---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Subject: Releases............pt3
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President Delivers Dr. V.N. Tewari Memorial Lecture at Panjab
University Chandigarh
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that the
ethical behaviour emanates from generally accepted norms of personal
and social ethics and finds reflection in ideals to which the state
subscribes. This is the crux of principles of governance. Delivering
Dr. V.N. Tewari Memorial Lecture on the theme "Private Ethics and
Public Morality" at Panjab University, Chandigarh today he has opined
that the society sets standards reflective of the general moral
conscience or principles of social ethics, incorporates them in laws
for the state to implement them and dispense justice, and thus obtain
legitimacy and allegiance of the body politic.
The Vice President has said that each one of us has a group identity
and custom demands that special consideration be given to the members
of the group, be it family, caste or tribe. As a result, personally
upright individuals some times come across moral dilemma when
confronted with complex public policy choices. For example, while
helping family, clan or community members is a good private moral, it
would tantamount to an unacceptable public evil and be termed
nepotism. These instances can be multiplied and add a nefarious
dimension to the conduct of public policy.
He has said that we have in place a loosely structured Code of Conduct
for the three sets of actors in the public service domain – Civil
Service, Legislature and the Judiciary. Regarding the first, the ARC
has recommended that there be a set of 'Public Service Values' and a
'Code of Ethics' governing public service operations to be stipulated
by law. In 2007, a Draft Public Services Bill was put in the public
domain for comments and is yet to be introduced in Parliament. In the
case of the Legislature, the Rajya Sabha has adopted a Code of Conduct
for Members enumerated by the Committee on Ethics. Members are also
required to declare assets and liabilities and specified pecuniary
interests. Somewhat similar procedures are also in place in the Lok
Sabha. Regarding the Higher Judiciary, judicial ethics have been
summarised in the "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life adopted by
the Chief Justices' Conference of India, 1999" and in "The Bangalore
Principles of Judicial Conduct, 2002".
The Vice President expressed his concern that the legal and
administrative steps taken so far to improve ethical norms in the
executive, the legislature and the judiciary have been felt to be
clearly inadequate. The need for a more purposeful, result oriented,
approach is imperative.
Following is the text of Vice President's address : " Private Ethics
and Public Morality" "It gives me a great pleasure to participate in
today's function and deliver the Dr. V. N. Tewari Memorial Lecture.
Dr. Tewari's contribution to literature and to the work of Parliament
would always be remembered. As an alumnus of Panjab University and a
Member of its Senate, he played an important role in strengthening the
academic framework and improving the administrative structures in the
University.
Professor Tiwari laid down his life for the cause of the nation and
the values reflective of our philosophy of nationhood. This lecture is
an appropriate occasion to think aloud about the moral and ethical
framework underpinning these values, more so because Article 51 A (b)
of the Constitution makes it the duty of every citizen "to cherish and
follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for
freedom".
The principle is impeccable. The devil, as often, is in the manner it
is reflected in the norms and practice of governance in its diverse
dimensions - legislative, administrative and judicial. The
Constitution embodies a set of affirmations and prohibitions; it puts
in place a structure of institutions; it presumes the observance of
known norms of ethics and morality on the assumption that the human
being, besides being a social creature, is also a moral one, having a
sense of right and wrong.
It is here that a set of teasing questions confronts us. Are these
norms of ethics and morality clearly identifiable? Are they identical
for private and public behaviour? Are they universally applicable?
What is the extent of deviation morally permissible?
The philosopher Bertrand Russell, amongst others, sought to respond to
the resulting dilemma: "Without civic morality," he said, "communities
perish; without personal morality their survival is of no value.
Therefore civic and personal morality are equally necessary to a good
world". He said there is a need to distinguish between the authority
of custom and the authority of law, and conceded what he termed as
"deep duality in ethics which, however perplexing, demands
recognition." The duality, I may add, arose from the quest for
differing norms. Nearer home and more specifically, do we as a people
subscribe to a set of norms of morality and ethics, and do we draw a
distinction between public and private morality? While the answer to
the first, to most of us, is clearly in the affirmative, responses to
the latter often range from ambiguity to evasion.
A second set of questions of an empirical nature, pertaining to
governance, also arise. How can the good rule? How to rule the world
as it is? How can the good rule the world as it is?
A practical difficulty confronts us. Governments accord primacy to
national security, dispensation of justice, maintenance of law and
order, social and economic development and ensuring public welfare.
Ethical precepts are rarely mentioned in specific terms. There are
nevertheless, as the 4th Report of the Second Administrative Reforms
Commission put it, "a set of standards that society places on itself
and which help guide behaviour, choices and actions." The crux of
ethical behaviour, it adds, "does not lie in bold words and
expressions enshrined as standards, but in their adoption in action"
leading to the promotion of "a culture of integrity."
In other words, ethical behaviour emanates from generally accepted
norms of personal and social ethics and finds reflection in ideals to
which the state subscribes. This is the crux of principles of
governance. The society sets standards reflective of the general moral
conscience or principles of social ethics, incorporates them in laws
for the state to implement them and dispense justice, and thus obtain
legitimacy and allegiance of the body politic.
On an earlier occasion in this very city, I had drawn attention to the
long standing Indian belief in righteousness and to Gandhiji's "Seven
Social Sins" that are inscribed on a tablet near his Samadhi at Raj
Ghat. Both inexorably propel us to a unified value system, applicable
to private and public life. The doctrinal position is thus clear. We
have also been blessed with appropriate social institutions; the
challenge now is to identify, in their functioning, the gap between
profession and practice and focus on what Amatya Sen has termed
"social realisation".
Public conduct and public policy, in actual practice, present for
three dimensions for consideration: First, some aspects of private
morality may have no impact on the ability of a public servant to
execute his official functions; in other instances, private immorality
may directly or indirectly impact his/her public functioning. All
governments are managed by human beings and, as the American historian
James Harvey Robinson noted, "No process has been discovered by which
promotion to a position of public responsibility will do away with a
man's interest in his own welfare, his partialities, race, and
prejudices."
Second, the creation of the modern State structure has also displaced
some of the source of moral impulses and initiative from the
individual and the community to larger professional/corporate groups
or State institutions. The individual functionary, to that extent, has
been mechanised and de-personalised, loses personal empathy, and
becomes a morally passive citizen.
Third, what is common to public morality and private ethics is a
belief that the self and personal interest is not the sole point of
reference in assessing public and private actions. Paul Appleby, who
wrote a fine report on our public administration in the 1950s, defined
a moral public decision in terms that remain relevant: "The action
conforms to the processes and symbols thus far developed for the
general protection of political freedom as the agent of more general
freedom;… leaves open the way for modification or reversal by public
determination;… is taken within a hierarchy of controls in which
responsibility for action may be readily identified by the public;…
and embodies as contributions of leadership the concrete structuring
of response to popularly felt needs, and not merely responses to the
private and personal needs of leaders".
II A study of State structures since ancient times would reveal that
personal failings in the discharge of public functions, public scandal
and the consequent clamour for correctives have incrementally led to
the evolution of a framework of public morality. Kautilya
categorically asserts that "a king who flouts the teachings of
Dharmashastras and the Arthashastra ruins the kingdom by his own
injustice". Good rulers observed this "to redress the wrongs, to
extract recompense from the oppressor, to give justice, and listen to
the words of his subjects with his own ears, without any
intermediary." Thus elements of public morality were deduced from the
individual example of public conduct.
In this context, it would be useful to examine the basic elements of
public morality relevant to a multi-cultural democracy such as ours.
Some of its ingredients can be identified: In the first place, a
healthy spirit of optimism about the ability of public service to
serve public interest is an essential element of public morality.
Public service without an optimistic outlook could degenerate into
cynicism, manipulation or blatant pursuit of self-interest. It is only
when one can see that possibility of public good in the ambiguities
and uncertainties of public life and public policy that one can begin
to work in that direction.
Secondly, the courage of conviction required to take decisions and
sustain them despite opposition is essential for effective political
and social action. Such courage needs to be summoned in simple issues
such as refusing favours to friends and family or in momentous
decisions of peace and war. Many instances of this can be found in our
recent and earlier history.
Thirdly, public morality demands pursuit and dispensation of justice
in an impartial, quick and even an impersonal manner. Injustice is a
powerful motivator of human emotions, usually of rebellion and
destruction. Every scripture in our multi-religious society testifies
to it.
In the fourth place, upholding the rule of law is an essential
requirement of public morality in a modern democracy. John Locke's
dictum - "wherever law ends tyranny begins" - has universal validity.
Strict adherence to the law and basic honesty are integral to this
element. The standard of probity must not be the 'Lowest Common
Denominator' but the 'Highest Common Principle'.
Fifthly, a sense of empathy and compassion towards human suffering is
needed for dealing with moral ambiguities in public policy and to
prioritize resources and actions. A public service approach tempered
with human decency, humility and willingness to compromise for the
larger good help weather the rough ethical climate faced in public
service. III Lest an impression of cosiness be created by the above,
let me hasten to mention some substantive impediment. Customs and
traditions are one aspect of it. Each one of us has a group identity
and custom demands that special consideration be given to the members
of the group, be it family, caste or tribe. As a result, personally
upright individuals some times come across moral dilemma when
confronted with complex public policy choices. For example, while
helping family, clan or community members is a good private moral, it
would tantamount to an unacceptable public evil and be termed
nepotism. These instances can be multiplied and add a nefarious
dimension to the conduct of public policy.
The same holds for an atmosphere of permissiveness and its amoral
norms of measuring excellence. In recent years, our public domain has
witnessed a debate on the crisis of governance in the country. The
palpable public disenchantment with it has directed the focus of the
debate on the ethical dimension of the framework of governance. This
too is reflected in the Report of the Second Administrative Reforms
Commission which begins with a candid acknowledgment that governance
is the weak link in our quest for prosperity and equity. It defines
integrity as "much more than financial honesty" and addresses the dual
facets of institutional and individual corruption. It notes the
'growing permissiveness in the society to the phenomena of corruption'
and calls for addressing 'the perverse system of incentives in public
life which makes corruption a high return-low risk activity'. A few of
the other observations of the Report tell the story candidly: •
Anti-corruption interventions so far made are seen to be ineffectual
and there is wide spread public cynicism about them. This cynicism is
spreading so fast that it bodes ill for our democratic system itself.
• Corruption has been aggravated by three factors: propensity to
exercise power arbitrarily, enormous asymmetry of power in society,
and policies that unintentionally put the citizen at the mercy of the
state. • Quality of politics is such that honesty is considered
incompatible with survival. If public life attracts undesirable and
corrupt elements seeking private gain, the abuse of authority and
corruption become the norm. • In a vast majority of cases of bribery,
the citizen is a victim of extortion and is compelled to pay a bribe
in order to get a service to which he/she is entitled. • The
escalating levels of corruption in various segments of our economy is
resulting in large scale generation of black money, serious economic
offences and fraud, and money laundering leading even to the funding
of terrorist activities against the state, have created a grave
situation. Needless to say, each of these signals a departure from
ethical and legal norms of the Republic. Moreover, the gains from the
implementation of social security programmes, such as the Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and food provision
through the Public Distribution System, are being diluted due to
mal-administration and corruption. The above, taken together,
unavoidably lead to the conclusion that corruption in public life is
today a threat to national security and we have to deal with it
accordingly.
We have in place a loosely structured Code of Conduct for the three
sets of actors in the public service domain – Civil Service,
Legislature and the Judiciary. Regarding the first, the ARC has
recommended that there be a set of 'Public Service Values' and a 'Code
of Ethics' governing public service operations to be stipulated by
law. In 2007, a Draft Public Services Bill was put in the public
domain for comments and is yet to be introduced in Parliament.
In the case of the Legislature, the Rajya Sabha has adopted a Code of
Conduct for Members enumerated by the Committee on Ethics. Members are
also required to declare assets and liabilities and specified
pecuniary interests. Somewhat similar procedures are also in place in
the Lok Sabha. Regarding the Higher Judiciary, judicial ethics have
been summarised in the "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life adopted
by the Chief Justices' Conference of India, 1999" and in "The
Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, 2002".
The legal and administrative steps taken so far to improve ethical
norms in the executive, the legislature and the judiciary have been
felt to be clearly inadequate. The need for a more purposeful, result
oriented, approach is imperative. A long time back the philosopher
Aristotle had pointed out that moral virtue in humans does not emanate
from nature and need to be imbibed by habit. This habit has to be
cultivated, individually and collectively. A survey of the Indian
scene today suggests that this cultivation of habit is being neglected
at every stage, at home, in school, and in the wider public domain.
Instead, there is a pernicious preference for a moral vacuum. This has
to change, must be changed. Only then would public morality be
reflective of the righteousness that the sages, ancient and modern,
talked about.
Nor is this merely a matter of cultural options or selective virtue;
record shows that no nation has achieved greatness without attaining a
high level of moral integrity in personal and social conduct.
I thank Manish Tewari ji for inviting me to deliver today's Memorial
Lecture and thank all of you for your patient hearing."
sk/rs/dk/kol/14:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Major Step to Improve Sanitation in Central Government Hospitals
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
To improve the housekeeping and overall sanitation standards in the
Central Government Hospitals viz. Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar
Lohia Hospital and Lady Harding Medical College Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare has signed an MOU with Max Healthcare Institute Limited
to provide training to the housekeeping and sanitation staff of all
three Central Government hospitals. The training will be imparted in a
phased manner over a period of 5-7 months. About 230 personnel in each
hospital will be trained under this programme.
Speaking at the launch of this training programme at Safdarjung
Hospital here today, Ms. Sujatha Rao, Secretary (H&FW) exhorted the
housekeeping staff to bring about the level of change so that it
becomes a standard in housekeeping and sanitation of public hospitals.
She made a mention of the Shaheed Hospital in Chattisgarh. This
hospital was instituted and being run privately by the employees of
Coal India for providing healthcare to people in the area who were not
the employees of the public sector and did not have access to
healthcare facilities. She said the enormous spirit and zeal to serve
people around the area has resulted in Shaheed Hospital what it is
today. When they can do it, we also can do it.
Dr. Parvez, the Chief Executive Officer of the Max Healthcare
remembered he had done his internship at Safdarjung Hospital 40 years
ago. It is a privilege to be associated with the Government of India
in such a path-breaking initiative. Max Healthcare will provide
training to the staff in a systematic manner.
The training will commence with assessment of initial baseline
procedures and sanitation levels of each hospital by Max Healthcare
staff consisting of housekeeping managers, HR personnel, Infection
Control Nurses and Quality control personnel. Standard operating
procedures and job descriptions for each member of the government
hospital sanitation staff will then be developed and assigned, based
on best practices which will be followed by these hospitals in the
long run.
A "Train the Trainer" programme will then commence for 30 Supervisory
Staff, which will consist of Leadership Development and Technical
Module, followed by training on the developed standard operating
procedures. Thereafter assessment and training of 200 ground level
staff will be undertaken on Technical Module and the developed
standard operating procedures. Max Healthcare will conduct a
comprehensive "Clean Hospital Campaign: with the support of hospital
authorities. Government hospital sanitation staff will also be
training on hand hygiene technique method, Needle Stick Injury
precautions and proper usage of heavy industry gloves, masks etc.
ds/gk/dk/kol/14:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Railways
Railway Revenue Earnings Up by 7.95 Per Cent During Financial Year 2009-10
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis
during the financial year 2009-10 were Rs. 86644.43 crore compared to
Rs. 80264.60 crore during fiscal 2008-09, registering an increase of
7.95 per cent. The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs. 54132.76
crore during 1st April 2008 - 31st March, 2009 to Rs. 58261.05 crore
during 1st April 2009 - 31st March 2010, registering an increase of
7.63 per cent.
The total passenger revenue earnings during the financial year 2009-10
were Rs. 23751.38 crore compared to Rs. 21978.34 crore during fiscal
2008-09, registering an increase of 8.07 per cent.
sk/rs/dk/kol/14:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government Focuses on Education and Quality to Promote Ayush
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri S
Gandhiselvan has said that the government is making far reaching
efforts to mainstream Indian Systems of Medicine (Ayush) through
quality control and holistic medical education. Speaking at the
conference organized by CII, here today, Shri Gandhiselvan pointed out
that the National Rural Health Mission is the main vehicle to achieve
the goal. The NRHM seeks to open up local health tradition and
mainstream AYUSH including the manpower and drugs and to strengthen
the public Health System at all levels.
The Minister informed that a proposal before the Government is to have
a medical facility combining western medicine and Indian System of
Medicine to provide holistic medical treatment as it is not possible
to open hospitals having facilities for only traditional medicine. He
also said that another suggestion gaining ground is for allopathic
medical courses to include AYUSH so that students are able to get the
best of all aspects of medical knowledge.
Emphasizing the need for quality control, Shri Gandhiselvan said that
Quality Council of India, an autonomous body, set up by the Government
of India to promote quality, has been deputed by the Department of
AYUSH to develop voluntary certification systems covering AYUSH
products and medicinal plants. This mandate has recently been extended
to cover quality standards of Ayurvedic Hospital Services.
The Minister said Medical education will have to be more inclusive and
open ended with the knowledge of science itself open to alternate
approaches. Preventive health education will give way to promotive
health education relying more on the proven aspects of AYUSH systems,
Shri Gandhselvan added.
ds/gk/dk/kol/14:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Grant in Aid Worth Rs.40 Crore for Safe Drinking Water in Rural Areas
of Himachal Pradesh
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid
worth Rs.4000.00 lakh (Rs. forty crore only) to Himachal Pradesh for
execution/completion of rural water schemes to provide safe drinking
water facilities to rural habitations and schools under Rajiv Gandhi
National Drinking Water Mission for the financial year 2009-10. As per
the provisions under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme
(NRDWP) the State Government shall follow the priorities set in the
guidelines and other instructions issued from time to time for the
coverage of rural habitations and rural schools. The funds have been
released to the implementing agency in the state, SWSM, Himachal
Pradesh.
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) a component of Bharat
Nirman, is one of the flagship program of Government of India with the
objective to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural
areas, while ensuring convergence with related programmes and
involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. To achieve drinking
water security at village/habitation level, conjunctive use of water
i.e. judicious use of rainwater, surface water and ground water is
promoted
ds/gk/dk/kol/14:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Rd Ministry Releases Rs.61.81 Crore for Safe Drinking Water in Uttrakhand
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid
worth Rs.6181.84 lakh (Rs. Sixty one crore eighty one lakh and eighty
four thousand only) to Uttrakhand for execution/completion of rural
water schemes to provide safe drinking water facilities to rural
habitations and schools under Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water
Mission for the financial year 2009-10. As per the provisions under
the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) the State
Government shall follow the priorities set in the guidelines and other
instructions issued from time to time for the coverage of rural
habitations and rural schools. The funds have been released to the
implementing agency in the state, State Water and Sanitation Mission,
Uttrakhand.
ds/gk/dk/kol/14:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Grant in Aid worth Rs.10 Crore for Safe Drinking Water in Rural Areas of Punjab
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid
worth Rs.1000.00 lakh (Rs. ten crore only) to Punjab for
execution/completion of rural water schemes to provide safe drinking
water facilities to rural habitations and schools under Rajiv Gandhi
National Drinking Water Mission for the financial year 2009-10. As per
the provisions under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme
(NRDWP) the State Government shall follow the priorities set in the
guidelines and other instructions issued from time to time for the
coverage of rural habitations and rural schools. The funds have been
released to the implementing agency in the state, State Water &
Sanitation Mission, Punjab.
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) a component of Bharat
Nirman, is one of the flagship program of Government of India with the
objective to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural
areas, while ensuring convergence with related programmes and
involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. To achieve drinking
water security at village/habitation level, conjunctive use of water
i.e. judicious use of rainwater, surface water and ground water is
promoted
akt/st/sak (w.11020/22/2009/arwsp/ water/184, 30.03.2010)/dk/kol/14:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Rd Ministry Releases Rs.2 Crore for Safe Drinking Water in Haryana
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid
worth Rs.203.00 lakh (Rs. two crore and three lakh only) to Haryana
for execution/completion of rural water schemes to provide safe
drinking water facilities to rural habitations and schools under Rajiv
Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission for the financial year 2009-10.
As per the provisions under the National Rural Drinking Water
Programme (NRDWP) the State Government shall follow the priorities set
in the guidelines and other instructions issued from time to time for
the coverage of rural habitations and rural schools. The funds have
been released to the implementing agency in the state, Public Health
Engineering Department, Haryana.
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) a component of Bharat
Nirman, is one of the flagship program of Government of India with the
objective to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural
areas, while ensuring convergence with related programmes and
involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. To achieve drinking
water security at village/habitation level, conjunctive use of water
i.e. judicious use of rainwater, surface water and ground water is
promoted
akt/st/sak (g.11011/1/2009/ water/168, 26.03.2010)/dk/kol/14:48 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Kamal Nath Invites US Investors to Paricipate in Indian Highways Sector
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Minister for Road Transport & Highways Shri Kamal Nath has invited
US construction and investment companies to participate in India's
mega initiative to achieve 'quantum jump' in the road sector. Giving
the keynote address at the Global Construction Summit 2010 on
"Investing in India's Infrastructure" at New York on Thursday, Shri
Nath told the large audience representing major construction and
investment companies from all over the world about the essentially
domestic demand-driven growth of India and said, "India's growth does
not threaten, it beckons".
The Minister during his visit to New York also interacted in separate
meetings with groups of CEOs and senior executives representing a mix
of US finance, consultancy and investment companies as well as
construction and equipment firms. He informed the audience about the
tremendous opportunities generated by the resurgence of the Indian
economy. He said, "The real potential of India's growth can be
understood only if the median national age of 25 years and the
prospective rise in disposable incomes of rural India are superimposed
on the strong macro-fundamentals of the economy". He said that the
Infrastructure Deficit was the principal challenge that has to be
overcome to unleash this potential and the Government was attaching
the highest priority to this area.
Speaking of the gaps in the roads and highways network, the Minister
said, "We are not building roads for tomorrow, we are catching up with
the past." He pointed out that through roads, economic activity could
be generated in remote rural areas and the Government of India had
launched the largest rural roads programme fifteen years ago. The
Roads & Highway Ministry was now adopting a 'stretch by stretch'
approach to bring about connectivity of rural and district roads with
the national highways. It was also focusing on technology capacity
building and use of advanced technology, services and equipment. The
Minister urged US companies to collaborate in these fields.
rs/dk/kol/14:48 hrs.
From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Subject: Releases............pt3
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President Delivers Dr. V.N. Tewari Memorial Lecture at Panjab
University Chandigarh
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that the
ethical behaviour emanates from generally accepted norms of personal
and social ethics and finds reflection in ideals to which the state
subscribes. This is the crux of principles of governance. Delivering
Dr. V.N. Tewari Memorial Lecture on the theme "Private Ethics and
Public Morality" at Panjab University, Chandigarh today he has opined
that the society sets standards reflective of the general moral
conscience or principles of social ethics, incorporates them in laws
for the state to implement them and dispense justice, and thus obtain
legitimacy and allegiance of the body politic.
The Vice President has said that each one of us has a group identity
and custom demands that special consideration be given to the members
of the group, be it family, caste or tribe. As a result, personally
upright individuals some times come across moral dilemma when
confronted with complex public policy choices. For example, while
helping family, clan or community members is a good private moral, it
would tantamount to an unacceptable public evil and be termed
nepotism. These instances can be multiplied and add a nefarious
dimension to the conduct of public policy.
He has said that we have in place a loosely structured Code of Conduct
for the three sets of actors in the public service domain – Civil
Service, Legislature and the Judiciary. Regarding the first, the ARC
has recommended that there be a set of 'Public Service Values' and a
'Code of Ethics' governing public service operations to be stipulated
by law. In 2007, a Draft Public Services Bill was put in the public
domain for comments and is yet to be introduced in Parliament. In the
case of the Legislature, the Rajya Sabha has adopted a Code of Conduct
for Members enumerated by the Committee on Ethics. Members are also
required to declare assets and liabilities and specified pecuniary
interests. Somewhat similar procedures are also in place in the Lok
Sabha. Regarding the Higher Judiciary, judicial ethics have been
summarised in the "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life adopted by
the Chief Justices' Conference of India, 1999" and in "The Bangalore
Principles of Judicial Conduct, 2002".
The Vice President expressed his concern that the legal and
administrative steps taken so far to improve ethical norms in the
executive, the legislature and the judiciary have been felt to be
clearly inadequate. The need for a more purposeful, result oriented,
approach is imperative.
Following is the text of Vice President's address : " Private Ethics
and Public Morality" "It gives me a great pleasure to participate in
today's function and deliver the Dr. V. N. Tewari Memorial Lecture.
Dr. Tewari's contribution to literature and to the work of Parliament
would always be remembered. As an alumnus of Panjab University and a
Member of its Senate, he played an important role in strengthening the
academic framework and improving the administrative structures in the
University.
Professor Tiwari laid down his life for the cause of the nation and
the values reflective of our philosophy of nationhood. This lecture is
an appropriate occasion to think aloud about the moral and ethical
framework underpinning these values, more so because Article 51 A (b)
of the Constitution makes it the duty of every citizen "to cherish and
follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for
freedom".
The principle is impeccable. The devil, as often, is in the manner it
is reflected in the norms and practice of governance in its diverse
dimensions - legislative, administrative and judicial. The
Constitution embodies a set of affirmations and prohibitions; it puts
in place a structure of institutions; it presumes the observance of
known norms of ethics and morality on the assumption that the human
being, besides being a social creature, is also a moral one, having a
sense of right and wrong.
It is here that a set of teasing questions confronts us. Are these
norms of ethics and morality clearly identifiable? Are they identical
for private and public behaviour? Are they universally applicable?
What is the extent of deviation morally permissible?
The philosopher Bertrand Russell, amongst others, sought to respond to
the resulting dilemma: "Without civic morality," he said, "communities
perish; without personal morality their survival is of no value.
Therefore civic and personal morality are equally necessary to a good
world". He said there is a need to distinguish between the authority
of custom and the authority of law, and conceded what he termed as
"deep duality in ethics which, however perplexing, demands
recognition." The duality, I may add, arose from the quest for
differing norms. Nearer home and more specifically, do we as a people
subscribe to a set of norms of morality and ethics, and do we draw a
distinction between public and private morality? While the answer to
the first, to most of us, is clearly in the affirmative, responses to
the latter often range from ambiguity to evasion.
A second set of questions of an empirical nature, pertaining to
governance, also arise. How can the good rule? How to rule the world
as it is? How can the good rule the world as it is?
A practical difficulty confronts us. Governments accord primacy to
national security, dispensation of justice, maintenance of law and
order, social and economic development and ensuring public welfare.
Ethical precepts are rarely mentioned in specific terms. There are
nevertheless, as the 4th Report of the Second Administrative Reforms
Commission put it, "a set of standards that society places on itself
and which help guide behaviour, choices and actions." The crux of
ethical behaviour, it adds, "does not lie in bold words and
expressions enshrined as standards, but in their adoption in action"
leading to the promotion of "a culture of integrity."
In other words, ethical behaviour emanates from generally accepted
norms of personal and social ethics and finds reflection in ideals to
which the state subscribes. This is the crux of principles of
governance. The society sets standards reflective of the general moral
conscience or principles of social ethics, incorporates them in laws
for the state to implement them and dispense justice, and thus obtain
legitimacy and allegiance of the body politic.
On an earlier occasion in this very city, I had drawn attention to the
long standing Indian belief in righteousness and to Gandhiji's "Seven
Social Sins" that are inscribed on a tablet near his Samadhi at Raj
Ghat. Both inexorably propel us to a unified value system, applicable
to private and public life. The doctrinal position is thus clear. We
have also been blessed with appropriate social institutions; the
challenge now is to identify, in their functioning, the gap between
profession and practice and focus on what Amatya Sen has termed
"social realisation".
Public conduct and public policy, in actual practice, present for
three dimensions for consideration: First, some aspects of private
morality may have no impact on the ability of a public servant to
execute his official functions; in other instances, private immorality
may directly or indirectly impact his/her public functioning. All
governments are managed by human beings and, as the American historian
James Harvey Robinson noted, "No process has been discovered by which
promotion to a position of public responsibility will do away with a
man's interest in his own welfare, his partialities, race, and
prejudices."
Second, the creation of the modern State structure has also displaced
some of the source of moral impulses and initiative from the
individual and the community to larger professional/corporate groups
or State institutions. The individual functionary, to that extent, has
been mechanised and de-personalised, loses personal empathy, and
becomes a morally passive citizen.
Third, what is common to public morality and private ethics is a
belief that the self and personal interest is not the sole point of
reference in assessing public and private actions. Paul Appleby, who
wrote a fine report on our public administration in the 1950s, defined
a moral public decision in terms that remain relevant: "The action
conforms to the processes and symbols thus far developed for the
general protection of political freedom as the agent of more general
freedom;… leaves open the way for modification or reversal by public
determination;… is taken within a hierarchy of controls in which
responsibility for action may be readily identified by the public;…
and embodies as contributions of leadership the concrete structuring
of response to popularly felt needs, and not merely responses to the
private and personal needs of leaders".
II A study of State structures since ancient times would reveal that
personal failings in the discharge of public functions, public scandal
and the consequent clamour for correctives have incrementally led to
the evolution of a framework of public morality. Kautilya
categorically asserts that "a king who flouts the teachings of
Dharmashastras and the Arthashastra ruins the kingdom by his own
injustice". Good rulers observed this "to redress the wrongs, to
extract recompense from the oppressor, to give justice, and listen to
the words of his subjects with his own ears, without any
intermediary." Thus elements of public morality were deduced from the
individual example of public conduct.
In this context, it would be useful to examine the basic elements of
public morality relevant to a multi-cultural democracy such as ours.
Some of its ingredients can be identified: In the first place, a
healthy spirit of optimism about the ability of public service to
serve public interest is an essential element of public morality.
Public service without an optimistic outlook could degenerate into
cynicism, manipulation or blatant pursuit of self-interest. It is only
when one can see that possibility of public good in the ambiguities
and uncertainties of public life and public policy that one can begin
to work in that direction.
Secondly, the courage of conviction required to take decisions and
sustain them despite opposition is essential for effective political
and social action. Such courage needs to be summoned in simple issues
such as refusing favours to friends and family or in momentous
decisions of peace and war. Many instances of this can be found in our
recent and earlier history.
Thirdly, public morality demands pursuit and dispensation of justice
in an impartial, quick and even an impersonal manner. Injustice is a
powerful motivator of human emotions, usually of rebellion and
destruction. Every scripture in our multi-religious society testifies
to it.
In the fourth place, upholding the rule of law is an essential
requirement of public morality in a modern democracy. John Locke's
dictum - "wherever law ends tyranny begins" - has universal validity.
Strict adherence to the law and basic honesty are integral to this
element. The standard of probity must not be the 'Lowest Common
Denominator' but the 'Highest Common Principle'.
Fifthly, a sense of empathy and compassion towards human suffering is
needed for dealing with moral ambiguities in public policy and to
prioritize resources and actions. A public service approach tempered
with human decency, humility and willingness to compromise for the
larger good help weather the rough ethical climate faced in public
service. III Lest an impression of cosiness be created by the above,
let me hasten to mention some substantive impediment. Customs and
traditions are one aspect of it. Each one of us has a group identity
and custom demands that special consideration be given to the members
of the group, be it family, caste or tribe. As a result, personally
upright individuals some times come across moral dilemma when
confronted with complex public policy choices. For example, while
helping family, clan or community members is a good private moral, it
would tantamount to an unacceptable public evil and be termed
nepotism. These instances can be multiplied and add a nefarious
dimension to the conduct of public policy.
The same holds for an atmosphere of permissiveness and its amoral
norms of measuring excellence. In recent years, our public domain has
witnessed a debate on the crisis of governance in the country. The
palpable public disenchantment with it has directed the focus of the
debate on the ethical dimension of the framework of governance. This
too is reflected in the Report of the Second Administrative Reforms
Commission which begins with a candid acknowledgment that governance
is the weak link in our quest for prosperity and equity. It defines
integrity as "much more than financial honesty" and addresses the dual
facets of institutional and individual corruption. It notes the
'growing permissiveness in the society to the phenomena of corruption'
and calls for addressing 'the perverse system of incentives in public
life which makes corruption a high return-low risk activity'. A few of
the other observations of the Report tell the story candidly: •
Anti-corruption interventions so far made are seen to be ineffectual
and there is wide spread public cynicism about them. This cynicism is
spreading so fast that it bodes ill for our democratic system itself.
• Corruption has been aggravated by three factors: propensity to
exercise power arbitrarily, enormous asymmetry of power in society,
and policies that unintentionally put the citizen at the mercy of the
state. • Quality of politics is such that honesty is considered
incompatible with survival. If public life attracts undesirable and
corrupt elements seeking private gain, the abuse of authority and
corruption become the norm. • In a vast majority of cases of bribery,
the citizen is a victim of extortion and is compelled to pay a bribe
in order to get a service to which he/she is entitled. • The
escalating levels of corruption in various segments of our economy is
resulting in large scale generation of black money, serious economic
offences and fraud, and money laundering leading even to the funding
of terrorist activities against the state, have created a grave
situation. Needless to say, each of these signals a departure from
ethical and legal norms of the Republic. Moreover, the gains from the
implementation of social security programmes, such as the Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and food provision
through the Public Distribution System, are being diluted due to
mal-administration and corruption. The above, taken together,
unavoidably lead to the conclusion that corruption in public life is
today a threat to national security and we have to deal with it
accordingly.
We have in place a loosely structured Code of Conduct for the three
sets of actors in the public service domain – Civil Service,
Legislature and the Judiciary. Regarding the first, the ARC has
recommended that there be a set of 'Public Service Values' and a 'Code
of Ethics' governing public service operations to be stipulated by
law. In 2007, a Draft Public Services Bill was put in the public
domain for comments and is yet to be introduced in Parliament.
In the case of the Legislature, the Rajya Sabha has adopted a Code of
Conduct for Members enumerated by the Committee on Ethics. Members are
also required to declare assets and liabilities and specified
pecuniary interests. Somewhat similar procedures are also in place in
the Lok Sabha. Regarding the Higher Judiciary, judicial ethics have
been summarised in the "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life adopted
by the Chief Justices' Conference of India, 1999" and in "The
Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, 2002".
The legal and administrative steps taken so far to improve ethical
norms in the executive, the legislature and the judiciary have been
felt to be clearly inadequate. The need for a more purposeful, result
oriented, approach is imperative. A long time back the philosopher
Aristotle had pointed out that moral virtue in humans does not emanate
from nature and need to be imbibed by habit. This habit has to be
cultivated, individually and collectively. A survey of the Indian
scene today suggests that this cultivation of habit is being neglected
at every stage, at home, in school, and in the wider public domain.
Instead, there is a pernicious preference for a moral vacuum. This has
to change, must be changed. Only then would public morality be
reflective of the righteousness that the sages, ancient and modern,
talked about.
Nor is this merely a matter of cultural options or selective virtue;
record shows that no nation has achieved greatness without attaining a
high level of moral integrity in personal and social conduct.
I thank Manish Tewari ji for inviting me to deliver today's Memorial
Lecture and thank all of you for your patient hearing."
sk/rs/dk/kol/14:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Major Step to Improve Sanitation in Central Government Hospitals
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
To improve the housekeeping and overall sanitation standards in the
Central Government Hospitals viz. Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar
Lohia Hospital and Lady Harding Medical College Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare has signed an MOU with Max Healthcare Institute Limited
to provide training to the housekeeping and sanitation staff of all
three Central Government hospitals. The training will be imparted in a
phased manner over a period of 5-7 months. About 230 personnel in each
hospital will be trained under this programme.
Speaking at the launch of this training programme at Safdarjung
Hospital here today, Ms. Sujatha Rao, Secretary (H&FW) exhorted the
housekeeping staff to bring about the level of change so that it
becomes a standard in housekeeping and sanitation of public hospitals.
She made a mention of the Shaheed Hospital in Chattisgarh. This
hospital was instituted and being run privately by the employees of
Coal India for providing healthcare to people in the area who were not
the employees of the public sector and did not have access to
healthcare facilities. She said the enormous spirit and zeal to serve
people around the area has resulted in Shaheed Hospital what it is
today. When they can do it, we also can do it.
Dr. Parvez, the Chief Executive Officer of the Max Healthcare
remembered he had done his internship at Safdarjung Hospital 40 years
ago. It is a privilege to be associated with the Government of India
in such a path-breaking initiative. Max Healthcare will provide
training to the staff in a systematic manner.
The training will commence with assessment of initial baseline
procedures and sanitation levels of each hospital by Max Healthcare
staff consisting of housekeeping managers, HR personnel, Infection
Control Nurses and Quality control personnel. Standard operating
procedures and job descriptions for each member of the government
hospital sanitation staff will then be developed and assigned, based
on best practices which will be followed by these hospitals in the
long run.
A "Train the Trainer" programme will then commence for 30 Supervisory
Staff, which will consist of Leadership Development and Technical
Module, followed by training on the developed standard operating
procedures. Thereafter assessment and training of 200 ground level
staff will be undertaken on Technical Module and the developed
standard operating procedures. Max Healthcare will conduct a
comprehensive "Clean Hospital Campaign: with the support of hospital
authorities. Government hospital sanitation staff will also be
training on hand hygiene technique method, Needle Stick Injury
precautions and proper usage of heavy industry gloves, masks etc.
ds/gk/dk/kol/14:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Railways
Railway Revenue Earnings Up by 7.95 Per Cent During Financial Year 2009-10
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis
during the financial year 2009-10 were Rs. 86644.43 crore compared to
Rs. 80264.60 crore during fiscal 2008-09, registering an increase of
7.95 per cent. The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs. 54132.76
crore during 1st April 2008 - 31st March, 2009 to Rs. 58261.05 crore
during 1st April 2009 - 31st March 2010, registering an increase of
7.63 per cent.
The total passenger revenue earnings during the financial year 2009-10
were Rs. 23751.38 crore compared to Rs. 21978.34 crore during fiscal
2008-09, registering an increase of 8.07 per cent.
sk/rs/dk/kol/14:46 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government Focuses on Education and Quality to Promote Ayush
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri S
Gandhiselvan has said that the government is making far reaching
efforts to mainstream Indian Systems of Medicine (Ayush) through
quality control and holistic medical education. Speaking at the
conference organized by CII, here today, Shri Gandhiselvan pointed out
that the National Rural Health Mission is the main vehicle to achieve
the goal. The NRHM seeks to open up local health tradition and
mainstream AYUSH including the manpower and drugs and to strengthen
the public Health System at all levels.
The Minister informed that a proposal before the Government is to have
a medical facility combining western medicine and Indian System of
Medicine to provide holistic medical treatment as it is not possible
to open hospitals having facilities for only traditional medicine. He
also said that another suggestion gaining ground is for allopathic
medical courses to include AYUSH so that students are able to get the
best of all aspects of medical knowledge.
Emphasizing the need for quality control, Shri Gandhiselvan said that
Quality Council of India, an autonomous body, set up by the Government
of India to promote quality, has been deputed by the Department of
AYUSH to develop voluntary certification systems covering AYUSH
products and medicinal plants. This mandate has recently been extended
to cover quality standards of Ayurvedic Hospital Services.
The Minister said Medical education will have to be more inclusive and
open ended with the knowledge of science itself open to alternate
approaches. Preventive health education will give way to promotive
health education relying more on the proven aspects of AYUSH systems,
Shri Gandhselvan added.
ds/gk/dk/kol/14:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Grant in Aid Worth Rs.40 Crore for Safe Drinking Water in Rural Areas
of Himachal Pradesh
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid
worth Rs.4000.00 lakh (Rs. forty crore only) to Himachal Pradesh for
execution/completion of rural water schemes to provide safe drinking
water facilities to rural habitations and schools under Rajiv Gandhi
National Drinking Water Mission for the financial year 2009-10. As per
the provisions under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme
(NRDWP) the State Government shall follow the priorities set in the
guidelines and other instructions issued from time to time for the
coverage of rural habitations and rural schools. The funds have been
released to the implementing agency in the state, SWSM, Himachal
Pradesh.
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) a component of Bharat
Nirman, is one of the flagship program of Government of India with the
objective to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural
areas, while ensuring convergence with related programmes and
involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. To achieve drinking
water security at village/habitation level, conjunctive use of water
i.e. judicious use of rainwater, surface water and ground water is
promoted
ds/gk/dk/kol/14:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Rd Ministry Releases Rs.61.81 Crore for Safe Drinking Water in Uttrakhand
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid
worth Rs.6181.84 lakh (Rs. Sixty one crore eighty one lakh and eighty
four thousand only) to Uttrakhand for execution/completion of rural
water schemes to provide safe drinking water facilities to rural
habitations and schools under Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water
Mission for the financial year 2009-10. As per the provisions under
the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) the State
Government shall follow the priorities set in the guidelines and other
instructions issued from time to time for the coverage of rural
habitations and rural schools. The funds have been released to the
implementing agency in the state, State Water and Sanitation Mission,
Uttrakhand.
ds/gk/dk/kol/14:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Grant in Aid worth Rs.10 Crore for Safe Drinking Water in Rural Areas of Punjab
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid
worth Rs.1000.00 lakh (Rs. ten crore only) to Punjab for
execution/completion of rural water schemes to provide safe drinking
water facilities to rural habitations and schools under Rajiv Gandhi
National Drinking Water Mission for the financial year 2009-10. As per
the provisions under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme
(NRDWP) the State Government shall follow the priorities set in the
guidelines and other instructions issued from time to time for the
coverage of rural habitations and rural schools. The funds have been
released to the implementing agency in the state, State Water &
Sanitation Mission, Punjab.
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) a component of Bharat
Nirman, is one of the flagship program of Government of India with the
objective to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural
areas, while ensuring convergence with related programmes and
involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. To achieve drinking
water security at village/habitation level, conjunctive use of water
i.e. judicious use of rainwater, surface water and ground water is
promoted
akt/st/sak (w.11020/22/2009/arwsp/ water/184, 30.03.2010)/dk/kol/14:47 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Rural Development
Rd Ministry Releases Rs.2 Crore for Safe Drinking Water in Haryana
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released grant in aid
worth Rs.203.00 lakh (Rs. two crore and three lakh only) to Haryana
for execution/completion of rural water schemes to provide safe
drinking water facilities to rural habitations and schools under Rajiv
Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission for the financial year 2009-10.
As per the provisions under the National Rural Drinking Water
Programme (NRDWP) the State Government shall follow the priorities set
in the guidelines and other instructions issued from time to time for
the coverage of rural habitations and rural schools. The funds have
been released to the implementing agency in the state, Public Health
Engineering Department, Haryana.
National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) a component of Bharat
Nirman, is one of the flagship program of Government of India with the
objective to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural
areas, while ensuring convergence with related programmes and
involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions. To achieve drinking
water security at village/habitation level, conjunctive use of water
i.e. judicious use of rainwater, surface water and ground water is
promoted
akt/st/sak (g.11011/1/2009/ water/168, 26.03.2010)/dk/kol/14:48 hrs.
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * * *
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Kamal Nath Invites US Investors to Paricipate in Indian Highways Sector
New Delhi: April 9, 2010
The Minister for Road Transport & Highways Shri Kamal Nath has invited
US construction and investment companies to participate in India's
mega initiative to achieve 'quantum jump' in the road sector. Giving
the keynote address at the Global Construction Summit 2010 on
"Investing in India's Infrastructure" at New York on Thursday, Shri
Nath told the large audience representing major construction and
investment companies from all over the world about the essentially
domestic demand-driven growth of India and said, "India's growth does
not threaten, it beckons".
The Minister during his visit to New York also interacted in separate
meetings with groups of CEOs and senior executives representing a mix
of US finance, consultancy and investment companies as well as
construction and equipment firms. He informed the audience about the
tremendous opportunities generated by the resurgence of the Indian
economy. He said, "The real potential of India's growth can be
understood only if the median national age of 25 years and the
prospective rise in disposable incomes of rural India are superimposed
on the strong macro-fundamentals of the economy". He said that the
Infrastructure Deficit was the principal challenge that has to be
overcome to unleash this potential and the Government was attaching
the highest priority to this area.
Speaking of the gaps in the roads and highways network, the Minister
said, "We are not building roads for tomorrow, we are catching up with
the past." He pointed out that through roads, economic activity could
be generated in remote rural areas and the Government of India had
launched the largest rural roads programme fifteen years ago. The
Roads & Highway Ministry was now adopting a 'stretch by stretch'
approach to bring about connectivity of rural and district roads with
the national highways. It was also focusing on technology capacity
building and use of advanced technology, services and equipment. The
Minister urged US companies to collaborate in these fields.
rs/dk/kol/14:48 hrs.
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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