End corruptions at all
levels – from top to bottom
Corruption is
definitely the biggest cancer of the nation, with an estimated equivalent of
60% or more of our GDP values being transacted as "Black". Were we to
observe scientifically, there are two forms of corruption: ONE: Economic =
underhand money transactions and subterfuge/ purloining. TWO: Dereliction of
Duties and non enforcement of Constitutional provisions by
Administrators/Officers. Although Economic offenses seem to be more visible,
the bigger scourge/cancer is Dereliction of duty. The latter creates so much of
misery to the common public that the provisions of a
Democratic/secular/Socialist become mere paperwork. it is not
"amendment" that is needed but a re-look at the very Laws, themselves
relating to corruption: Economic and Dereliction of Duties
Sometimes it
appears that all these laws on corruption are a joke. None of these are
seriously implemented across the board, are they? If every existing law in
India, on corruption and every other form of offense, was strictly implemented
to all citizens, including government officials and babus and the government
itself, there would be no corruption in India.
Apart from the
public sector or government servants and public servants as defined by law, the
amended Prevention of Corruption Act should also cover private sector, as well
as politicians or any one contesting an election to public bodies/ offices or
agents acting on behalf of such contestants. Inducements given and received
during polls should also attract the provisions of POCA. Are the Government and
the Fourth Estate ready for such a healthy transition, without branding such an
initiative as draconian?
Corruption is
widespread concern in both the private and public sector and its corrosive
power is affecting country and business competitiveness. The success of
prevention of corruption is depending on the integrity and efficiency of
investigating agency and also mindset of people, which if fails then the
achievement of motto of anti-corruption laws definitely will be distant dream.
We are good at
making tough laws, but very indifferent and inefficient in implementing them. The
thrust seems to be on high value corruption. What about petty corruption that
citizens have to reckon with every day at Village/Municipal/RTO/Sub Registrar
offices? It is naive to say that corruption will go away if people stopped
giving bribes. Transparency in procedures and time frame for delivery of
services should be ensured so that the officials will have little discretionary
powers.
The possibility to
indulge in corruption begins the moment an unaccounted political donation is
accepted. Elected representatives are the most powerful in the hierarchy for
decision making. Officials whether in public or private service always dance to
the tunes of their masters. If not, they won’t be preferred for the jobs.
The thing is unless
the top and the politicos become clean, expecting the public to become clean is
unrealistic. Begin the cleaning from
the top, not the bottom. Many corruption cases are throttled by politicians
during investigation itself for a price. Money changes hands silently. Unless
honesty is taught as a national character greed for power and money cannot stop
at the gate.
No comments:
Post a Comment