Mains Marathon

Day 47: You are the District Collector of a drought-prone district in Maharashtra. Over the past year, the region has faced consecutive crop failures due to erratic monsoons and pest infestations. Many farmers are burdened with high-interest loans taken from informal moneylenders, as institutional credit is either inaccessible or delayed.

Last week, a 42-year-old farmer from a nearby village committed suicide after his cotton crop failed for the third consecutive season. His death has sparked protests from local farmer unions, who accuse the administration of neglecting rural distress. The media is extensively covering the incident, painting the district as a symbol of the agrarian crisis. Opposition parties have begun staging demonstrations demanding immediate compensation and loan waivers for all affected farmers.

Your preliminary inquiry reveals that although government crop insurance schemes exist, the majority of farmers in the district are either unaware of them or find the claim process too cumbersome. The deceased farmer’s family claims they approached the agriculture department multiple times for assistance but received no meaningful response.

Civil society activists are urging you to take strong measures to prevent further suicides, including mental health support, simplified credit access, and immediate financial relief. However, your budgetary allocation for the current fiscal year is already strained, and any large-scale financial commitment could face resistance from the state finance department. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s office has asked for a detailed report within 48 hours.

A. Identify the ethical dilemmas and governance challenges in this case.

B. How would you balance short-term relief with long-term structural reforms to address agrarian distress?

C. What steps would you take to ensure accountability of local administrative machinery?

D. Which values of public service should guide your decisions in preventing such tragedies in the future? (250 words)