Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 15: Anvesha Das took the UPSC exam in 2013. During the exam she was asked what she would do if she were given the task of implementing a family planning project, which people were reluctant to adopt. Similar questions on ethical values were bombarded on the IAS aspirants taking the exam.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) a few years ago introduced a new paper on ethics for the candidates appearing for the public service examinations. Anvesha says, “Initially, many IAS aspirants found the paper to be absurd, but we later realised that to become an administrator it was of paramount importance that we were sound in ethical values. Now, aspirants like us prepare for the subject with love, as it is an interesting one.”
In keeping with the preference of the UPSC, many colleges in the last few years have introduced some courses to inculcate ethical values among students. Another sector where ethics have been included in the syllabi is medical science and study of public health. Last year, the Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, carried out a study on the institutions in the country that impart training on ethics in public health.
It had said, “Training in ethics should be an integral component of education in public health and the education of health professionals. Our study highlights the need to develop a robust system for the teaching of public health ethics across the health disciplines in India. one of the most important task is to formulate academic strategies for the incorporation of case studies related to public health ethics in the courses and to ensure that public health actions are steered by ethical reasoning.”
The study also listed the Asian Institute of Public Health of the city as one among the few institutions of the country which impart training in ethics in public health. The institute, however, could not be contacted for their views on ethical studies. Many health practitioners say that ethics in medical profession is of paramount importance to maintain professionalism. “Maintaining high ethical values in medical profession is a must and one ought to ensure that a level of transparency is there. Ethics ensure honesty. Therefore, it must be also taught in other sectors,” said Dr Rewati Raman Rahul, a city-based dentist.