The campaign against
corruption in India led by the veteran social activist Anna Hazare recently has
sent a strong signal to the beleaguered government of United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) calling upon ‘aam-aadmi’ (common people) to join him in his
mayhem so that Jan Lok Pal Bill is prepared and brought into force to check
corruption in the country. The
resentment was simmering from the time scams involving massive sums of money like
Telecom 2G Spectrums, Common Wealth Games hosting, Adarsh Housing Society and
appointment of tainted people in the position of high profiled offices etc were
unearthed in one single year.
Corruption is a global
phenomenon and it is omnipresent. Corruption has progressively increased and is
now rampant in our country. I agree with
all who debate saying that corruption in India is a consequence of the nexus
between Bureaucracy, politics and criminals. India is now no longer considered
a soft state. It has now become a consideration state where everything can be
had for a consideration. Today, the number of ministers with an honest image
can be counted on fingers. At one time, bribe was paid for getting wrong things
done but now bribe is paid for getting right things done at right time.
There may be many causes
of corruption but some of the major causes of corruption can be linked with (i)
Emergence of political elite who believe in interest-oriented rather than
nation-oriented programmes and policies; (ii) Artificial scarcity created by
the people with malevolent intentions wrecks the fabric of the economy; (iii)
Corruption is caused as well as increased because of the change in the value
system and ethical qualities of people who administer. The old ideals of
morality, service and honesty are regarded as an anachronistic; (iv) Tolerance
of people towards corruption, complete lack of intense public outcry against
corruption and the absence of strong public forum to oppose corruption; (v)
Vast size of population coupled with widespread illiteracy and the poor
economic infrastructure lead to endemic corruption in public life; (vi) In a
highly inflationary economy, low salaries of government officials compel them
to resort to the road of corruption. Graduates from IIMs with no experience
draw a far handsome salary than what government secretaries draw; (vii) Complex
laws and procedures alienate common people to ask for any help from government;
and (viii) Election time is a time when corruption is at its peak level. Big
industrialists fund politicians to meet high cost of election and ultimately to
seek personal favour. Bribery to politicians buys influence, and bribery by
politicians buys votes. In order to get elected, politicians bribe poor
illiterate people, who are slogging for two times meal. The total spending for the 2009 Lok Sabha
elections was pegged at a whopping Rs. 10,000 crore. The breakup of this spending throws up some
interesting insights too.
·
Rs
1,300 crore (Rs 13 billion) by the Election Commission
·
Rs
700 crore (Rs 7 billion) by the Centre and state governments
·
Rs
8,000 crore (Rs 80 billion) were spent by political parties and individual
candidates
Rs. 8000 crore spent by
political parties and individual candidates? Where do they get hold of this
kind of money to spend? Again, it comes as a no brainer that it is hugely
attributed to the Private Funding that political parties attract from big
pocket industrialists. The reasons why
private spending of this scale happens again is rather simple Favourtism. It is a well known fact that government
support is crucial for industries small and large. One favourable swing in a huge tender or a
favourable policy, and all the benefits can be reaped.
Corruption is an
intractable problem. It is like diabetes, can only be controlled, but not
totally eliminated. It may not be possible to root out corruption completely at
all levels but it is possible to contain it within tolerable limits. Honest and
dedicated persons in public life, control over governmental expenses could be
the most important prescriptions to combat corruption. Corruption has a
corrosive impact on our economy. It worsens our image in international market
and leads to loss of overseas opportunities. Corruption is a global problem
that all countries of the world have to confront, solutions, however, can only
be home grown. It is a no brainer that Corruption in India is at its rampant
best. There is not one section of the
society that is spared from it.
Corruption in the form of bribery takes the cake and given that it
begins at the grass root level makes it even more difficult to monitor and
control. We have tolerated corruption
for so long. The time has now come to root it out from its roots. This is not only our duty as citizens of this
vast country but our responsibility as Christians to heal our nation.
Kasta Dip
