Integrity: The All-Inclusive Virtue of Civil Servants
Q: Integrity is all-inclusive. Elaborate on it, mentioning all types of integrity and their constituents as relevant to civil servants, Provide appropriate examples as required.
In the context of Public Service, Integrity is defined as the unwavering adherence to a Moral and Ethical Code. It is "all-inclusive" because it demands consistency between thoughts, words, and actions, regardless of pressure or temptation. For a civil servant, it is the Bedrock of the "Steel Frame" of administration.
1. Dimensions of Integrity and their Constituents
- Intellectual Integrity: The practice of being True to One’s Own Thinking and applying the same standards to oneself as to others. Constituent: Admitting mistakes and avoiding Cognitive Dissonance.
- Professional Integrity: Adherence to the Code of Conduct and professional standards without bias. Constituent: Objectivity in decision-making. Example: E. Sreedharan maintained professional integrity by ensuring zero political interference in the Metro projects.
- Financial Integrity: Absolute honesty in handling Public Funds. Constituent: Probity and transparency. Example: An officer refusing a bribe even in a Life-Threatening situation.
- Moral Integrity: Consistency in personal character across all spheres of life. Constituent: Moral Courage to stand by what is right.
Definition of Key Term
Cognitive Dissonance: A state of Mental Discomfort experienced when a person's beliefs do not match their actions. Example: A civil servant who believes in Honesty but accepts a "gift" experiences cognitive dissonance, which leads to a loss of Intellectual Integrity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, integrity is not a Segmented Virtue; a lapse in one dimension often leads to the collapse of the whole. Internalizing all-inclusive integrity is vital for Effective Governance. As Sardar Patel emphasized, without integrity, the administrative machinery cannot earn Public Trust in Viksit Odisha.
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