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| Jan Lok Pal is no magic bullet | | | Sunita Vakil | 4/15/2011 7:53:40 PM |
| Unless each one of us takes a pledge to end corruption, LOK Pal Bill will not make much of a difference.
That Anna Hazare’s call for the need to fight corruption has found resonance throughout India is quite heartening. The overwhelming response of the people to the anti corruption crusade initiated by him is absolutely amazing. In recent times no other protest has captured the nation’s imagination as Mr. Hazare’s fast has done. The four days of his fast were nothing short of a revolution. Overnight, Mr. Anna Hazare has become the toast of the nation.
It is a truism that the people of India are fed up with corruption and poor governance. Indeed, rampart corruption has been the most visible feature of Indian governance for decades now. This has invariably given rise to instability, violence and poverty in the society. Politicians of all hues are taking the country for a ride by practicing appeasement, encouraging nepotism and promoting sycophancy. The unending revelations of scams and scandals which have rocked the nation in the recent past have only added to public exasperation. Everyday there is a new scandal waiting to be revealed be it the telecom spectrum allocation, common wealth games, Adarsh Society, cash for vote, CVC appointment, black money etc…etc… Is it then any wonder that the country has been graded the fourth most corrupt nation of Asia? Doubtlessly, politics has become the most lucrative profession nowadays. Scores of tainted politicians across the political spectrum are roaming freely. Corruption is present everywhere. Mr. Hazare’s Jan Lok Pal Bill got overwhelming support not only because the bill drafted by successive governments has been stuck in a limbo for 42 years. People coming out spontaneously in support of Mr. Hazare indicates that they are giving vent to their anger and angst over the widening gap between the haves and have-nots, denial of jobs due to their inability to pay bribes and un arrested corruption in all walks of public life. Every political party worth its name promises to eradicate corruption in its manifestos. But there is many a slip between the promise and implementation. For example, the BJP which is trying to gain mileage by supporting Mr. Hazare did nothing to implement the legislation when the NDA was in power. But people who have tried to speak all these years against it have been defeated. That they all feel let down against the system is obvious from the apolitical movement which has seen the old and the young, rich and poor, celebrities and commoners raise their voice to support the cause. And it is indeed the vitality of the issue that has been the reason of the pent up anger among people at large that triggered a nationwide response.
There can be no two opinions on the need for effective means to curb corruption in public life while no one will question the good intentions of the people who side with Anna Hazare, the intervention of civil society in drafting legislation does not auger well for a vibrant democracy like India. The govt. has set a dangerous precedent by allowing members of the civil society into the drafting committee of the Lok Pal bill. The promoters and supporters of the Jan Lokpal Bill miss the point that these members are not elected representatives but are more worryingly self appointed, unaccountable and unrepresentative set of people. Though there is a clear rationale for tough measures on corruption, flaws in democracy can only be corrected through democratic institutions.
Civil society protests aren’t magic bullets that bring in startling change. Candlelight vigils by bollywood celebrities, activists and so called civil society will not lend credibility to the cause unless everyone works together to bring the corrupt to justice. Though Mr. Hazare’s crusade against corruption is commendable, change does not come through the efforts of one person. All of us have to stop nourishing it. In India where corruption beings at the grassroots and reaches high offices, cleaning the house should precede cleaning the system.
Hats off to Anna Hazare for his struggle to eradicate corruption, but can corruption be eradicated by such symptomatic treatment as ranting against politics and politicians alone? Given the fact the corruption is no longer confined to politicians and bureaucracy but has percolated into the very vitals of the society, how can we criticize them as if they alone are corrupt? Many of those who are now shouting against corrupt politicians may themselves be evading laws and using corrupt means in their daily lives. Unless the root cause of the nexus of the rich and powerful is uprooted, how can corruption be eliminated? It is not at all encouraging when people blindly criticize political system because it is eventually the political system which we have to make better if the country is to function. People are also to blame for the present situation as they elect corrupt politicians to power. It is for us to make the right use of our vote by showing the strength at the time of election and throw out the corrupt.
At the some time we should bear in mind that the mere passage of the Jan Lokpal bill will do little to eliminate corruption. Don’t we have a plethora of laws to tackle the menace? Then why create a new law? More than stringent laws, we need political and administrative will to eradicate this social evil, we need far reaching administrative, judicial, police and electoral reforms as in their absence support of such movements would be hypocrisy.
It is equally important to recognize that corruption can only be dealt with if all of us fight it in our own small way. Most often we forget that we are also part of corruption. The common man himself aids and abets in corruption. We give money to get things done. We bribe officers, peons, police, louts and others for our benefits. Legislation alone can not guarantee zero corruption. We would do well to remember that Dowry prohibition Act has not eliminated dowry system. It is easy to blame the government. Are we not to blame at all? Unless each one of us stands up against corruption, even a thousand Anna Hazares will not help the cause of fighting this social evil.
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