With materialistic values at the topmost priority, moral and ethical values at lowest span of ladder, every fibre of society indulged in self-aggrandizement, wherein not only the credibility of politicians and bureaucrats but also of the judiciary is at stake, it is very difficult and ridiculous to dream of a corruption free society".
In present spectrum an honest man is like a drop in the ocean which loses its identity as soon as mingles virtually in the salt water of ocean, corruption is a common practice, a way of life.
It is a matter of shame, that even after 57 years of independence, India figures among the first thirty most corrupt countries. The Virus of corruption has crept into all walks of life and it can endanger the body politic of our nation.
Corruption always existed in human society in one or the other form. In primitive period, the scope of public administration was minimum, as a result the scope of corruption was also limited. After independence, with the concept of welfare state coming into existence, the scope of being corrupt widened. At the juncture of Independence a statesman like C. Rajagopalachari called the PWD (Public Works Department) as the first enemy of the country in terms of the corruption prevailed in that department. Now-a-days, every department has become a Public Works Department. The corruption has crept into every fabric of society in such a way that it was the theme of speeches made by the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of our independence. Every Chief Election Commissioner since Mr. Sheshan hold the office, has advocated the dire necessity of electoral reforms to strike the corruption at grass root level. When the highest placed leaders and bureaucrats join the bandwagon of corruption who is required to watch the interests of the common people.
Corruption is regarded as a low risk and highly profitable way of earning quick money and whoever is caught, knows how to go scot free. In this country which is known for moral and ethical values, where spirit of truism is adored, fair means were advocated to attain anything, has now counted among the top thirty most corrupted nations of the world. From peon to Prime Minister, from clerk to the Chief secretary all have been found involved and charged for many acts of commissions and ions. How can we imagine to eradicate the corruption in toto?
Causes of Corruption
A peculiar face of corruption in our Country is that it goes upstream not down stream and so most of the fundamental policies and decisions about big purchases, contracts, projects etc, are distorted at the top level.
The delay in disposing of the cases of corruption, is one of the important causes of flourishing of corruption. Corrupt officials even if caught can manage to go scot free in due course of time by manipulations or otherwise.
Possessing of vast discretionary powers by the political 1eaders, bureaucrats is also one of the important reasons of being corrupt. Discretionary powers in appointments, nominations to various bodies, allotment of Petrol Pumps and other agencies resulted into favoring the kith or kin and because of their vested interest.
Huge election expenses necessarily incurred by the vested interests, whether by the private companies or by the people to be later on gains with the aid and assistance of such political leaders, who now enjoy the chair because of their investing the money is a fundamental reason of politicians being corrupt. Politics has become such a lucrative business that once you occupy the chair by hook or by crook you become rich for ever with many perks and facilities throughout the life.
One more reason can be advanced to the existence of corruption is the present inflationary trend which make an employee difficult to maintain his family. He finds corruption an attractive preposition.
The taxation system takes away the thirty percent of income of an individual which renders the person in such hapless state that he can't live happily, if does not fulfill his needs by other means.
The foremost reason of flourishing of corruption is the virtual change in that thinking of the people a total disregard to the moral and ethical values making the self aggrandizement the sole reason of all activities. Attaining the things by any means whether wrong or right has encouraged most of the generation to adopt preposition of corruption.
Preposition of Corruption:
The basic question is-can the corruption be eradicated? "Nothing is impossible” can be said by an enthusiastic social leader but eradication of corruption is next to impossible thing in the present spectrum of affairs. When whole of the body politic is effected by the virus of corruption then to eradicate it in toto is a Herculean task. Corruption is a multifaceted, hydra headed colossus problem required to be dealt with several measures simultaneously.
(1) Full transparency in official dealings be adopted.
(2) Discretion be minimized at the barest possible level. Whenever discretion is used, should be based on reasoning and reasons must be on record. Unreasonable use of discretion could be reversed back and such provisions should be included in the system.
(3) Judiciary system to try the cases of corruption must be accelerated and it should be time bound. Whatever expenses needed to establish separate courts for the trial of the cases of corruption, must be incurred and given top most priority in future planning. The loss incurred by the nation due to corruption is much more than the expenses required in establishing such courts. Appeal in such cases should be discouraged if allowed in some cases then the appeal must also be given utmost top priority for disposal. The penalty imposed under IPC must be suitably enhanced, in order to check the corruption in social life.
The bodies like CVC, CEl, Lok Ayukta, etc. must be headed by the persons of high integrity and must be made autonomous truly with execution powers. The budgetary allocation to these bodies should be liberal and no hindrance of any kind be allowed in their functioning.
Elections Expenses must not be allowed to cross the limits. The loopholes like making expenses by other persons that are not included in party expenses must be plugged. The political parties have to be sincere and honest to fight the cancer of corruption. The chief hurdle is the unwillingness and lack of determination and will of politicians to eradicate the corruption. All the policies, rules and regulations are framed by the leaders, they do not wish to chain themselves by making laws so inert and fool proof so that they themselves are entangled. So the eradication of corruption does not seem to be possible.
The people and the society can play very important role in fighting the gigantic wild animal of corruption. The general awakening can make the politicians and bureaucrats to use their discretion fairly. The common men must cast their votes not on the basis of caste or creed or party, but on the basis of values and character of the candidates. In a democracy the actual power lies with the voters but once a leader is elected by them, the people are made a puppet to play by their. There is.a need to make a law to call back the corrupt leader if decided by the voters even before 5 years' term. The politicians use their caste affiliations and religion, to woo the innocent voters in their favor. The common man must use the vote wisely in favor of the honest and educated candidate.To eradicate the corruption from the society all have to fight it, lt is the most powerful and the most dangerous monstrous evil which rises to manifold itself with the passage of time.
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