what is committed bureaucracy?
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Era of ‘Committed Bureaucracy in India’ (1965 to 80)
With many of the old visionary leaders like Pt. Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri having gone from the national and state scene in the sixties, many changes took place in political climate, values and systems in India. A rot started setting up rapidly in the administrative set up during this period and there started a cult of committed bureaucracy.
By the late sixties, a spirit of frustration and despair with `development administration’ and with `development’ in general had set in. For one thing, it became evident that externally induced modernization had failed to eradicate the basic problems of under-developed, it purported to solve. Whilst some significant increase in GNP had indeed taken place, poverty, disease and hunger had either worsened or remained unaltered. The same could be said of the growing gap between the rich and the poor nations or between different social strata within a nation.
The two wars of 1962 and 1965 followed by successive droughts in 1966 and 1967 put the economy under severe strain. It led millions to poverty and unemployment. Concept of easy money started taking birth. The politicians relied more on populist slogans rather than the real issues like population explosion, illiteracy, inadequate health care and poor social service programs.
During this period, in Mrs. Gandhi’s rule the political climate at provincial level started changing. Many new regional parties emerged at provincial level and came to power. Some states like Bihar, U.P., Haryana, and Punjab etc. witnessed political opportunism. Tall promises were made to win elections. Floor crossing, defections, attempts to topple Governments; betrayal of people’s faith and consequently political instability and frequent changes in provincial Governments became the order to the day. All this resulted in intensification of competitive politics.
Mrs. Gandhi, after becoming Prime Minister in 1966, felt very insecure due to the hold of syndicate in politics. But she refused to act as a puppet in the hands of the syndicate and, therefore a split in Congress took place in 1969. Insecurity made Mrs. Gandhi to get complete hold over the bureaucracy.
She and her colleagues could not appreciate the value of efficient and impartial civil services. They did precious little to check deteriorating standards of the service. The changes in the political complexion of the nation was reflected in the performance of civil services and its capacity to work impartially without any fear or favor.
During 1969 to 1974 personality cult was promoted. The officers were not expected to be as loyal to the Constitution, as they had to be to their ministers. Mrs Gandhi desired the bureaucracy to be completely committed to the ruling party. On a sustained and systematic basis, the process of committed bureaucracy flourished, thus undermining the integrity, values, ethos and confidence of the service. Officers were supposed to be the servicemen to carry out the orders of political bosses.
With many of the old visionary leaders like Pt. Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri having gone from the national and state scene in the sixties, many changes took place in political climate, values and systems in India. A rot started setting up rapidly in the administrative set up during this period and there started a cult of committed bureaucracy.
By the late sixties, a spirit of frustration and despair with `development administration’ and with `development’ in general had set in. For one thing, it became evident that externally induced modernization had failed to eradicate the basic problems of under-developed, it purported to solve. Whilst some significant increase in GNP had indeed taken place, poverty, disease and hunger had either worsened or remained unaltered. The same could be said of the growing gap between the rich and the poor nations or between different social strata within a nation.
The two wars of 1962 and 1965 followed by successive droughts in 1966 and 1967 put the economy under severe strain. It led millions to poverty and unemployment. Concept of easy money started taking birth. The politicians relied more on populist slogans rather than the real issues like population explosion, illiteracy, inadequate health care and poor social service programs.
During this period, in Mrs. Gandhi’s rule the political climate at provincial level started changing. Many new regional parties emerged at provincial level and came to power. Some states like Bihar, U.P., Haryana, and Punjab etc. witnessed political opportunism. Tall promises were made to win elections. Floor crossing, defections, attempts to topple Governments; betrayal of people’s faith and consequently political instability and frequent changes in provincial Governments became the order to the day. All this resulted in intensification of competitive politics.
Mrs. Gandhi, after becoming Prime Minister in 1966, felt very insecure due to the hold of syndicate in politics. But she refused to act as a puppet in the hands of the syndicate and, therefore a split in Congress took place in 1969. Insecurity made Mrs. Gandhi to get complete hold over the bureaucracy.
She and her colleagues could not appreciate the value of efficient and impartial civil services. They did precious little to check deteriorating standards of the service. The changes in the political complexion of the nation was reflected in the performance of civil services and its capacity to work impartially without any fear or favor.
During 1969 to 1974 personality cult was promoted. The officers were not expected to be as loyal to the Constitution, as they had to be to their ministers. Mrs Gandhi desired the bureaucracy to be completely committed to the ruling party. On a sustained and systematic basis, the process of committed bureaucracy flourished, thus undermining the integrity, values, ethos and confidence of the service. Officers were supposed to be the servicemen to carry out the orders of political bosses.
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