Practice Questions 4

 What does the following quotation mean to you in the present context?

 “The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject anything, is not whether it has any evil in it; but whether it has more evil than good. There are few things wholly evil or wholly good. Almost everything, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded. ”Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln's quote suggests that governmental decision-making is a complex process, and one needs to weigh the balance between good and evil before embracing or rejecting anything.

In the present context, this quote holds relevance in various areas of life, such as politics, business, relationships, and personal decisions. For example, Aadhaar for benefit transfer is a government program that aims to provide social welfare benefits directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts. While this program has its advantages, such as eliminating middlemen and ensuring transparency, it also has its disadvantages, such as privacy concerns and the possibility of exclusion of eligible beneficiaries.

Similarly, the Green Revolution - while this program helped to increase food production and improve the living standards of many farmers, it also had its disadvantages, such as environmental degradation and the loss of traditional farming practices.

In conclusion, the above quote suggests that ethical decision-making is crucial in serving the public interest. Continuous evaluation of any decision needs to be done to ensure benefits outweigh disadvantages.

 

 Saraswati was a successful IT professional in USA.  Moved by the patriotic sense of doing something for the country she returned to India. Together with some other like-minded friends, she formed an NGO to build a school for a poor rural community.

The objective of the school was to provide the best quality modern education at a nominal cost. She soon discovered that she has to seek permission from a number of Government agencies. The rules and procedures were quite confusing and cumbersome. What frustrated her most was delays, callous attitude of officials and constant demand for bribes. Her experience and the experience of many others like her, has deterred people from taking up social service projects.

A measure of Government control over voluntary social work is necessary. But it should not be exercised in a coercive a corrupt manner. What measures can you suggest to ensure that due control is exercised but well meaning, honest NGO efforts are not thwarted?

 

Encouraging and supporting well-meaning, honest NGO efforts is essential for the development and progress of any society. While some level of government control is necessary to ensure that these efforts are aligned with the overall goals of the society, it is important that this control is exercised in a fair, transparent, and accountable manner.

 

Here are some measures that can be considered to deal with the above mentioned problems.

 

·         Streamline the procedures: The rules and procedures for seeking permissions and approvals from various government agencies can be simplified and made more transparent. The process should be made easier to navigate, with clear guidelines and timelines.

 

·         Set up a single-window clearance system: A single-window clearance system can be set up to enable NGOs to obtain all the necessary approvals and permissions from a single point of contact. This will help reduce delays and minimize corruption.

 

·         Make the process more accountable: The government agencies responsible for granting approvals and permissions should be made more accountable for their actions. The process should be transparent, with clear timelines and benchmarks. Any delays or corrupt practices should be investigated and punished.

 

·         Provide incentives: The government can provide incentives to NGOs that are doing good work, such as tax breaks or grants. This will encourage more people to take up social service projects and help support the efforts of those who are already doing so.

 

·         Use technology: Technology can be leveraged to make the process more efficient and transparent. For example, an online portal can be set up for NGOs to apply for approvals and permissions, which can be tracked in real-time. This will help reduce delays and minimize corruption.

 

·         Create awareness: The government can create awareness about the importance of social service projects and the role of NGOs in this regard. This will help build public support for such efforts and encourage more people to get involved.

 

The measures suggested above can go a long way in striking the balance between the control and facilitation. It is only when the government and NGOs work together as partners in progress that we can hope to create a more equitable and just society.