Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations.

N.R. Pillai, first Cabinet Secretary of independent India, said that public servants should be one rich in empathy and with a fully awakened social conscience.

Crucial issues in public service

• Ensuring justice and maintaining peace in society.
• Fulfilling constitutional promise of equality and liberty.
• Safeguarding right and dignity of people
• Ensuring probity and tackling corruption
• To change bureaucracy with colonial mindset
• Ensuring ethics in administration

Critical decisions: Resolving dilemma in case of –

• Conflict of rights among citizens.
• Environment Vs development
• Objectivity vs empathy
• Financial prudence vs welfare of citizens

Empathy and compassion not only helps a civil servant to understand the problem of citizens but also motivates them to solve the problem. This enables civil servants to become more tolerant, committed, dedicated and courageous.

• Sandeep Nanduri, District Collector (DC) of Thoothukudi, TN, took the initiative to launch One-of-a-Kind Café, Café Able to provide Jobs to the differently-abled.
• Divya Devarajan became proficient in the language of the Gonds (Gondi) within three months of her posting in Adilabad, during tribal unrest.
• IAS Inayat khan adopted two kids of Pulwama Martyr.

Empathetic officers are the need of the hour in modern day administration targeted towards inclusive growth.