Q.6. Differentiate between democratic attitude and bureaucratic attitude of public servants.

The democratic and bureaucratic attitudes of public servants represent two distinct approaches to governance and public administration. Here’s a differentiation between the two:

Democratic Attitude:

• Participatory: Encourages the involvement of citizens in decision-making processes.
• Inclusive: Focuses on compassion, tolerance, and inclusiveness.
• Flexible: Adapts to changing circumstances and needs of the public.
• Accountable: Sees public servants as representatives of the people, serving their interests.
• Transparent: Aims for openness in government actions and decisions.

Merits:

• Promotes active public participation, strengthening democratic institutions.
• Enhances accountability and transparency in governance.
• Leads to more efficient public service delivery.

Demerits:

• Decision-making can be slow due to the need for consensus.
• Difficulty in satisfying every section of society.
• May hinder the development process if overemphasis on participation delays action.

Bureaucratic Attitude:

• Rule-bound: Decisions are made according to established rules and procedures.
• Hierarchical: Reflects a top-down approach to decision-making.
• Objective: Focuses on neutrality and impartiality.
• Consistent: Ensures uniform application of policies and laws.

Merits:

• Quick decision-making due to less need for public consultation.
• Easier to fix responsibility due to hierarchical structure.
• Ensures compliance with standard operating procedures.

Demerits:

• Can lead to red-tapism and a lack of urgency in achieving targets.
• Resistance to change, leading to system stagnation.
• May result in apathy towards the common people, with rules taking precedence over citizen welfare.

Balancing these two attitudes can create a more effective administration that is both efficient and responsive to the needs of the public. It requires a nuanced approach where the merits of each are leveraged, and their demerits are mitigated. For instance, bureaucratic efficiency can be used for routine tasks, while a democratic approach can be adopted for policy formulation and areas requiring public input. This balance ensures that the administration is not only fast and efficient but also inclusive and accountable.