The country is stuck with scams. Everyday a new scam surfaces involving politicians, bureaucrats, corporates. Media has a field day. They debate at length on the issue. A commission is appointed to look into it. He has no prosecution powers if the accused is found guilty. He takes a year (sometimes a decade) to complete the work. Submits the report. Nobody remembers the same scam anymore. Accused would have again become a MP or a MLA and sometimes might even end up as a Chief Minister ruling us.
There are agencies which are entrusted with the task of taking actions but they are not adequate. We have CBI which is powerful but not independent. We have CVC which is independent but lacks adequate power to prosecute.
I will try to focus on what as ordinary citizen we can do to tackle this menace.
What's the way out? One thing which citizens should stop thinking or saying is:
1. I am least interested in politics. Let them do whatever they want.
2. What will happen if i change myself? Will the entire country change just because i became a law abiding citizen?
People who think this way are making the system more corrupt is what i feel. Having the belief that we can do our best to tackle corruption is the first step.
There are two approaches here to tackle corruption:
1) One is what can i do and
2) The other is what can government do to ensure the machinery is less corrupt or remove corruption all together. The second part is beyond the control of an ordinary citizen who is fighting to meet his day to day needs. There are activists involved in fighting against corruption and whenever there is an opportunity to support the movement we can play an active role.
http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/ is a website which gives us plenty of information on the measures which the government is planning to take like Lokpal bill, anti-corruption bill and the loop holes in the proposed system. They are fighting the battle at a high level and we can support them.
I would focus more on what as an individual we can contribute to stop or curtail this menace called Corruption.
Let us take a simple example here. I am caught by a policeman entering a one way road. The official fine is say 200Rs. What I tend to think is if i give the policeman 50Rs he will let me go. I offer him. He is expecting the same. He accepts it gracefully. Am happy that i saved 150 Rs. :) I made a mistake in the first place by entering a one-way road which i knew about it. And i offer a bribe to get away it. You might think i am trivializing the corruption issue but this is what happens to most of us. The same could apply to not having a Driving license, insurance. We always end up making a mistake and then offer bribe to get away. Can we take a pledge not to offer bribe and pay the actual fine for our mistake. We will be more cautious once we have paid fine. The probability of that happening again will be remote.
Another area which citizens get affected most is while purchasing land and constructing house. There are many departments out there which we often need to interact. And we end up bribing them to get the things done quickly. I know if we don't offer bribe things will get delayed. He may not do our work first time, and perhaps second time also but when we know we are right we can ensure that the work gets done quickly.
I feel mobiles can be effectively used to tackle corruption. Record a conversation where he is asking money. Contact lokayukta officials in your city. Inform them. There are honest upright officials working there. They will definitely help you. The process might take time but it is the price which we need to pay to tackle this menace.
I am a firm believer that small things like this will make a substantial difference. A week back two individuals from a village successfully ensured that a special DC Ramanjaneya was caught while taking bribe with the help of Lokayukta officials. (
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/116690/urban-special-dc-2-others.html)
I know you might say the person caught will walk away at some point of time. Fact is it is beyond our control. The anti-corruption institution needs to strengthened and it will take some time. But let us do our job.
Please do not think that i am trivializing a big issue like corruption by taking a simple case on what we can do. I still believe it is in our hands. If every one of us takes a pledge not to bribe anyone this country can definitely be a better place to live with.
Take a pause and think twice before you offer a bribe next time :)
