Ethics
Upholding Integrity in the Face of Corruption
- 02 May 2023
- 2 min read
Rajiv is a young IAS officer posted in a district of a state known for rampant corruption. His immediate superior, the District Collector, has a reputation for taking bribes and using his position to enrich himself. Rajiv is an idealistic officer who is determined to uphold the integrity of the civil service and make a difference in the lives of the people he serves. However, he soon realizes that the system he is a part of is deeply entrenched in corruption, and that his efforts to bring about change are being hampered at every turn.
One day, a senior officer of the state government offers Rajiv a bribe of Rs. 10 lakhs to look the other way while a construction project that violates environmental norms is allowed to proceed. Rajiv is faced with a moral dilemma: should he accept the bribe and turn a blind eye to corruption, or should he refuse the offer and risk his career and personal safety?
What should Rajiv do in such a situation? Should he turn a blind eye and let the corruption happen? Or he should oppose?
