Edward Snowden and Julian Assange of Wikileaks proves the point
- Whistleblowers face legal action, criminal charges, social stigma, and termination from any position, office, or job.
- Vindictive tactics to make the individual’s work more difficult and/or insignificant, assassination of character, formal reprimand, and difficult court proceedings
Challenges in finding a solution from within the system:
- Non cooperation of peers
- Inertia of status quo, the lack of incentive to accept change within the system
- Pressure from politicians and other groups.
- Threats of demotion and frequent transfers
- lack of evidence in most of the cases renders his case weak
Conclusion:
A good civil servant would adhere to the foundational principles and fight against corrupt practices in a pragmatic way as the situation demands.
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the topic of ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions.
Key demand of the question:
One must discuss in detail the ethical issues witnessed by the private health sector in country.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain what are ethical concerns.
Body:
Define Health care ethics – it is the application of the core principles of bioethics (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice) to medical and health care decisions. It is a multidisciplinary lens through which to view complex issues and make recommendations regarding a course of action. Explain that there is a plethora of ethical issues associated with health sector and more so specifically in the private arena.
There are numerous ethical challenges clinical leaders, health practitioners and patients face in healthcare. Some examples of common medical ethical issues include: Patient Privacy and Confidentiality, the majority of Indians trust and utilize private health care despite the fact that cost of treatment is significantly higher than in public facilities. Further a large part of their expenditure is out-of-pocket and not accommodated by insurance providers. Finally, the inadequate penetration of insurance only means that access to quality health care is a luxury for a large section of the population etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude with suggesting solutions to overcome and address these solutions.
Introduction:
In India, the doctors are considered as equivalent to gods (“Vaidyo Narayano Hari”). However, Indian healthcare is struggling with many challenges. Medical profession which was once a respected line of work but today is corrupted at every level, from medical education to medical practice, and in both the private and government sectors.
Body:
Various ethical issues with private health institutions in India:
- The business of private hospitals is driven by the dynamics of patient acquisition and falls into two broad categories: consultant-driven and hospital-driven.
- Within private hospitals, size matters. A large private hospital of, say, 500 beds has to maintain a flow of patients, just as a hotel has to avoid losing room nights. So they go in for agreements like those to treat patients covered by the central government health service or the armed forces.
- Yet another category is hospitals run by religious institutions. They do not extract a corporate profit or promoter’s share, but the need to have good consultants on your panel who will bring in patients makes all private hospitals the same, up to a point.
- How much a patient ends up paying is partly determined by the hospital’s assessment of what he looks good for. Whether he has medical insurance or non-resident Indian children is an important factor.
- A lot of the ills of private hospitals are attributed to consultants who only care about maximising their earnings. Newer or unbranded private hospitals seek to rope in consultants with a package. They offer, say, 10 per cent of bed charges, 25 per cent of out-patient diagnostic billing, 15 per cent of in-patient billing and 60 per cent of consulting fees.
- The situation has become so bad that patients today approach the doctor with mixed feelings – of faith and fear, of hope and hostility. This leads to a distorted doctor-patient relationship, with high chances of exploitation both ways – doctors may fleece patients and, if some lacunae are exposed in treatment, patients or their relatives may blackmail doctors.
- Such unethical practices may no longer be cause for comment. But there are many reports of doctors actually committing crimes – distorting medical reports in medico-legal cases, providing false certificates to protect criminals, sexually assaulting their patients, and even trading in human organs.
- Sex determination tests are performed though they are illegal.
- Doctors are known to prescribe unnecessary diagnostic tests, hazardous drugs and inappropriate surgical procedures, all for the kickbacks they receive from the healthcare industry
- Against the recommendations of the WHO that the total health expenditure should be 6.5% of the gross national product (GDP), India spends only 4.8% of GDP on health. Further, public health expenditure is just 1.2% of GDP, or barely 25% of the total health expenditure; the rest of the money is paid by patients directly to private doctors and hospitals
Way forward:
For doctors:
- Follow medical ethics and Hippocratic oath.
- Collectively publicly oppose outside interference – political, bureaucratic or otherwise.
- Make a commitment to rational drug use, referral and evidence-based interventions.
- Shun erring colleagues.
- Refuse to accept any favours from pharmaceutical companies.
- Follow medical ethics and treat poor patients the same as rich ones.
- Refuse to take bribes.
Public:
- acting as a watchdog reporting corruption or wrong doing;
- checking unscrupulous elements who blackmail doctors in cases of inadvertent lapses in medical treatment;
- being more responsive to the stress that doctors have to deal with, and
- Running awareness groups to educate people on the necessity of organ donation and to encourage the framing of laws that would empower medical authorities to extract organs of unidentified and unclaimed dead bodies within the stipulated time for organ revival.
For Government:
- Evolve a transparent system for the allocation of funds, for deciding the location of medical facilities and for the posting of medical personnel; this system must be insulated from political and other interference.
- Have people of integrity conduct prompt enquiries into reports of medical corruption, and take prompt action on the basis of these reports.
- Let doctors know that transgressions will be met with punishment. Medical corruption is not a crime committed in the heat of the moment. It is calculated and based on greed, and the punishment must be severe and deterrent.
- Plug the loopholes in the law on human organ transplants that enable transplant tourism and marriages for the purposes of kidney “donation”. A campaign must be started to dispel myths on cadaveric donations. The transplant programme must include a computerised national database, efficient transportation and a network of state-of-the-art transplantation centres with expert surgeons.
- Reward upright doctors to encourage role models for new entrants in the profession.
- Tackle the problem of doctors shunning government service.
- Support and protect whistleblowers who report medical corruption.
- Form a task force to defend high ethical standards in the medical profession and to fight corruption in public healthcare.
Conclusion:
Corruption is spreading its tentacles far and wide in the medical system. To restore its noble and distinct status, all sections of society must work together to stamp out the biggest killer in the medical system – corruption.
