The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examination is renowned as one of the most prestigious and challenging competitive exams in India. In the year 2020, the General Studies Paper 4, often referred to as GS 4, presented candidates with a diverse array of ethical dilemmas and situational questions. This paper aimed to evaluate the ethical and moral aptitude of aspiring civil servants, testing their ability to navigate complex issues with integrity and sound judgment. Through a series of case studies and theoretical inquiries, candidates were required to demonstrate their understanding of ethical principles and their practical application in governance and public administration. The UPSC GS 4 paper serves as a crucial benchmark for selecting individuals who possess not only the knowledge but also the ethical fortitude necessary to serve the nation with honesty, fairness, and dedication.
Q9. Rampura, a remote district inhabited by a tribal population, is marked by extreme backwardness and abject poverty. Agriculture is the mainstay of the local population, though it is subsistence due to the very small landholdings. There is insignificant industrial or mining activity. Even the targeted welfare programs have inadequately benefited the tribal population. In this restrictive scenario, the youth has begun to migrate to other states to supplement the family income. Plight of minor girls is that their parents are persuaded by labour contractors to send them to work in the Bt Cotton farms of a nearby state. The soft fingers of the minor girls are well suited for plucking the cotton. The inadequate living and working conditions in these farms have caused serious health issues for the minor girls. NGOs in the districts of domicile and the cotton farms appear to be compromised and have not effectively espoused the twin issues of child labour and development of the area.
You are appointed as the District Collector of Rampura. Identify the ethical issues involved. Which specific steps will you initiate to ameliorate the conditions of minor girls of your district and to improve the overall economic scenario in the district. (250 Words, 20 Marks)
Tag: Case studies
Answer:
Case Summary:
Rampura is a remote district, backward with tribal population, having poverty and locals are associated with subsistence agriculture. Insignificant industries, inadequate targeted welfare programs leading to migration of youth including minor girls to work with poor working conditions that affect the health of minor girls. NGOs failed to deal with twin problems such as child labor and area development. I am the district collector of Rampura.
Stakeholder in the case:
- I, appointed as a district collector in Rampura.
- Local population of Rampura.
- Labour contractor.
- Local Non Government Organizations (NGOs).
Ethical Issues involved in the case:
- Livelihood vs Well-being: The meager livelihood opportunities have forced the local population to send their minor children to Bt-Cotton farms.
- Distress Migration: Migration of youth in search of better working opportunities leaving their families behind in abysmal conditions.
- Child Labour: Tribal people who are compelled to send their minor girls in the Bt-Cotton farms as their small landholdings are not earning well.
- Well-being of Minors: Forced labor which is leading to the deterioration of health of minor girls. This affects their education as well.
- Corruption: The NGOs are compromised and have proved ineffective in highlighting the plight of the tribals.
Steps that will taken to ameliorate the conditions of minor girls:
- Strictly Implement Child Labour Act: The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986 designates a child as a person who has not completed their 14th year of age. It aims to regulate the hours and the working conditions of child workers and to prohibit child workers from being employed in hazardous industries. Proper enforcement of and implementation of this Act is crucial to ameliorate the conditions of minor girls.
- Alternative Livelihood Opportunity: Need to provide alternative livelihood opportunity by implementing targeted government programs and government schemes like MGNREGA, Mudra Loan, etc., to support them economically.
- Rehabilitation of Minor Girl Child: Rehabilitation of minor girl child under the Ujjawala Yojana is crucial.
- Education of Minor Girl Child: To ameliorate the minor girl child, education is crucial.
- Others: Need to provide vocational and skill development training for minor girl children. They are also provided with nutrition and health care under the Poshan Abhiyan.
Steps that will taken to improve the overall economic scenario in the district:
- Promotion of Development Programs: Being a district collector in Rampura, i will promote and implement all the state or centrally sponsored development programmes or schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, MGNREGA etc. This will help in improving the economic scenario in the district to a great extent.
- Focus on Skill Development: I will focus more on skill development of the locals under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and also provide all the necessary administrative support to make them skilled. If the locals are skilled, they can get decent jobs with decent wages, that will definitely help them to have a good and quality life.
- Establishment and Promotion of Agro-based Small Scale Industries: Establishment and promotion of agro-based small scale industries will play a catalytic role in the improvement of the overall economic scenario and will also generate employment.
- Promotion of Tribal Products: Promotion of tribal products under TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India). This will significantly increase the income of the locals and also improve the economic scenario of the district.
- Regulation of NGO: Needs to regulate NGOs and their funding based on their work. It is a very crucial step that needs to be taken for the advantage of the deprived and poor locals.
While implementing all the mentioned steps tribals shall always be taken into confidence to assure that the reach of benefits is universal. Thus, in this way, the problems of the Rampura district will be resolved and this will also ensure and promote faster, sustainable and inclusive growth.
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