How to be an honest government servant and remain as such.
This sounds rather strange and prescriptive too. Some may even hold this piece of writing unduly sermonizing since they may feel that nothing new has been put forward save some precepts in respect of service related conducts and organizational behaviour. They believe for valid reasons that government servants of all classes and categories already happen to know this set of rules of ideal conducts. Generally speaking, government servants by their very nature do not want to be taught. This is for obvious reasons that they feel mature enough on their jobs they do. Their attitudinal stiffness militates the requirements of a responsive and responsible government service. When issues like honesty or probity are formally discussed this stiffness is more pronounced by the demonstration of interestlessness on the subject. Hence, this peace of writing is certainly not of any use to one who is not interested in bringing about a change in oneself due to stiffness of thought, belief or action. However it may be of some use for those who may want to earn respect, prestige in the eyes of others and above all is focused to those having decided to tread the path of honesty. If they are concerned with insuring themselves against the loss of face, disgrace, fear and punishments they must pay the premium in the form of daily hard work with disinterested service. This premium payment in the form of self-disciplined honest labour will earn them self-esteem, self-satisfaction and self-realization as a bonus besides salary and other facilities they get by virtue of remaining in the government service.
The following monograph mentions in brief certain behavioural aspects to be learnt and imbibed through practice while remaining as a government servant and even thereafter. Following these rules of self-conduct albeit looking ordinary ones can make one extra-ordinary in the office and workplaces. They will command not only goodwill of people they serve but also earn respect from their bosses. They are not treated at par with others even by their bosses.
1. (a) The first suggestion for those who wish to tread the path of honesty is to make life simple and frugal. But it is easier said than done done. For this we need to train our mind consistently by exploring examples around us related to after-effects of being dishonest and unscrupulous in our service in the government. We must learn from the bad consequences faced by others indulged in dishonest practices. Also;we must not forget that dishonest dealings ultimately get exposed. In due course of time it explodes too; shattering not only our years' earned image but is also causal to other hardships like suspension, dismissal and other associated phenomena like desertion of near and dear ones in times of crisis, loss of face of your children in their circle etc, etc.The list of hardship and disgrace is endless during such period and helping hands are zilch.
Hence, examples of bad consequences should serve as negative reinforcement in the initial phase when we decide to be upright in the service.
(b) Company of people in the Office
Next to be pored over is our company in which we remain to spend time in the office or outside. Our association with the nature of people matters a lot. It can downgrade willpower if one is swamped in the company of such colleagues or people as are dishonest and desultory in character. It requires self-discipline and safe-soft distance from those people in the office/organization who are prone to display and talk of purchase they do of costly items, apparel and other extravagant objects of display and flamboyance.
(c) No gift or daali(presents).
I know from experience that officers are very fond of gifts or daali that is presents made to them in form of fruits and flowers. They feel happy and sometimes enamoured by these gestures of the doers. But my opinion is that these fruits or flowers even if claimed to be from the orchards or gardens of the giver should be avoided. The tendency of accepting gifts and presents may soon degenerate into greed and avarice. When you happen to be presented with costly items as gift your conscience stands compromised. Unscrupulous people fully utilize this situation in their favour under the garb of exchange of mutual goodwill. While accepting these gifts or presents you unconsciously lend opportunity to the givers know about your inner instincts. Hence any such tendency of accepting any thing as a token of gift should be nipped in the bud. It is dangerous if not checked at the formative stage of career. Young civil servants who want to protect their character against these forces must heed to this suggestion.
Gifts even if modest in value should be politely refused. It helps build character and gives message to the people approaching you that you are upright. This does not mean that one should be rude or boastful to show that one is honest. Also refusing to accept gift before the watching eyes but allowing oneself to be bribed in private is simply hypocrisy. It does not last long and you get exposed ultimately. The purpose here is to save yourself from this fay in the form of gift or daali which unless checked soon turns into a monster of greed. Another benefits of this polite refusal is that unscrupulous elements would not prefer to come in contact with you. In that way you can save yourself from possible degradation in your dealings by making a protective circle around. It is stressed that people constantly watch government servants the way they conduct themselves in matters of trivial transaction in the name of goodwill. They closely scrutinize your likings or dislikes. For it gives them ideas not only about their preferences and predilections but falliability, corruptibility of government servants also.They are ascertained through these small behavioral tests consciously thrown upon them by the unscrupulous elements trying to develop connections of sorts.
I am prompted to write above lines despite being aware of the fact that acceptance of gifts or daali of certain value by public servants is legally permissible in so far as an order to this effect is in place since the days of colonial era. In fact it has been recently revised as to what should be the value of such gifts or daali to be accepted by these government officers of different ranks.
(d) Avoid meeting people at your residence even if such residence is your official one.
Meeting people at your residence as a matter of normal practice gives rise to a number of doubts about your inner motive as to why you prefer to meet people at home. You should remember that you are not a politician.
Don't allow any staff or contractors to come to your bungalow or quarter. The intention is not that you should make yourself inaccessible, but whoever wants to see you on official business should meet you in your office and not at your residence. Those who have a combined office and residence may not find it possible to follow this advice, but where there is a separate office, there is no reason why representations from staffs, contractors or the public should be received at the house and not in the office. To some it may appear very rigid and unworkable because public servants cannot live in isolation either from the public or from their own subordinates. If so, some departure may be made by those who have, through long experience become mature and established the habit of remaining steady in the face of temptation, however subtle or strong. So young officers must develop the habit of going to office regularly and at right time and avoid meeting people at their residence until they acquire the necessary strength of character and understanding the ways of the world.
When all said about you before you enter your office it is time to discuss how you dispose your file while in office.
2.(a) Chronic Delays
Some officers are so casual that files keep on biting dust on their desk. Speed and accuracy are essential in the disposal of business if corruption is to be checked. The number of days a file remains on your table forms the source of gossip among your subordinates as also people affected by the delay at your level for disposal of the file. A contractor's bill having been kept in abeyance for clearance, goods detained at the booking station, wagons loaded with perishable goods, livestock held up in a station yard, people made to wait in long queues outside business counters in government offices, orders for transfers or promotions made only in file but uncommunicated for days etc. breed corruption and speak volumes about those indulged in this nasty practice. Either it reflects mismanagement or incompetency of the officers or it smacks the ulterior motive of the officer improvising ways for illegal gratification through these delays which are mostly artificial creations for giving a feeling of consternation & harassment. Delay helps grow and emerge touts who act on behalf of the unscrupulous officers indulged in corrupt practices. Thus to keep others waiting is one of the favorite tricks of those who want their palm to be greased.
Hence those having decided to remain honest must develop an efficient and effective methods of prompt disposal of the files they are supposed to clear in the prescribed time frame. Honest dealings deprecate delay. It should no way contain rooms for indolency and dilly dally. Honesty presupposes promptitude and no latitudes or laxity in duty.
(b) Frequent Change of Orders
Another important suggestions in our endeavour to remain honest is to develop an attitude that supports being the part of the methodology of taking decisions that do not change frequently. Frequent changes in decisions raises doubts; particularly when a decision taken in the negative is made affirmative within a short gap.
It should be regarded as danger signal and warning of the possible existence of corruption.
Penalties first imposed on contractor but later on cancelled, punishment orders/transfer orders for staffs first issued but subsequently revised or changed, claims first repudiated but later on paid, objections first made on the bills received from staffs, contractors or suppliers but afterwards these claims having been accepted for payments, an employees declared unsuitable for certain higher post but a few weeks later he/she being declared suitable, someone arrested for alleged serious offence but after several months having been let off on grounds of insufficient evidence to launch prosecution are some examples. This change of orders, in most cases, does have the possibility of being based upon extraneous considerations like covert use of money and linkages.
Thus needless to say that if you happen to change your decisions frequently you lend opportunity for others to interpret you as either weak in judgements or corrupt/corruptible in your purpose. Therefore, it is always advisable to take a decision taking into considerations all relevant issues on the matter so that the chances of changing or revising your orders are less and less. An able administrator is always prompt in making decisions but he is definitely slow in changing them.
3.(a) Reputation & Integrity
It is not enough for public servants to be honest, they must also be above suspicion;they must be known to be honest. They must have a reputation for integrity. Reputation is a hidden force which according to its quality, either promotes or check corruption. Though reputation is intangible, it is yet a distinct attribute of the man and marks him out from others, just as a flower is distinguished by its smell. A spotless reputation is an invaluable asset to a man. It must be safeguarded with the best that we can deliver as a matter of duty enjoined upon us.
Even a single instance of your malfeasance can ruin your reputation so built hitherto so assiduously by disinterested discharge of your duty.
Likewise some civil servants consciously make false reputation of being honest. Faking honesty is a temptation that attract civil servants of second class character.
Therefore, one should always be on one's guard to protect one's reputation as an honest and hardworking civil servant if one is really so.
Similarly a bad reputation is anathema. It undervalues your character whereever you go. People doubt your credibility if you have been caught complacent, fraudulent or delinquent in your official conduct.
(b) Honesty and Capability
If you are honest but not capable enough then you matter little for the people you are meant to serve or the task you are supposed to perform. Hence honesty without matching capability is self defeating in matters of career progression. But if you are honest and capable also you can motivate others to follow your path. People will get inspiration from you and emulate your ways. Therefore honest and capable civil servants are assets to the government. Government must create an environment where honest and capable officer's work is appreciated at least.
There may arise occasions when out of jealousy or unhealthy competition in the organization one's character is purposely tarnished. This game generally takes place at the time when your promotions become due or there is talks doing the rounds that you are being considered for higher responsibilities.
Even if such evil designs of your peers succeed, it should not prompt you to leave the path of honesty or resort to nefarious or crooked dealings out of vengeance. This will not benefit you. In fact you may find yourself in more sticky situation by way of falling prey to the tactics of the unfair elements of your organization. Ultimately we should be mindful that we have not become honest only for getting promotion! It amounts to trivialize the benefit of honesty or probity which cannot be equated by promotions or the like. If promotion happens well and good and if not it is equally well and good. What matters is your clean conscience and your determination that let temptations/opportunism/sycophancy/cringing do not guide you in your career whether your boss considers you for promotion or not. We should not forget that reward of honesty is not promotion but it is being at peace with oneself and remaining free from the binding effect of evil doings. It is a means of beseeching God and serving Him through the services you render to the people as a matter of duty towards them.
(c) Nepotism & Partiality
Honesty is not limited to remaining unaffected by stimulus in the form of money only. It is a way of life and locus standi of our thought and action while performing our duty without fear or favour but with definite firmness wrapped in humility. A government servant fakes honesty if he is biased towards or against some of his employees serving under him. He must build an environment in the office that leads everyone to conclude that his boss is partial to none in matters of Affection, Action or Protection. Nepotism and favoritism should have no room in the premise of official conduct. Officers showing these weaknesses ultimately earn bad names for themselves howsoever honest he may be.
From above discussion, it should lead us to conclude that treading the path of honesty requires determination against various forces and temptations, nevertheless it is always a cherished path if we want us to be led by conscience and live on pure means.
It is our patriotic duty to carry on a vigorous campaign to exterminate corruption from our midst. By example and precept, let us strive for the attainment of the highest standards of integrity in public service. Let us take active steps to create an atmosphere in which honesty will thrive and corruption receives jolt.
The opportunists may judge this proposition only after the so called cost benefit analysis and will follow the path of honesty as per their convenience not conviction! Is not it?
R.R.Prabhakar.
27.11.2019.
The following monograph mentions in brief certain behavioural aspects to be learnt and imbibed through practice while remaining as a government servant and even thereafter. Following these rules of self-conduct albeit looking ordinary ones can make one extra-ordinary in the office and workplaces. They will command not only goodwill of people they serve but also earn respect from their bosses. They are not treated at par with others even by their bosses.
1. (a) The first suggestion for those who wish to tread the path of honesty is to make life simple and frugal. But it is easier said than done done. For this we need to train our mind consistently by exploring examples around us related to after-effects of being dishonest and unscrupulous in our service in the government. We must learn from the bad consequences faced by others indulged in dishonest practices. Also;we must not forget that dishonest dealings ultimately get exposed. In due course of time it explodes too; shattering not only our years' earned image but is also causal to other hardships like suspension, dismissal and other associated phenomena like desertion of near and dear ones in times of crisis, loss of face of your children in their circle etc, etc.The list of hardship and disgrace is endless during such period and helping hands are zilch.
Hence, examples of bad consequences should serve as negative reinforcement in the initial phase when we decide to be upright in the service.
(b) Company of people in the Office
Next to be pored over is our company in which we remain to spend time in the office or outside. Our association with the nature of people matters a lot. It can downgrade willpower if one is swamped in the company of such colleagues or people as are dishonest and desultory in character. It requires self-discipline and safe-soft distance from those people in the office/organization who are prone to display and talk of purchase they do of costly items, apparel and other extravagant objects of display and flamboyance.
(c) No gift or daali(presents).
I know from experience that officers are very fond of gifts or daali that is presents made to them in form of fruits and flowers. They feel happy and sometimes enamoured by these gestures of the doers. But my opinion is that these fruits or flowers even if claimed to be from the orchards or gardens of the giver should be avoided. The tendency of accepting gifts and presents may soon degenerate into greed and avarice. When you happen to be presented with costly items as gift your conscience stands compromised. Unscrupulous people fully utilize this situation in their favour under the garb of exchange of mutual goodwill. While accepting these gifts or presents you unconsciously lend opportunity to the givers know about your inner instincts. Hence any such tendency of accepting any thing as a token of gift should be nipped in the bud. It is dangerous if not checked at the formative stage of career. Young civil servants who want to protect their character against these forces must heed to this suggestion.
Gifts even if modest in value should be politely refused. It helps build character and gives message to the people approaching you that you are upright. This does not mean that one should be rude or boastful to show that one is honest. Also refusing to accept gift before the watching eyes but allowing oneself to be bribed in private is simply hypocrisy. It does not last long and you get exposed ultimately. The purpose here is to save yourself from this fay in the form of gift or daali which unless checked soon turns into a monster of greed. Another benefits of this polite refusal is that unscrupulous elements would not prefer to come in contact with you. In that way you can save yourself from possible degradation in your dealings by making a protective circle around. It is stressed that people constantly watch government servants the way they conduct themselves in matters of trivial transaction in the name of goodwill. They closely scrutinize your likings or dislikes. For it gives them ideas not only about their preferences and predilections but falliability, corruptibility of government servants also.They are ascertained through these small behavioral tests consciously thrown upon them by the unscrupulous elements trying to develop connections of sorts.
I am prompted to write above lines despite being aware of the fact that acceptance of gifts or daali of certain value by public servants is legally permissible in so far as an order to this effect is in place since the days of colonial era. In fact it has been recently revised as to what should be the value of such gifts or daali to be accepted by these government officers of different ranks.
(d) Avoid meeting people at your residence even if such residence is your official one.
Meeting people at your residence as a matter of normal practice gives rise to a number of doubts about your inner motive as to why you prefer to meet people at home. You should remember that you are not a politician.
Don't allow any staff or contractors to come to your bungalow or quarter. The intention is not that you should make yourself inaccessible, but whoever wants to see you on official business should meet you in your office and not at your residence. Those who have a combined office and residence may not find it possible to follow this advice, but where there is a separate office, there is no reason why representations from staffs, contractors or the public should be received at the house and not in the office. To some it may appear very rigid and unworkable because public servants cannot live in isolation either from the public or from their own subordinates. If so, some departure may be made by those who have, through long experience become mature and established the habit of remaining steady in the face of temptation, however subtle or strong. So young officers must develop the habit of going to office regularly and at right time and avoid meeting people at their residence until they acquire the necessary strength of character and understanding the ways of the world.
When all said about you before you enter your office it is time to discuss how you dispose your file while in office.
2.(a) Chronic Delays
Some officers are so casual that files keep on biting dust on their desk. Speed and accuracy are essential in the disposal of business if corruption is to be checked. The number of days a file remains on your table forms the source of gossip among your subordinates as also people affected by the delay at your level for disposal of the file. A contractor's bill having been kept in abeyance for clearance, goods detained at the booking station, wagons loaded with perishable goods, livestock held up in a station yard, people made to wait in long queues outside business counters in government offices, orders for transfers or promotions made only in file but uncommunicated for days etc. breed corruption and speak volumes about those indulged in this nasty practice. Either it reflects mismanagement or incompetency of the officers or it smacks the ulterior motive of the officer improvising ways for illegal gratification through these delays which are mostly artificial creations for giving a feeling of consternation & harassment. Delay helps grow and emerge touts who act on behalf of the unscrupulous officers indulged in corrupt practices. Thus to keep others waiting is one of the favorite tricks of those who want their palm to be greased.
Hence those having decided to remain honest must develop an efficient and effective methods of prompt disposal of the files they are supposed to clear in the prescribed time frame. Honest dealings deprecate delay. It should no way contain rooms for indolency and dilly dally. Honesty presupposes promptitude and no latitudes or laxity in duty.
(b) Frequent Change of Orders
Another important suggestions in our endeavour to remain honest is to develop an attitude that supports being the part of the methodology of taking decisions that do not change frequently. Frequent changes in decisions raises doubts; particularly when a decision taken in the negative is made affirmative within a short gap.
It should be regarded as danger signal and warning of the possible existence of corruption.
Penalties first imposed on contractor but later on cancelled, punishment orders/transfer orders for staffs first issued but subsequently revised or changed, claims first repudiated but later on paid, objections first made on the bills received from staffs, contractors or suppliers but afterwards these claims having been accepted for payments, an employees declared unsuitable for certain higher post but a few weeks later he/she being declared suitable, someone arrested for alleged serious offence but after several months having been let off on grounds of insufficient evidence to launch prosecution are some examples. This change of orders, in most cases, does have the possibility of being based upon extraneous considerations like covert use of money and linkages.
Thus needless to say that if you happen to change your decisions frequently you lend opportunity for others to interpret you as either weak in judgements or corrupt/corruptible in your purpose. Therefore, it is always advisable to take a decision taking into considerations all relevant issues on the matter so that the chances of changing or revising your orders are less and less. An able administrator is always prompt in making decisions but he is definitely slow in changing them.
3.(a) Reputation & Integrity
It is not enough for public servants to be honest, they must also be above suspicion;they must be known to be honest. They must have a reputation for integrity. Reputation is a hidden force which according to its quality, either promotes or check corruption. Though reputation is intangible, it is yet a distinct attribute of the man and marks him out from others, just as a flower is distinguished by its smell. A spotless reputation is an invaluable asset to a man. It must be safeguarded with the best that we can deliver as a matter of duty enjoined upon us.
Even a single instance of your malfeasance can ruin your reputation so built hitherto so assiduously by disinterested discharge of your duty.
Likewise some civil servants consciously make false reputation of being honest. Faking honesty is a temptation that attract civil servants of second class character.
Therefore, one should always be on one's guard to protect one's reputation as an honest and hardworking civil servant if one is really so.
Similarly a bad reputation is anathema. It undervalues your character whereever you go. People doubt your credibility if you have been caught complacent, fraudulent or delinquent in your official conduct.
(b) Honesty and Capability
If you are honest but not capable enough then you matter little for the people you are meant to serve or the task you are supposed to perform. Hence honesty without matching capability is self defeating in matters of career progression. But if you are honest and capable also you can motivate others to follow your path. People will get inspiration from you and emulate your ways. Therefore honest and capable civil servants are assets to the government. Government must create an environment where honest and capable officer's work is appreciated at least.
There may arise occasions when out of jealousy or unhealthy competition in the organization one's character is purposely tarnished. This game generally takes place at the time when your promotions become due or there is talks doing the rounds that you are being considered for higher responsibilities.
Even if such evil designs of your peers succeed, it should not prompt you to leave the path of honesty or resort to nefarious or crooked dealings out of vengeance. This will not benefit you. In fact you may find yourself in more sticky situation by way of falling prey to the tactics of the unfair elements of your organization. Ultimately we should be mindful that we have not become honest only for getting promotion! It amounts to trivialize the benefit of honesty or probity which cannot be equated by promotions or the like. If promotion happens well and good and if not it is equally well and good. What matters is your clean conscience and your determination that let temptations/opportunism/sycophancy/cringing do not guide you in your career whether your boss considers you for promotion or not. We should not forget that reward of honesty is not promotion but it is being at peace with oneself and remaining free from the binding effect of evil doings. It is a means of beseeching God and serving Him through the services you render to the people as a matter of duty towards them.
(c) Nepotism & Partiality
Honesty is not limited to remaining unaffected by stimulus in the form of money only. It is a way of life and locus standi of our thought and action while performing our duty without fear or favour but with definite firmness wrapped in humility. A government servant fakes honesty if he is biased towards or against some of his employees serving under him. He must build an environment in the office that leads everyone to conclude that his boss is partial to none in matters of Affection, Action or Protection. Nepotism and favoritism should have no room in the premise of official conduct. Officers showing these weaknesses ultimately earn bad names for themselves howsoever honest he may be.
From above discussion, it should lead us to conclude that treading the path of honesty requires determination against various forces and temptations, nevertheless it is always a cherished path if we want us to be led by conscience and live on pure means.
It is our patriotic duty to carry on a vigorous campaign to exterminate corruption from our midst. By example and precept, let us strive for the attainment of the highest standards of integrity in public service. Let us take active steps to create an atmosphere in which honesty will thrive and corruption receives jolt.
The opportunists may judge this proposition only after the so called cost benefit analysis and will follow the path of honesty as per their convenience not conviction! Is not it?
R.R.Prabhakar.
27.11.2019.
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