Our attitudes towards life, work, other people and society are generally shaped unconsciously by the family and the social surroundings in which we grow up. Some of these unconsciously acquired attitudes and values are often undesirable in the citizens of a modern democratic and egalitarian society. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in Today’s educated Indians (b) How can such undesirable attitudes be changed and socioethical values considered necessary in public services be cultivated in the aspiring and serving civil servants?
Our attitudes towards life, work, other people and society are generally shaped unconsciously by the family and the social surroundings in which we grow up. Some of these unconsciously acquired attitudes and values are often undesirable in the citizens of a modern democratic and egalitarian society. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in Today’s educated Indians (b) How can such undesirable attitudes be changed and socioethical values considered necessary in public services be cultivated in the aspiring and serving civil servants?
Attitude formation occurs through socialization processes where family and social environments unconsciously shape our worldview. Aristotle's virtue ethics emphasizes that character development requires conscious cultivation of desirable traits to overcome inherited biases.
Undesirable Values Prevalent in Today's Educated Indians
• Caste-based Discrimination: Despite education, upper-caste professionals often exhibit subtle biases in hiring and social interactions, perpetuating social stratification contrary to Article 15 principles.
• Gender Inequality: Educated families still practice dowry systems and restrict women's career choices, as seen in declining female workforce participation from 37% (2005) to 20% (2019).
• Corruption Tolerance: Middle-class acceptance of petty corruption like speed money and influence peddling normalizes unethical practices in professional spheres.
• Materialism and Status Obsession: Conspicuous consumption and brand consciousness among educated youth reflects utilitarian calculus over Gandhian simplicity and sustainable living.
• Regional and Linguistic Chauvinism: Educated elites often display parochial attitudes toward other states and languages, undermining national integration and unity in diversity.
• Environmental Apathy: Despite awareness, educated Indians show NIMBY syndrome (Not In My Backyard) regarding waste management and pollution control measures.
Transforming Attitudes and Cultivating Socio-ethical Values
• Value-based Education: Implementing National Education Policy 2020's emphasis on ethical reasoning and moral philosophy in curriculum from school to university levels.
• Experiential Learning: Rural immersion programs like Bharat Darshan for civil service trainees and community service requirements for professional courses.
• Mentorship Programs: Pairing aspiring civil servants with ethical role models like E. Sreedharan and Aruna Roy for practical guidance on integrity and public service.
• Psychological Training: Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to identify and modify unconscious biases through sensitivity training and diversity workshops.
• Institutional Mechanisms: Strengthening ethics committees in training academies and implementing 360-degree feedback systems for continuous moral development.
• Cultural Renaissance: Promoting Indian philosophical traditions like Dharma and Seva through spiritual discourse and meditation practices in administrative training.
Kantian categorical imperative demands treating humanity as an end, requiring civil servants to transcend inherited prejudices through conscious moral cultivation and institutional support systems for building an egalitarian society.
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