GS4 · UPSC Mains
You are working as a Chief Development Officer in a district. You are known for your honesty and dedication to work. All the files related to development work and contracts in the district pass through your office. This makes your office vulnerable to corruption. You have made it clear to your staff that you will follow zero tolerance to corruption in office and very strict action will be taken against anyone who indulges in corruption. One day a contractor came to meet you regarding an ongoing project. He informed you that your peon takes money from all the contractors for telling them about your schedule and meeting timings. The contractor told you that it is difficult to meet you because of your busy schedule. The peon takes money and informs them about timings when you are available in the office. It saves them much effort and makes it easy to meet you. You are unhappy with your peon. You called him and asked for an explanation. The peon told you that he does not ask for money, it is the contractors who give him money on their own. The amount involved is very small just sufficient for tea or coffee. He further tells that he has 6 daughters, all of whom are unmarried. His youngest daughter has a chronic illness and she is bedridden. He tells you that he is in dire need of money. He also tells you that this is a common practice and peons of all the officers get money from the contractors for facilitating their meetings with other officers. You enquired about his story with your other staff and whatever he told you about his daughters was true. You know that the salary of a peon is not sufficient for taking care of such a large family and getting good treatment for her daughter. There is also the problem of dowry in the area which makes the marriage of women expensive. a) Why are such acts of petty corruption considered acceptable in government offices? b) Is there a case for serious action against the peon? What will be your course of action to deal with the situation?
GS4 · Case studies on the above issues GS4 · Aptitude & foundational values for civil service — integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication, empathy, tolerance & compassion
| Topper | Rank | Source | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaishali | — | Masterstroke | p.37 |
| Mehak Jain | — | Forumias | p.34 |