Each year about 10 lakh youngsters download application forms for the Civil Services from the UPSC website. About five lakh apply and about 10,000 of them write the second-phase exams. Of these about 1500 are invited for interviews and about 500 qualify.
Nobody would claim that Civil Service officers are the most able people in India. However, they too have a sizeable standing among outstanding talents in India.
Citing the example of coconut trees, Bharthruhari has said that good people never forget the help they have received in their lives. Those who clear the Civil Services are definitely able and outstanding but they are there because those around them have helped them to achieve the heights they are in. They need to reciprocate that grace with dedication, honesty and hard work; not by fighting each other or humiliating each other.
Most, like the coconut tree, give back to the society many times of what they receive from it. That is the reason why the services continue today as relevant, dignified and attractive. While generally, the service is dignified and efficient, one cannot deny that there are notes of disharmony and distasteful occurrences, which are unfortunate.
Such occurrences have happened earlier as well. The law has caught up with ICS officials who could be bribed. There were IPS officials who used to ignore or fight ICS collectors and so on. When ICS was replaced with IAS and when IP was replaced by IPS, some amount of deterioration in quality also happened, which is obvious considering that 100 officials are hired than 10 each year. However, in spite of all these, the Economist found in a study that the success of India lies in the success of its district-level administration.
While the services have been maintaining high standards, aberrations have become more visible and therefore are being discussed more. Officials who make matters worse do not understand that they are being held in high esteem because of the three letters following their names.
Fame is like a shadow; follow it and it would keep moving away from you. You only make a fool of yourself if you try to conquer fame. The media would try to entice with their questions. Officials need to resist the temptation to fall into their trap. When Bharathbhushan was Chief Secretary, the media had a great time because the official and the former Chief Secretary were at loggerheads. The squabbles between them were lapped up by the media. When the relation between the Chief Secretary and DGP deteriorated, a young friend became a writer and wrote an unbecoming story.
Another goes on leave and works for a private company. When he is cornered, he cites previous instances when such things had happened and offers his salary back to the company. All that is happening is immediately leaked to the media.
I would also like to cite the case of K.M. Abraham, who was instrumental in bringing the head of Sahara to Tihar jail and was referred to above. Since I found his involvement inconceivable, I enquired and found that Abraham had indeed gone to a private firm and earned his pay from that company. However, he had gone with the government's permission. It is unfortunate that he is now being cited for misdemeanour.
Facebook is a big trap. It entices much more than the apple that Eve gave Adam. Not being enticed by such media and performing one's duties is what is expected of officers in responsible positions.
(The author was an additional chief secretary)
Disclaimer
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Manorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.