Case 9.11: One list for solar pumps
- Hypothetical case
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Syllabus point
- 5: Gandhian ethics: the talisman (test of the last person)
- Values and laws tested
- Interest of the last person, impartiality, transparency; Gandhi's talisman (attributed to him); Article 14; Nolan's "objectivity" and "selflessness"
Illustrative exampleOne list for solar pumps
Geeta is a District Agriculture Officer in a district of Rajasthan. This year the subsidised solar-pump scheme has only 40 pumps and 300 farmers have applied. Some influential people have brought lists of their acquaintances. A large farmer, who could buy a pump anyway, says, "The subsidy is everyone's right; put my name higher." In a village, Rukmini, a widow, has one and a half bigha of dry land, no electricity connection and cannot afford diesel. She has applied, but she has not gone to meet anyone. The rules give some priority criteria, but the officer has room in preparing the final list. Some applications are incomplete, and several applicants from far hamlets did not come to the camp where forms were checked. Geeta has two weeks before the sanction list must go to the district committee.
- Stakeholders
- small and marginal farmers like Rukmini (the weakest party), the influential people, large farmers, Geeta, the department, the taxpayer who funds the scheme.
- Issue
- need and impartiality against access and recommendation; a claim of "right" against limited resources.
- Options
- A. Put those who press first (less trouble; but those already able will take the benefit). B. Give only in order of application, first come, first served (simple; but those with information and access go ahead, the poor fall behind). C. Fix clear need points (no electricity connection, small holding, woman or widow head, unirrigated land), publish the list and points, and draw lots in public when points are equal (more work; but fair and transparent).
- Best
- C. The talisman says: recall the face of the poorest and weakest person and ask whether your step will be of use to them. Article 14 demands equal treatment.
Lesson
Action: Short term: read the point table and the list aloud in the gram sabha, allow time for objections, and reach out actively to applicants like Rukmini. Long term: from next year an online points-based selection, a clear date for the next instalment for those left out, verification of beneficiaries.
Practice Questions
Practice questionabout 100 words
(10 marks, 100 words) How should Geeta prepare the list? Solve with the five-step card.
Model answer
The stakeholders are small farmers like Rukmini (the weakest), influential people, large farmers, the department and I. The issue is need and impartiality against recommendation. I have three routes: put the pressing first, first come first served, or select by clear need points. The first is bias; the second leaves the poor behind. I choose the third, because Gandhi's talisman (attributed to him) asks us to recall the last person's face, and Article 14 demands equality. I would read the point table and list in the gram sabha and draw lots in public for ties. Long term I would adopt online points-based selection.
Practice questionabout 50 words
(5 marks, 50 words) How does Gandhi's talisman help in this case?
Model answer
The talisman gives a test for decisions: choose the path that helps the weakest (it is attributed to him).
Practice questionabout 50 words
(5 marks, 50 words) Suggest long-term steps to take the scheme to the most needy.
Model answer
Public points-based selection, active outreach, a clear timetable for those left out, verification.