Class Notes 4 You

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said the above statement in a speech at the European Union emphasising on the continuity of ethics and righteousness that germinates in the family and reflects across the universe like ripples in an ocean.  ● Righteousness in the heart enables individuals to pursue an ethical course of action. It is key to consistent ethical choices which builds integrity and ultimately a beautiful character.  ● People with character nourish their personal relationships with acceptance, respect, understanding and appreciation. It ensures harmony in the home which keeps the people rooted and content despite the adversities of life.  ● Harmonious families build harmonious societies where the cleavages of caste, gender, religion and class become non-existent. According to Dr. Ambedkar, without such social democracy, political democracy will remain the top soil and a half-realised dream.  ● The prosperity and well-being of the nation is ensured and pursued by individu...

Gandhiji made the above statement highlighting those ideas are the genesis of all our actions and life events.  We have to first conceptualise and manifest our life goals in our mind to then see it transform into reality. • Our thoughts enable our efforts and help us persevere against challenges that may present themselves on the way. E.g.: Gandhi's commitment to swaraj helped him remain dedicated to the cause of freedom. • Most revolutionary transformations in society have its genesis in the thoughts of men and women. For example, Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s efforts against Sati, Martin Luther King, Vinoba Bhave.  • Thoughts therefore become the building blocks of our attitudes and actions. E.g.: a positive attitude towards Swachch Bharat Abhiyan enabled its success. • Education should therefore be centred at developing progressive, positive thoughts about self and society, to create ethical individuals. E.g.: the Awakened Citizen programme of Ramakrishna Mission and CBSE helps to i...

Socrates made the above statement highlighting the necessity of a deeper understanding of life and our actions that can help us live a more fulfilling life. Without a continuous assessment of our life and its purpose, its potential and abundance cannot be truly realised.  • At the individual level, self-reflection is the force of human progress. For example: Ratnakar Daku had a change of heart upon self-examination and became Sage Valmiki. • As a society, self-reflection by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar amongst others crusaded for abolition of sati and widow remarriage. • In history when USSR re-examined its society and politics, it realised its own hubris and the disintegration of 1991 followed. • When the economic depression of 1930 hit the world, self-examination of society resulted in Keynesian economics and welfare state policies. • Examination of environmental processes led to Rachel Carson writing the Silent Spring about the evils of DDT pesticide leading to ...

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability of recognising, accepting, managing one’s emotions as well as others to meet goals like common ends, professional success, team work etc. According to Daniel Goleman it involves self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social management. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to make your emotions work for you: 1. Emotional intelligence can help individuals respond to a situation of crisis effectively. For example, when dealing with adversities of life. 2. It can help channelise emotions constructively, for example, Kailash Satyarthi channelised his anger against child atrocities and initiated the Bachpan Bachao Andolan. 3. Emotional intelligence avoids crises of conscience and internal dissonance since an emotionally intelligent person acts in an ethically just way and with deep empathy. This ensures personal well-being as well as rights of others. E.g.: Gandhiji. 4. Emotional intelligence also leads to better decision making s...

Probity in Governance refers to maintaining and sustaining highest standards of morality and righteousness in overall conduct. It envisages people as being ethical pole stars, constant and consistent in their efforts at maintaining good governance. Probity in governance is the sum total of public-spirited values like integrity, honesty, uprightness, dedication to public service and objectivity.  Measures for ensuring probity in government. 1. Ethical training is a key pillar that must be imbibed through entry level training (example foundation course at LBSNAA), mid-career training as well as interventions like Vigilance Awareness Week, Integrity pledges. 2. Transformational Leadership that respects, understands, celebrates the team by effective communication, delegation and motivation. 3. Strong oversight mechanism through Parliament, law enforcement, independent media and civil society 4. Decentralisation and people’s empowerment: E.g.: through effective implementation of 73rd an...

The Official Secrets Act was enacted in 1923 and retained after Independence. The law makes spying, sharing secret information, withholding sensitive information, a punishable offence. The law meant for ensuring secrecy and confidentiality in governance, mostly on national security and espionage issues, has often been cited by authorities for refusing to divulge information. Governments have faced criticism for misusing the law against journalists and whistle-blowers.  OSA as an obstacle to RTI: 1. OSA creates a culture of secrecy that is at odds with the goals of transparency rooted in the Right to Information Act. The frequent use and misuse of OSA has made confidentiality a norm, hindering the very essence of providing information under RTI. OSA along with other rules and instructions impede the freedom of information creating a culture of secrecy and non-disclosure, which is against the spirit of RTI. 2. Ambiguity which enables discretion to deny information under RTI: The law ...

The 12th report of 2nd ARC on Citizen Centric Governance states that Citizen’s charter is fundamentally a set of commitments made by an organisation regarding the standards of service it delivers. The basic principles of citizen charter movement are as follows: 1. Value for taxpayers’ money. 2. Accountability: of individuals and organisations. 3. Transparency: of rules, procedure, schemes and grievances. 4. Standards: specifying what to expect and how to act if standards are not met. 5. Quality: improving the quality of service. 6. Choice: wherever possible. The importance of Citizen Charter movement lies in: 1. Enhancing Transparency and accountability by providing citizens with information of service delivery standards 2. Citizen’s Charter decreases opportunity for corruption and graft. 3. Increased participation of common man in efficient working of an organisation.  4. Helps reduce cost, prevent delays and red tapism. 5. Citizen friendliness & convenience which leads to inc...