Dedication to public services
“Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and the nation” Margaret Chase Smith
Public Service
The term “Public Service” can be imagined in two ways:
- Government-Driven Public Service – Public service is traditionally viewed as government-led efforts to provide essential services like healthcare, education, law enforcement, and social welfare. It ensures governance, justice, and development, promoting societal well-being and national progress.
This is the Bureaucratic Point of view.
- Citizen-Centric Public Service – Beyond government institutions, public service can be imagined as collective social responsibility of the citizens to serve the country at large.
As per this imagination, the work done by individuals, NGOs, and private entities for public welfare should also be called public service.
This is societal or participatory point of view.
Here it is important to note that once a civil servant reaches a position of power, it is often observed that they hold the bureaucratic point of view. For them civil services becomes law enforcement. The public often complain that the bureaucrats often forget to serve the society, forgetting the real meaning of ‘Public Service’.
Public service from Bureaucratic point of view
Public service refers to government and institutional efforts aimed at improving societal welfare, ensuring justice, and providing essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Public service is rooted in values like integrity, impartiality, transparency, and inclusivity, ensuring fair and just administration.
- Ensures Social Welfare – Addresses basic needs like health, education, and employment.
- Promotes Good Governance – Enhances transparency, accountability, and efficiency in administration.
- Strengthens Democracy – Facilitates citizen participation and trust in governance.
Dedication to Public Service
When one is willing to devote one’s efforts, attention, energy, time, and resources towards serving the needs of the public, it is called a dedication to public service. The idea of dedication to public service is one of the noblest ideals of humanity and is deeply entrenched in ancient Indian scriptures, as seen in the ideas of “Vasudhev Kutumbakam” and “Sarve Bhavnatu Sukhinah.”
It refers to putting the needs of others above oneself and serving the greater cause of humanity. It is the ability to serve the needs of the less fortunate. Making the world more equitable and secure justice for all is crucial. There are innumerable examples of persons who became great personalities due to their dedication to public service. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (Sati reformer), Mother Teresa (served dejected leprosy patients), Baba Amte (environmentalist and social activist) and APJ Abul Kalam (missile man of India) are some of them.
| Meaning of Dedication |
| Dedication is the ability to devote one’s attention, effort, energy and time entirely towards the achievement of a particular goal or cause. In the case of dedication, a person is inspired by a sense of duty. Dedication is intrinsic and binds the person to a cause. A dedicated person puts in his 100% effort for the object of dedication and even makes sacrifices in other aspects of life.
For example, Saurabh Kumar was a 2009 batch IAS officer from Chhattisgarh cadre. As District Collector of Dantewada (a Naxal hotbed), he started counselling sessions called “Lunch with the Collector” for the youth. Such dedicated efforts helped tackle unemployment and reduce violence and extremism. He received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence for his efforts. |
Dedication vs. Commitment
Dedication is intrinsic, whereas commitment is extrinsic. Commitment is an externally imposed obligation which is formally accepted by the person. For instance, Employees sign an employment contract while joining an organization. Bound by the contract, they remain committed towards the achievement of the organization’s goals.
Both bind a person to a particular goal, but the level of effort put in by a person is higher in dedication. Commitment is about one’s obligation, while dedication is about one’s passion for the performance of the obligation. Commitment is made with the head, while dedication is made with the heart.
Dedication is one step ahead of commitment. It suggests that one is devoted and there is no need for formal commitment. M.G. Rajamanikyam, Kerala cadre IAS officer, was posted in Wayanad when the Kerala flood stuck in 2018. One night, most of the people in the relief camp were exhausted from the day’s work. Without hesitation, he started unloading the truck and taking the rice sacks inside the camp by himself. He became an inspiration for many due to his true dedication towards duty.
Dedication vs. Motivation
“Motivation will get you to the base camp, while Dedication will get you up the mountain.”
Motivation is an inner drive towards something/some goal. A sense of deprivation or need for something gives rise to motivation. Motivation is a strong driving force, but studies have shown that the motivation is temporary. Motivation can last for only a small period, after which it gradually declines. It provides the courage to initiate a task, but in the long run, the dedication keeps one going.
Both motivation and dedication are necessary for achieving goals, but they have different roles. Motivation provides the initial enthusiasm to initiate efforts, while dedication provides perseverance to accomplish it. Greater success can be achieved when one has both motivation and dedication.
Importance of Dedication to Public Service
Intrinsic Motivation
Dedication ensures that one stays motivated to achieve the goal even in the absence of a formal commitment or external reward. During his tenure as CAG chief, the CAG Vinod Rai exposed several scams like the 2G scam, the coal scam, etc.
Devotion to Public Service
In civil services, dedication binds the person with the ideal of public good/interest. It makes civil servants empathetic to the needs of vulnerable people. IFS officer Praveen Kaswan made people aware of conservation and forestry through social media.
‘Duty for the sake of Duty’
With dedication, one keeps doing his job even if it is boring, monotonous, difficult, or in a hostile environment etc. It is because duty itself becomes an end, and Kant’s maxim of “Duty for the sake of duty” can be realized. For example, IAS officer Armstrong Pame connected two remote villages of Tusem and Tamenglong in Manipur with road using crowdfunding. He denied government funding for the task, so he used social media to collect Rs 40 lakh and construct 100 km of road.
Spirit of sacrifice
A sense of patriotism and service to the nation is essential for civil servants. Because they have to sacrifice other things in their life to serve the interests of the nation/public, this comes naturally to dedicated public servants. For instance, IAS officer Ashok Khemka was transferred around 45 times, yet he remained dedicated to service.
Keep corruption away
Dedicated civil servants are inspired by the fact that they are devoting their lives to the noble cause of public welfare. Such officers do not get swayed by the lure of power or money. IPS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal launched a massive drive against corruption and illegal sand mining within her jurisdiction while knowing that there was a threat to her life.
Overcome Conflict of Interests
With dedication, civil servants would find it easier to perform their professional duties in the face of personal interests. For instance, a dedicated civil servant can overcome political pressures, pressure from family/friends for a favour, etc.
Ways to cultivate dedication to public service
“Public service is my motto, which should be ever engraved on the hearts of every citizen.”- Thomas Jefferson
Value Education
People who received early socialization in values like compassion, patriotism, service, and sacrifice reflect these values later in life and tend to show the spirit of giving back to society. We need to make conscious efforts to inculcate these ideals in young minds by including value education as an indispensable part of formal and informal education given in schools, homes, and communities.
Cultivating the Spirit of Public Service
There should be a mandatory or voluntary community service provision by youth enrolled in schools, colleges, offices, clubs, and other organizations. Programs such as NCC, scout guides, and NSS should be expanded to make social services more extensive.
Spirit of Patriotism
The dedication to public service is easy to cultivate if youth learn to put the interest of their country first. This can be done by celebrating national festivals together, celebrating shared culture and history, etc. This not only helps instil tolerance and brotherhood but also compassion and empathy.
Institutional efforts for cultivating Dedication to Public Service
Institutionalizing measures to mandate public service can help promote the value of the dedication to public service. This is especially true in the case of civil servants, police and military forces. Through training and drills and performance evaluation based on dedication shown by the employee, the value can be thoroughly institutionalized in the execution of their responsibilities. They are prepared for the “Call of Duty.”
Drive for Self-Actualization
As per Mashlow’s need hierarchy theory of motivation, when a person’s lower order needs (i.e. Physical, security, love, interpersonal relations and self-esteem) are fulfilled, they start to strive for the highest order need, i.e. ‘Self-Actualization need’. Examples of them include noble statesmen, social activists, volunteers, and dedicated civil servants. Such people identify themselves as altruistic and believe that helping the country fulfils their potential and calibre.
They invest their time, energy, and resources in public service outcomes. By ensuring that everyone gets opportunities to fulfil their lower-order needs, we can ensure that more and more people join the cadre of people who are dedicated to the cause of public service.
Conclusion
It can be hectic and challenging at times to put the needs of others above one’s own needs. For example, at times, a civil servant might need to choose between personal and professional duties, such as choosing between taking leave to take care of an ailing family member or serving the urgent call of duty towards the public.
However, a dedicated civil servant can resolve such conflicts and remain motivated towards public service even in difficult circumstances. Public service is a journey in itself and not merely a goal. Complete dedication to public service can be achieved when civil servants consider the duty as an end and not a means.
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