India though the seventh largest country and the first largest in terms of constitution kneels down to corruption.
Corruption, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is defined as “an act of dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery”. A 2005 study conducted by Transparency International in India found that more than 45% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes to get jobs done in public offices successfully. Corruption has pushed its ugly head into many walks of life that people like us cannot differentiate between right and wrong. It frequents when selfish motives and impatience are put ahead of law and order. India has now become a consideration state where everything can be had for a consideration. At one time, bribe was paid for getting wrong things done but now bribe is paid for getting right things done at right time.
I will tell you a fun task. When you google the words, ‘Corruption in India’ you will find Wikipedia holds an entire page devoted to describing it, rather if you try a different country, say USA, you will find Wikipedia doesn’t show such a page in its search results.
Why Corruption? You step into an office and find that you are one document short, or have come at the wrong time. Why worry? As long as you have your pockets full! Or haven’t you witnessed the exchange of notes between traffic offenders and traffic police? A quick getaway. No matter how incredible the nature of the crime, a quick flash of a green note renders all sin cleansed.
The 2G scam for instance! Who do you think deserved that many crores of rupees that were engulfed by the government? The already well fed and allowance provided ministers or the poor, needy and road side dwellers? Corruption denies growth, reach of proper help and disturbs development pulling down the entire nation.
The Commonwealth Games incidents ashamed the nation. When people route the flow of cash to their already full bellies rather than building proper infrastructure, it takes away the right to be proud in front of foreigners. Wouldn’t they scoff at us? Aren’t we responsible too?
Anti Corruption Movements sell lesser tickets than reality shows. People seem to prefer watching who would dance or sing better than worrying about who are draining their pockets. They claim it is someone else’s business. Let visionaries worry about India 2020, why us? Is that excuse reasonable enough?
The reason why government offices are pointed to as examples for corruption is because the occurrence is frequent, omni present at times. Corruption can also be seen in private offices in various instances.
It doesn’t mean that corruption goes unchecked in our country. The Right to Information Act is a potential weapon if used properly can check corruption. The current haze around the Lokpal bill also shows confident support and faith in such activisms. India is evolving, but not rapid enough. Citizens must actively keep track of the government proceedings. The middle class mentality must change especially the non voting upper middle class.
Foolproof laws should be made so that there is no room for discretion for politicians and bureaucrats. People should have a right to recall the elected representatives if they see them becoming indifferent to the electorate. Funding of elections is at the core of political corruption. Electoral reforms are crucial in this regard. Responsiveness, accountability and transparency are a must for a clean system. Bureaucracy, the backbone of good governance, should be made more citizen friendly, accountable, ethical and transparent. More and more courts should be opened for speedy & inexpensive justice so that cases don’t linger in courts for years and justice is delivered on time.
As a citizen of this country, in respect for the freedoms and rights given to us by the forefathers of the Indian Constitution, it is imperative that we abolish the very stems of Corruption.
As long as corruption stays, poverty accompanies it like a very dear old friend. Stacked up like a pack of dominoes, pushing down corruption will let the entire stack fall down right away. No one is responsible for fighting against corruption alone. Instead the entire nation, as united as they would be during a cricket match must face this evil.
Irony is it not? That it is on these notes that our Mahatma keeps smiling, patiently waiting.
