Total Questions : 1
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Case Studies
Rajesh Kumar, an IAS officer, has recently assumed the role of District Collector in an aspirational district of Madhya Pradesh. During his review of MGNREGA projects, he uncovers serious discrepancies, including incomplete projects and wage diversions to fake job cards. He finds that the local MLA, chairing the District Vigilance Committee, has been approving projects without proper verification, while a group of villagers confidentially shares evidence of corruption involving Panchayat officials and contractors. Notably, the previous Collector was swiftly transferred when attempting to investigate similar issues, and the influential MLA, closely connected to the Chief Minister, subtly suggests that cooperation could secure Rajesh’s tenure and potential rewards.
As Rajesh grapples with the situation, a local activist group files an RTI on these projects and threatens media exposure. They offer to share comprehensive corruption documentation but appear motivated by upcoming Panchayat elections. Rajesh faces a dilemma: conducting a thorough investigation would fulfill his duty but may provoke political backlash, impact his career, and risk disrupting ongoing development. Ignoring these irregularities, however, would perpetuate corruption and betray the trust of vulnerable villagers relying on MGNREGA for their livelihood.
Questions:
a) What are the stakeholders involved in this situation?
b) What are the core ethical issues confronting Rajesh in this situation?
c) What course of action should Rajesh adopt to navigate the situation?
GS Paper 4 Case Studies
