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Corruption two-way traffic
Corruption is a two-way traffic and so long as we have given of bribery there would be its takers. Easy money is the greatest allurement and even the strongest have not the guts to refuse it. Corruption flourishes on the golden formula of every man has his price. When the entire social and economic set up is based on it, it is well-nigh difficult to resist the temptation of easy money.
Broadly speaking Corruption is abuse of trust to fill pockets with easy motley. One can imagine the intensity of corruption from the admission made by the government itself; it is admitted that out of every rupee sanctioned for welfare program and development activities hardly 10-15 passé reach the intended beneficiaries. The major chunk is gulped down by the government machinery and the usurpers do not belch.
Reasons spread of corruption
Reasons for the speedy spread of corruption are not far away to find.
First, materialism has made Mammon, the real God of the people. They are ready to amass wealth by hook or by crook, by fair means or by foul means.
Secondly, rising prices and rising living standard have made dent on the meagre and scanty resources of income of the people. To augment their resources they fall easy prey to the allurement of bribery.
Thirdly, education has become too costly. All parents want their wards admitted to the finest of schools and colleges. This is not possible if they depend on their earned income. So what they do, they accept bribery or force bribery.
Fourthly, means of distractions and entertainment demand extra amount. Branded things must be purchased to show off and to keep reputation and status in society intact. Honest earning can’t keep body and soul together. Earning by the sweat of the brow can’t make both ends meet. So for this show off money is required and the easiest way to get money is bribery.
Fifthly, higher officers are overburdened with additional work and they get no time to keep an eye on the activities of their subordinates. As a result subordinates are free to do anything.
Sixthly, procedures in public offices are very tedious, cumbersome and dilatory and they smack of arbitrariness. Even if one does not want to take undue advantage or twist the arms of law or get anything unlawful done, he simply wants to speed up the process of decision making; he wants speedy action so that he is not to waste his time and energy on useless and uneventful trips and visits to the offices.
Payments are made simply to accelerate and facilitate routine business. Moreover, majority of the people do not comprehend the laws, rules and regulations. They can’t read between the lines and remain at the mercy of the babus and clerks. To get their work, done without any hassle and quickly they offer bribery which is at once accepted. Not only this, even the babus and clerks befool innocent people interpreting rules and regulations as per their whims. Seventh, because bribery played a vital role in the past and even in the days of benevolent rulers corruption was rampant, this age-old practice has become part and parcel of our culture. As we breathe air so do we breathe corruption.
List of the reasons is very long. Virtues and values have lost their value. An honest man can’t survive being surrounded by hounds like corrupt people. He has only two options before him—he should either resign or be a party of the corrupt people. Today an honest man is dubbed as a fool.
No Motivation of Lofty Ideas
Spirit of serving people and nation has evaporated sacrifice is shunned. Nobody is motivated by lofty ideals. Elections have become very costly.
From where the candidates get money to fight elections?
It is only from the industrialists and the wealthy. In return these industrialists and wealthy people loot and fleece the common men freely because checkers themselves are corrupt. When elected, the candidates start amassing huge money by fair or foul means as they know after a certain period they are to fight the elections again. Easy money quietly sinks into their fathomless pockets. Conditions are so bad that capable and upright people shudder to fight elections as they have no means. Some people still believe that they can mend things but they are helpless to be part of government machinery. Criminalization of politics has further complicated the problem. Criminals ultimately become touts of the politicians or liaison officers to entrap would-be and willing givers of easy money. Moreover, those who have indulged in booth-capturing and intimidation of the voters on behalf of the candidates establish their own offices to hoodwink people and extort money from them to fix their meetings with the elected members. Members in power invariably get their cut honestly.
Ministers and bureaucrats
Ministers have the magical wand in their hands and that is the power to transfer the bureaucrats. To retain plump posts bureaucrats keep their bosses in good humor through cash or kind. The bosses know the value of these plump posts and get regular cuts. Bureaucrats and junior level officers bathe in the sea of corruption though sometime saltish sea water harms their health. If at all they are caught even red handed they get out of the mess by offering hushed-up money. What a strange game this nexus between politicians and bureaucrats plays with the nation.
Job-seekers get jobs only when they grease the palm of the selectors. Once selected they indulge in full scale corruption and take bribery first to realize the cash they have given in bribery and then they fill their own pockets. This goes on. When we see everybody steeped in the mire of corruption we say to ourselves— why not us?
Misuse official Things
It will not be wrong to say that the greater the nuisance value of an officer, the greater the bribery he gets. Seeing big guns indulging in corruption common men take it for granted as they get a kind of sanction. Everybody justifies corruption declaring that it is a world-wide phenomenon. Illegal gratification is not the only way of corruption. Influential people do not pay their dues. Senior bureaucrats and politicians go on foreign jaunts and take their family members with them just to enjoy at the cost of public exchequer. Everybody, whosoever gets a chance, misuses official machinery and earns crores. Accountant General reports which indict politicians and officials gather dust lying on the store-room. If these reports are scrutinized properly many heads would roll. But nothing is done. Men in power have become commission agents. They do not hesitate to compromise the independence and security of the nation.
It is very unfortunate that corruption has entered into the portals of judicial, educational and religious institutions. Donation is another name of bribery. Everywhere money makes the mare go. If you are ready to shell out sufficient bucks you can meet the deity by jumping the queue.
Corruption has many faces
Corruption has many faces: extortive, nepotistic, investive, transactive, defensive, willing, savior, taken for granted. In extortive corruption money is wrested from a person by violence, intimidation or abuse of authority. It is a kind of blackmailing, robbery, cheating and stealing. Nepotistic corruption embraces undue benefits to the relations and known figures. Investive corruption is not indulged into because of some current benefit or favour. It is given for the future. It is a kind of investment and can help when need arises in future. Transactive one is a smooth two-way traffic between the: donor and the recipient. It is give and take, no bargaining and no heckling. Benefit to the donor and the recipient match. Defensive one is protective. It is indulged into in self-defense. Willing corruption is when one gives money riot linked to the job done. You give money to the man who brings your passport or examination result card and so on. Savior corruption saves the skin of the corrupted when they are caught red handed. Taken for, granted corruption is that corruption when one has to shell out money even when one is lawfully in the right., You know the officer will not allow you to go. Nomenclature does not end here. Corruption is hydra-headed demon.
Degeneration of Society
Thus, we see complete degeneration of society has set in. This cancerous malady is difficult to remove. Something must be done. Cleaning of Aegean stables must start from the top. Many steps can be taken in this regard. Firstly, there should not be any loophole in the enacted laws. Secondly, moral education should be included in the syllabi to impart values right from the impressionable age, Thirdly, no extension in service should be awarded in the name of experience. Beneficiaries try to keep their saviours amused and everybody knows, how? Fourthly, curb on black money should be imposed harshly. Easy money would not be handy. Fifthly, public awareness should be awakened through propaganda. Public apathy is the unconscious sanction of corruption. Media should play its role very honestly and sincerely. The result would be vigilant public. Sixthly, discretionary power of the officials should be curbed to the maximum. This mechanism will leave no frightening weapon in the hands of the officials. Seventhly rule of law should be promoted. Such laws would make the officials and other people accountable.
Corruption Solutions
Ministers and politicians should take an oath not to us official machinery for personal or party gains. They must employ honest and upright people as personal staff. If they find any lapse on their part they should have the guts to chuck them our. For this they should have to be above doubt. All public persons should declare their assets before assuming office. Verification of their statements must be done by persons of integrity independently. This exercise should be done periodically. Vigilance department must be independently like the Election Commission. Corrupt officials should be sacked at once. NAB must get more teeth Election expenses should be properly maintained. If anybody spends more than the set limit he should be debarred. Above all, only men of proven integrity should be appointed a. judges, degrees and feathers in the cap should not be the only criterion. Subordinate judiciary need extra and specattention. Still more, exemplary punishment must be awarded to the corrupt elements.
Simply preaching against the corruption will not do, Practical measures will have to be taken. Threats and warnings to the corrupt elements will go waste if efforts to root out corruption are not sincere, serious and positive. Above all, political will is first prerequisite toll the death knell of the leviathan of corruption.
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