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Today morning I tried hard to concentrate on reviewing an unpublished article on public service motivation. Evidentiary supports in the literature support the claim that individuals with high sense of public interest are more likely to select public service careers. I found this amusing and ironical since I was browsing through the Telgi Stamp paper scam yesterday night. The amount of taxpayer money embezzled by the entire spectrum of the Indian bureaucracy boggles the mind. But beyond the obvious motivation of the mastermind Abdul Karim Telgi, I found the actions of Inspector General of Police Sridhar Vagal highly distressing.
I fail to comprehend his reasons for accepting an enormous sum of bribe money, primarily because he is the product of the hallowed halls of IIT-IIM. I have always contended that education makes a significant difference in an individual’s life and if nothing else, gives a higher understanding of morals and ethics. I simply cannot fathom Vagal’s reasons for indulging in petty crimes. He cannot offer an excuse of missed opportunity in the private sector for lack of remuneration because a nuclear physicist from IIT-B, with a MBA degree from the premier IIM-A will find a high paying job, even if he doesn’t try too hard. I may be a bit biased by using the IIT-IIM standard as a sign of quality education but that is not the point.
Moreover, Vagal chose to opt for the Indian Police Service instead of the more “lucrative” IAS can be proof that he had inclinations for public service as part of his career goals. Did power struggles or simply time spent in the lethargic and highly corrupt system influence his compromise on basic public service values? I don’t suppose so. There are thousands of public employees who make an honest living and earning their livelihood through sheer hard work and application of their intelligence. An Inspector General of Police enjoys tremendous clout and commands respect far beyond any monetary remuneration.
The disgrace that Vagal has wrought upon the once highly regarded Mumbai Crime Branch is irreparable and the morale downturn of its officers is extremely unfortunate. Sometimes I seriously doubt India’s 83rd rank in the list of most corrupt nations. If the Telgi scam is anything to go by, we should rank among the scum of the world. I sincerely hope that the guilty are punished to the fullest extent of the law.
by Patrix | on Sunday, November 16th, 2003 at 1:09 pm | 
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