Introduction
“Power
tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
It
is not easy to define corruption. But in a narrow sense, corruption is mostly
concerned with bribe and it takes several forms. Corruption is a global phenomenon
and it is omnipresent. Corruption has progressively increased and is now
rampant in our society. Now corruption become complete cross matrix and
difficult to get its end.
National scenario
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.!!!
Effects of corruption
Indian
administration is tainted with scandals. India got 94th rank with 36
score among 174 countries according to the Corruption Perception Index 2012
Report released by Transparency International India. Corruption in India leads
to promotion not prison. It is very difficult to catch big shark. Corruption in
India has wings not wheels. As nation grows, the corrupt also grow to invent
new methods of cheating the government and public.
Causes of corruption
Following
are some of the causes of corruption.
1. Artificial scarcity created by the
people with malevolent intentions wrecks the fabric of the economy.
2. Emergence of political elite who
believe in interest-oriented rather than nation-oriented programs and policies.
3. Corruption is caused as well as
increased because of the change in the value system and ethical qualities of
men who administer. The old ideals of morality, service and honesty are
regarded as an achromatic.
4. Vast size of population coupled with
widespread illiteracy and the poor economic infrastructure lead to endemic
corruption in public life.
5. 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.
6. Complex laws and procedures alienate
common people to ask for any help from government.
7. Tolerance of people towards corruption,
complete lack of intense public outcry against corruption and the absence of
strong public forum to oppose corruption allow corruption to reign over people.
8. Election time is a time when corruption
is at its peak level. Big industrialist fund politicians to meet high cost of
election and ultimately to seek personal favor. 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.
Measures to combat corruption
Corruption
is a cancer, which every Indian must strive to cure. Many new leaders when come
into power declare their determination to eradicate corruption but soon they
themselves become corrupt and start amassing huge wealth (one of the most important
agenda of Election 2014). There are many myths about corruption, which have
to be exploded if we really want to combat it.
Some of these myths are:
Some of these myths are:
1. More and more courts(Evening courts in
Gujarat and fast track courts in delhi) should be opened for speedy &
inexpensive justice so that cases donate
linger in courts for years and justice is delivered on time.
2. Full proof laws should be made so that
there is no room for discretion for politicians and bureaucrats. The role of
the politician should be minimized. Application of the evolved policies should
be left in the hands of independent commission or authority in each area of
public interest. Decision of the commission or authority should be
challengeable only in the courts.
3. A new Fundamental Right viz. Right to
Information should be introduced, which will empower the citizens to ask for
the information they want. Barring some confidential information, which
concerns national and international security, other information should be made
available to general public as and when required. Stringent actions against
corrupt officials will certainly have a deterrent impact.
4. Cooperation of the people has to be
obtained for successfully containing corruption. People should have a right to
recall the elected representatives if they see them becoming indifferent to the
electorate.
5. Corruption is a way of life and nothing
can be done about it. Only people from underdeveloped or developing countries
are prone to corruption. We will have to guard against all these crude
fallacies while planning measures to fight corruption.
6. Funding of elections is at the core of
political corruption. Electoral reforms are crucial in this regard. Several
reforms like: State funding of election expenses for candidates; strict
enforcement of statutory requirements like holding in-party elections, making
political parties get their accounts audited regularly and filing income-tax returns;
denying persons with criminal records a chance to contest elections, should be brought
in.
7. Local bodies, Independent of the
government, like Lokpals, Lokadalats, CVCs and Vigilance Commissions should be
formed to provide speedy justice with low expenses.
8. 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.
Conclusion
Corruption
is an intractable problem. It is like diabetes, can only be controlled, but not
totally eliminated (For india its like an AIDS)!!!! It may not be possible to
root out corruption completely at all levels but it is possible to contain it
within tolerable limits. Corruption is become cross linked matrix so difficult
to break that matrix. Honest and dedicated persons in public life, control over
electoral expenses could be the most important prescriptions to combat corruption.
Corruption has a corrosive impact on our economy (1 $=68 Rupees!!!). 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. We have tolerated corruption
for so long. The time has now come to root it out from its roots.
References:
1.http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results
(time:12.39 pm 25/9/2013)
2.http://www.narendramodi.in/liveevent/social/index.html(time:1 pm 25/9/2013)
3.“White smoke software” for language
proficiency and correct grammar error as well as spell error.
4.Gala dictionary,2009
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