Answer

As a civil servant, maintaining ethical integrity and prioritizing public welfare are paramount. The dilemma involves balancing transparency, accountability, and the duty to safeguard the interests of genuine beneficiaries. Addressing this situation requires a judicious approach, rooted in impartiality, responsiveness, and adherence to principles of good governance, ensuring that justice and trust in public institutions remain intact.

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Various Options Available

• Expose the Manipulation via Journalists: Publicizing the issue raises awareness but risks suspending the scheme, disrupting benefits for genuine recipients and promoting public distrust in governance.

• Report to Higher Authorities: Reporting ensures accountability through official channels but may delay action, prolonging the manipulation and potentially eroding public faith in the system.

• Initiate Internal Corrective Measures: Immediate localized actions limit manipulation’s impact but may lack sustainability and face opposition from influential vested interests.

• Collaborate with Journalists for Investigative Report: A joint effort uncovers the truth while maintaining scheme continuity but demands careful coordination to prevent sensationalism or political backlash.

Suggested Course of Action and Its Rationale

Immediate Course of Action

• Report the Issue Confidentially to Authorities: Confidential reporting balances addressing the issue with safeguarding the scheme, ensuring minimal disruption to the welfare of beneficiaries.
• Engage with Journalists Responsibly: Sharing contextual information ensures informed reporting while preventing unnecessary harm to the scheme’s reputation and continuity.
• Strengthen Monitoring Locally: Deploying vigilant teams quickly curtails manipulation, protecting the welfare of beneficiaries while ensuring the scheme operates as intended.

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Long-Term Course of Action

• Propose Structural Reforms in the Scheme: Using direct benefit transfer (DBT) and real-time monitoring enhances transparency and minimizes opportunities for misuse.
• Build Beneficiary Awareness: Empowering recipients to report grievances ensures community participation in oversight and reduces dependence on intermediaries.
• Advocate for Stronger Accountability Mechanisms: Instituting regular audits and punitive measures deters future malpractice, ensuring long-term integrity of the welfare program.

In resolving this ethical challenge, a civil servant must act with prudence, prioritizing transparency and long-term reforms while safeguarding the welfare of genuine beneficiaries. Upholding the principles of justice and compassion ensures that governance remains a tool for societal progress. As John Stuart Mill remarked, “The worth of a state in the long run is the worth of the individuals composing it.”