Topic: Case Study.
7. You are the Commissioner of the corporation of a metropolitan city. The city is divided in 4 zones of almost equal population and each zone is put under a Deputy Commissioner who are your subordinates. The state government in order to boost vaccination, launches a drive to overcome vaccination hesitancy announces reward for the best performing zone in terms of vaccination coverage. The reward is additional allotment for creation of sports and recreational infrastructure.
This is report of the coverage and the government has left it up to your discretion to choose the best performing zone:
| Zone | Percentage of people Vaccinated | Remarks |
| 1 | 55% | Zone consists of well-off societies and gated communities belonging to affluent classes. Prior to the drive vaccination coverage was 42%. |
| 2 | 53% | It is an industrial area. Consists mostly of employees of middle and lower level. Prior to the drive vaccination coverage was 47% as workers had been given priority earlier. |
| 3 | 44% | Consists of market area and small and medium business establishments, hotels etc. The area has many migrants. Priorly, vaccination coverage was only 22%. |
| 4 | 21% | Consists of urban slums and large number of people from disadvantaged sections. Earlier the coverage was about 7%. The Deputy Commissioner poster here is the son of your batchmate who happens to be your good friend. |
As the commissioner of the corporation, which among the above is the best performing zone considering all factors mentioned above? Justify your answer.
Difficulty level: Easy
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 4 and part of ‘Case Study Fridays’ in Mission-2022 Secure.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
You may begin the question by briefly talking about the challenges faced by the Covid Pandemic and incentive-based vaccination drive of the administration.
Body:
Mention the key facts of the case study.
Firstly, discuss the varying demographics and their socio-economic placement in the society of the four Zones. Secondly, analyse the various factors that hinder or promote one to vaccinate further such as – the affluent class (Zone 1) do not need much push or incentive for vaccination as they are literate and have resources at their disposal to get the vaccination done. However, the middle class (Zone 2 and Zone 3) would be fence sitters wherein some would get vaccinated voluntarily and others may need some push such as the proposed sports and infrastructure facility in their zone. The people of Zone 4 are mostly dependent on their daily wages and have least awareness of the need for vaccination.
Further, a day of body ache or fever post vaccination may also discourage them to get vaccinated as their livelihood for the day depends on that day’s labour. Also, they may not be very incentivised with sports and infra incentive. Discuss the various levels of Maslow’s need hierarchy and accordingly the incentive must be designed based on the need of the people in a particular zone to increase vaccination rate.
Within the given limits of the incentive scheme, it is important to appreciate the increased percentage levels of vaccination in Zone 4 i.e. increase by 200% in spite of the challenges of the deputy commissioner to motivate the people to take vaccination. Thus Zone 4 qualifies for the best performing zone.
But since there is potential for conflict of interest there, it is imperative that decision is made by taking all the deputy commissioners in confidence and stating objective reasons for the selection, which are recorded and forwarded to the state government to as well.
Conclusion:
Stress on the role objectivity and transparency to resolve potential conflict of interests in public administration.
