Suppose you are an officer in-charge of implementing a social service scheme to provide support to old and destitute women. An old and illiterate woman comes to you to avail the benefits of the scheme. However, she has no documents to show that she fulfils the eligibility criteria. But after meeting her and listening to her you feel that she certainly needs support. Your enquiries also show that she is really destitute and living in a pitiable condition. You are in a dilemma as to what to do. Putting her under the scheme without necessary documents would clearly be violation of rules. But denying her the support would be cruel and inhuman.
a. Can you think of a rational way to resolve this dilemma?
b. Give your reasons for it.(250 words) [UPSC 2016] 20
Model Answer
Introduction
As an officer in charge of a social service scheme aimed at supporting old and destitute women, I face a moral dilemma when an illiterate woman without proper documentation seeks assistance. While adhering to the rules is essential, denying her support would be cruel given her pitiable condition.
Body
(a) Rational Approach to Resolve the Dilemma
A rational way to resolve this dilemma involves adopting a compassionate yet flexible approach while adhering to the necessary rules. This approach includes conducting a thorough assessment of the woman’s situation and exploring alternative methods to verify her eligibility for the scheme.
(b) Reasons for This Approach
Conclusion
By adopting this compassionate and flexible approach, the officer can balance adherence to rules with the pressing need to support the woman. This nuanced implementation of the social service scheme allows for humane consideration of individual circumstances, ultimately fostering a more equitable system.
a. A rational way to resolve this dilemma could be to seek an exception to the rule by submitting a report to the higher authorities, highlighting the exceptional circumstances of the case and recommending special consideration. This could include providing her with temporary support until the necessary documents can be obtained or verified.
b. My reasons for this approach are as follows:
Firstly, the woman’s destitute condition and lack of documents do not necessarily mean that she is not eligible for the scheme. The scheme is intended to provide support to those in need, and it is the duty of the officer to assess the situation and make a judgment based on humanitarian grounds.
Secondly, denying the woman support without considering her circumstances would be cruel and inhumane. As an officer, it is my duty to provide assistance to those in need, and denying her support would be a violation of this duty.
Thirdly, seeking an exception to the rule would allow for a nuanced approach to be taken, taking into account the unique circumstances of the case. This would enable me to provide support to the woman while also ensuring that the scheme’s rules are not compromised.
Finally, submitting a report to higher authorities would ensure that there is a formal record of the exception and that it is justified on humanitarian grounds. This would also provide an opportunity for the higher authorities to review the decision and provide guidance on future cases.