While being a student's leader during graduation, I discovered a racket that conducted free blood donation camps and then illegally sold the units collected. On the one hand, I found them saving lives and on the other hand, a cancerous culture of bribing, fraud and illegal trafficking of medical blood-units was thriving. Ethics was getting murdered, though lives were being saved selectively (by those who had money). I decided to campaign against this racket. At times I got life-threats and even faced the ire of needy patients (who could give anything for a few units of life-saving blood). Taking support from the ADM (Additional District Magistrate), plus the Rourkela chapter of the Red-Cross Society and fellow students, we could counter hordes of unofficial agents who illegally traded blood-units.
The integrity of a professional reflects in his daily work. Although this was just one incident of many that I have faced, the nature of lessons learned are applicable everywhere. Today, I have conducted numerous camps for eye-care, met numerous influential people who trade favor with values and once, I have had to decide between hiring a meritorious candidate vis-a-vis a less apt one but relative of my boss.
In life, we will continue facing similar ethics (or the lack of it!). But when we look at the bigger picture, we always can understand the right direction to go, even if it is seemingly difficult or temporarily unpopular. I believe that if we are determined and courageous to go ahead with the better path, any hurdle (be it government machinery, public misunderstanding or personal loss) can be constructively overcome.
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PLANNING - Innovation must be linked to strategy
