Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Probity in Governance
Probity in Governance
Public service
service that would benefit people at large, driven by welfare motive (not profitability)
government led
citizen centric
equality
Probity
governance based on strong ethical values: integrity, accountability, transparency,
objectivity, neutrality, inclusive and participatory etc
philosophical basis: social contract (people pool together some rights, and in return
enjoy public service from ruler/govt)
why?
Probity in Governance 1
efficient utilisation of limited resources for collective welfare (by checking
corruption)
steps taken:
e-governance
public service values made part of code of conduct (ARC2); align recruitment
and training programmes to probity
significance:
Probity in Governance 2
public trust in administration
deter exercise of civil servants' discretionary powers for welfare for fear of
scrutiny
privacy of those holding public offices (eg: judges uncomfortable with disclosing
assets)
Right to Information
tool to citizens to demand information from govt, suo moto disclosure of information
by govt
challenges
Probity in Governance 3
misuse: political vendetta, media sensationalism, frivolous RTIs filed
crucial bodies still outside RTI: judiciary, NGOs, political parties, BCCI
lack of clarity over which bodies fall under RTI (section 2(h))
delays, non-disclosures
Citizen charters
components of CCs (ARC2): mandate of organization, vision and ideals driving the
organization, responsibility of citizens (documents, procedures), commitments of
service quality (fees, timelines, standards), GRM authority
significance:
checks corruption: money paid for services goes to govt coffers, not to public
servant's pockets
Probity in Governance 4
manage user expectations → greater consumer satisfaction
challenges:
high sounding ideals and values, with limited practical utility; sometimes sets
impractical targets of service quality (discourage civil servants from trying)
way forward: focus on timely updating citizen charters based on end-user feedback
(ARC2)
make few promises that can be kept, rather than impractical and lofty
commitments (ARC2)
proper framing of CC
Work culture
collective beliefs, ideals that guide decision making within an organization
Probity in Governance 5
examples of good work culture: ISRO (inclusivity, motivation, zero based
budgeting), Google (employee satisfaction and motivation)
history of organization
management style
societal culture
significance:
how to develop?
recruitment
Probity in Governance 6
promotions based on years of service with limited focus on merit and
performance → complacency, will to act dominated by will to not commit
mistakes
job security
foster competition: lateral entry, both performance and seniority for promotions
check nefarious behavior: streamline enquiry and penalties under PCA (eg:
senior taxmen retired for corruption)
Probity in Governance 7
3 way transparency: management to employees, employees to management,
among peers; decisions should be made in line with organizational values
compilation of best practices, publicity and felicitation for high performing civil
servants (civil servants day, letters of appreciation from President etc)
RTI, CC
e-governance
biometric attendance
Probity in Governance 8
Good work culture Poor work culture
inclusivity of employees irrespective of sex, religion, caste discrimination based on sex, religion,
etc; participative decision making based on consensus caste etc; nepotism and favoritism
lip service to organizational values
alignment of decision-making with organizational values
during decision-making
low employee morale and
high levels of employeee motivation and productivity
productivity
performance review and rectification: objective, effective, biases and prejudices in
without prejudices performance review
safety and security in workplace (eg: no sexual threats to employee safety (sexual
harassment) harassment)
no respect for punctuality and
punctuality, respect for deadlines
deadlines
demerits: worker exploitation, high stress demerits: complacency and inefficiencies, poor
levels, productivity over principles working environment and red-tapism
Probity in Governance 9
significance of quality of service delivery:
timeliness
transparency
accountability
Probity in Governance 10
CC, RTI: awareness among citizens, moral pressure on civil servants better
quality service delivery
public welfare
lawful appropriation
utilization of funds for other than designated purposes (eg: Rajasthan diverting
CAMPA funds)
corruption
Probity in Governance 11