One of my young service colleagues was ruing the other day that in spite of being honest, the perception about services was becoming more and more negative and wondered what could be done to arrest and reverse the trend. There is an often flogged advice “You should not only be honest but also appear to be honest.”
In just a few days from now we would be celeberating Diwali. It is a festival of joy and giving and receiving small presents is definately a part of it. This is also the time when one sees cars stopping in front of the houses of some of the politicians and bureaucrats and well dressed persons seen entering those place with ‘dabbas’ of sweets, baskets of fruits and one does not know what else. The common man is likely perceive these as signs of corruption in the politicians and the bureaucrats.
Let us leave the politicians out and talk of our own fraternity. The All India Services Conduct Rules and the Central Civil Services Conduct Rules specify what one can accept as a gift and what one should not. The relevant provision is quite stringent and clear even though couched in a very legalistic officialese. One is permitted to accept gifts up to the value of Rs. One Thousand. On religious and social occasions one can accept gifts up to Rs. Five Thousand from one’s near relatives and personal friends. Besides there is a prohibition to give or accept dowry.
Let us take the hypothetical case of a District Collector or an Income Tax Officer posted in a district headquarters. The common man sees a long stream of people going to the residence of the Sahib on Diwali day with small gifts of value of less than Rs. One thousand each. It may be fine so far as the Rules are concerned but creates a wrong perception in the minds of the public.
So what does the poor officer do? Aceept no gift from any one or accept only bouquets of flowers? My personal view is that it is not that difficult to say ‘No’ to every one from day one- no presents- no sweets-no fruits-no bouquets and even -no calendars/ diaries. Believe me no one gets hurt if you refuse his gift. On the other hand this evokes an admiration.
I recently chanced to see the to see the instructions given to young ICS officers posted in the districts as Asst Colllectors and was greatly impressed. I am going to quote the relevant portion in full, even though it is a bit long.
“Although under the Rules you are permitted to receive fruit and flowers, and although there is no objection to accepting a few mangoes or a bunch of grapes from a country gentleman’s own orchard or vineyard, yet you will find life easier if you make a definite rule never to accept any “Dalis”, i.e. basket of fruits of varying kinds, cakes etc., for such are often of more than “trifling value”. If you accept such a “Dali” from a well-to-do merchant or landlord, to whom the cost is of no consequence, you can hardly, without giving offence, refuse to accept them from others, including from those who cannot afford to make such presents, but who feel that they are socially bound to give them or that it would help their social or business prospects if they did. The rule never to accept any Dali is simple, and, when known to your friends, will be appreciated and observed.
You will not, however, be able to escape the acceptance of garlands or flowers on various suitable and unsuitable occasions. But it is well to issue a definite order that garlands and fruits are never received from your own subordinates of whatever rank. It is embarrassing to be garlanded by a Mamlatdar whose administration you may have just been criticizing with acerbity, or by a clerk with a large family who ought not to waste his money on flowers.”*
Have a Happy Diwali!
(*Source: Assistant Collector’s Manual” by Sir Fredric S.P. Lely, Government Central Press, Bombay, 1938, pages 168-169)
