Roadmap for Answer Writing 1. Introduction Definition of Empathy: Start with a concise definition. Fact: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. 2. Types of Empathy Briefly explain the three types of empathy: Affective Empathy: Understanding and responding to emotions. Fact: Involves ...
Answer: The values and ethics of administrators are given a lot of emphasis by the society as they wield extensive power to formulate policies, implement schemes, supervise funds and maintain law and order. The power, which administrators wield can bring the nation great dividends if rightly used: ARead more
Answer:
The values and ethics of administrators are given a lot of emphasis by the society as they wield extensive power to formulate policies, implement schemes, supervise funds and maintain law and order.
The power, which administrators wield can bring the nation great dividends if rightly used:
- Access to basic necessities to citizens: With resources and networks at their disposal, the administrators are able to transform the lives of citizens with respect to accessibility to basic necessities. For example, Santha Sheela Nair saved Chennai city from water crisis in the early 2000s, as she was the brain behind making rainwater harvesting compulsory.
- Empowering the downtrodden sections of society: Due to the initiatives of administrators, various sections of the society are guided towards progress. For example, Kudumbashree project headed by Aruna Sundararajan is a shining example of women’s empowerment.
- Adoption of new technologies: The administrators have played a key role in the adoption of e-governance in the country, which has provided various government services at the click of a button thereby reducing manpower wastage and easing lives of the common man.
- Preventing illegal and unlawful activities: Brave fight of Durga Shakti Nagpal against sand mafia, exposure of the JBT recruitment scam by Rajni Sekhri Sibal withstanding the pressure from the government, etc. reflect the power of administrators in preventing unlawful activities in society.
- Act as role model to the youth: They are the change makers who inspire the youth of the nation to aim higher and turn their lives around. For example, Krishna Gopal Tiwari, India’s first visually challenged Collector has been a motivation to thousands of people.
At the same time, abuse of the power can bring harm and disrepute in the following ways:
- Corruption: Since administrators are at the helm of projects and initiatives, they at times, abuse their power and induce corruption in the system. For example, recovery of unaccounted wealth worth crores of rupees by ED from Jharkhand’s IAS officer, Pooja Singh.
- Hinders development: Abuse of power leads to bureaucratic culture and hampers the reputation of the country with respect to ease of doing business as well as investments in the developmental projects of the nation.
- Security risks: The rampant abuse of power for personal greed by bureaucrats overlooks security concerns and prioritizes personal gains over national risks. For example, payment of bribes to Indian Air Force officers, Ministry of Defence officials, bureaucrats and politicians in the AgustaWestland deal.
- Other issues: It also raises issues such as creeping of criminal elements in politics, monopolization by certain capitalists, increasing inequalities, diversion of focus from reforms, violating various rights of citizens, etc.
Although abuse of power can be reduced by improving transparency through computerisation of the governmental operations and displaying of records on websites, at the end of the day, the key to the problem is the underlying ethics and moral values of the administrators. Without ethical rooting, it is difficult to prevent abuse of power.
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Model Answer Defining Empathy Empathy is the ability to understand another person's feelings, thoughts, and experiences by seeing things from their perspective. It involves imagining oneself in someone else’s position and responding with compassion. There are three types of empathy: Affective empathRead more
Model Answer
Defining Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s feelings, thoughts, and experiences by seeing things from their perspective. It involves imagining oneself in someone else’s position and responding with compassion. There are three types of empathy:
Importance of Empathy in Public Service
Empathy is crucial in public service because it fosters a compassionate, helpful, and effective approach to serving the public. It helps build a connection between public servants and the communities they serve. Some key reasons why empathy is important in public service include:
Helpful Attitude
Empathy leads to compassionate actions, where public servants take proactive steps to support those in need. For instance, an IPS officer in Ludhiana provided essential support to an abandoned minor rape victim, demonstrating the power of empathy to alleviate suffering.
Social Development
Empathy motivates public servants to work toward societal improvement. For example, Telangana’s “Aasara” pension scheme, which supports vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and HIV-positive individuals, is driven by a deep understanding of social inequities.
Fulfilling Public Aspirations
Empathetic public servants are better able to address public grievances and work on issues that matter to the community. The “Fund Your City” campaign by an IAS officer in Warangal is an example of this approach, aimed at improving infrastructure in Naxal-affected areas.
Participatory Governance
Empathy fosters an inclusive environment where citizens’ concerns are heard and acted upon. Rajasthan’s “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” program, where the government took services to people’s doorsteps, is a reflection of empathetic governance.
Building Trust and Credibility
When public servants exhibit empathy, they earn the trust of the people, showing that they care about their well-being. This results in stronger public trust and the successful implementation of policies.
Conclusion
Empathy is essential for public servants to connect with the community, understand their needs, and address societal challenges effectively. By practicing empathy, public service can become more responsive, inclusive, and effective in improving governance.
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