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Summary
Ethics_JG Class 02

THE CLASS STARTED WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS TOPICS (01:07 PM)

IMPORTANCE OF OBJECTIVITY IN CIVIL SERVICES (01:08 PM)

  • Civil servants often take decisions without the benefit of hindsight and objectivity helps in ensuring that the 'decision-making is more accurate' in nature, Not only that they can justify their decisions at a later stage if the decision was made as per the careful analysis.
  • 'Enforcing the accountability' of the civil servants also becomes easier if decision-making is objective in nature.
  • Recruitment in government is often affected by nepotism and favouritism, taking an objective approach in such matters would promote 'merit and fairness' in such matters.
  • It 'limits the use of discretionary powers' therefore resulting in corruption.

WAYS TO INCULCATE OBJECTIVITY IN CIVIL SERVICES (01:17 PM)

  • Drawing and elaborating standards operating procedures and guidelines to be followed by the members of the department.
  • Improving the quality of data available within the government through surveys and statistical exercises.
  • Using data analytics tools to make decisions within the government.
  • Seeking feedback from the citizens on service delivery mechanisms.
  • Social Audit can be a powerful mechanism for inculcating objectivity in civil services.
  • For Example: In MGNERA ,we have institutionalized the Social Audit mechanism.
  • We may evolve the comprehensive 'Code of Conduct' to be followed diligently by the civil servants.
  • For Example, KPI(Key Performance Indicators)/KRA (Key Performance Areas) are usually set up in big corporations and can be replicated in civil services.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH OBJECTIVITY (01:41 PM)

  • Being objective at all times is 'not desirable', especially at the cost of empathy and compassion.
  • It may lead to situation where the civil servant may ignore the genuine concerns/considerations of the citizens.
  • Taking an objective approach can be challenging especially because of 'lack of availibility of coherent data' in the government.
  • Human beings by their very nature are partisan and biased, therefore remaining objective at all the times can be challenging.
  • Objectivity may not be useful in certain situations especially while resolving the ethical challenges.

COURAGE AND FEARLESSNESS (01:57 PM)

  • Courage means 'doing one's duty without considering the consequences'.
  • It refers to the ability to take decisions and actions and stick to one's values and principles despite a possibility of unfavourable outcomes.
  • According to Nelson Mandela, "Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it"
  • Courage is the first of human qualities because it guarantees adherence to other values. It helps individuals in taking ethically correct decisions however tough the situations and the circumstances.

TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: COURAGE AND FEARLESSNESS (To be Continued...)