GS4 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Ethics Case Study - 15 | UPSC Mains: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude PDF Download

Rakesh is a responsible district level officer, who enjoys the trust of his higher officials. Knowing his honesty, the government entrusted him with the responsibility of identifying the beneficiaries under a health care scheme meant for senior citizens. The criteria to be a beneficiary are the following:
(a) 60 years of age or above.
(b) Belonging to a reserved community.
(c) Family income of less than 1 Lakh rupees per annum.
(d) Post-treatment prognosis is likely to be high to make a positive difference to the quality of life of the beneficiary.
One day, an old couple visited Rakesh’s office with their application. They have been the residents of a village in his district since their birth. The old man is diagnosed with a rare condition that causes obstruction in the large intestine. As a consequence, he has severe abdominal pain frequently that prevents him from doing any physical labour. The couple has no children to support them.
The expert surgeon whom they contacted is willing to do the surgery without charging any fee. However, the couple will have to bear the cost of incidental charges, such as medicines, hospitalization, etc., to the tune of rupees one lakh. The couple fulfils all the criteria except criterion ‘b’. However, any financial aid would certainly make a significant difference in their quality of life. How should Rakesh respond to the situation. (UPSC MAINS GS4)

• Rakesh is a responsible honest and trusted officer. First of all, he should be guided by the officially given or laid down qualifications to identify the beneficiaries of the healthcare scheme. This is not only the duty of a civil servant to strictly follow the laid down criteria but this is also necessary because the set of given criteria instill the element of transparency and probity and help in governance to be just and Fair. 
• Nevertheless civil servants are close to the ground realities and they are on striker’s end; they may confront situations in which given criteria, here no. 2 criteria, may be inadequate to cover all real beneficiaries, therefore, Rakesh must try to see the scope of using discretion or ways to help the needy within official provisions. 
• Rakesh may find provisions of exception and discretion in the said health scheme tconsider extremely needy patients. This is not clear from the conditions given above, but a trusted and responsible officer in charge can seek exemptions and support from higher ups for the patient within the scheme by forwarding a case on compassionate and humanitarian grounds. The senior authorities may oblige, especially the concerned department head, or minister or Chief Minister. First he should explore possibilities from the existing internal departmental channel itself, then only he should try for other options. 
• Thirdly, if relaxation within the health scheme is not permissible, Rakesh should explore other possibilities like Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or even Prime Minister’s relief fund after getting an endorsement from the MLA and MP of the region. Every year certain number of people are given assistance for treatment of severe diseases from these funds . 
• Lastly, what is important is treatment of the old, jobless and needy patient and not his inclusion in the beneficiaries’ list. So, an active Civil servant who commands respect may convince as a citizen and not in his official capacity, good Samaritans of the region to help the old man in need or motivate the locals for crowd funding. But he should directly involve into it, rather be facilitator in the crowdfunding process. 
• The last method has worked in some instances for making local infrastructure or facilities; it may work in this case as well. Two boys who qualified for IIT from Phagwara district in Punjab but did not have money to get admission were helped by a man by urging people through a blog, that mobilised more than required funds overnight. The last option needs care and caution to keep the process clean and transparent and without involving the official capacity.