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| Corruption in public life | | | Gurmeet Kaur Allinangal | 8/31/2011 9:42:08 PM |
| The word, 'corruption' means the moral degradation of a person who gives undue favors to someone for monetary or other considerations. It could also be favouritism shown towards one's relatives or friends. Corruption is a widespread phenomenon in todays's public life.This is not a modern phenomenon. History proves that it was prevalent in the political and civic life of even the Mauryas. The great political statesman, chanakya or Kautilya has discussed about corruption in his popular book 'Arthasthastra". However, due to the immense development of the media, corruption is getting exposed and investigated today.
It has become rampant is almost all walks of a common man's life. One faces corruption right from his with till his death. For instance, there is corruption in hospitals, educational institutions, offices, government department and even in crematoriums and graveyards. Corruption is lack of integrity. This could be lack of intellectual integrity, financial integrity or moral integrity. World Bank defined corruption as use of public office for private gain. According to Transparency international, an NGO based in Berlin, India ranks at number 84 among the 180 countries in corruption perception index (CPI) of 2009. The least corrupt countries are New Zealand, Denmark and the most corrupt countries are Afghanistan and Somalia. From the ranking, it is obvious that India is one of the most corrupt countries of the world.
In India, there are innumerable cases of corruption that come into notice from time to time. In the recent years, various scandals and corruption charges have come up, such as the Bofors, fairfox etc. Corruption is defence deals is certainly very alarming for a country. For instance, the media reported that there are kickbacks even in the procurement of coffins for the Kargil heroes.
Bribery is the most common form of corruption in India. Government departments rarely do a job without taking bribes in some way or other. Some departments like the Income tax, customs and Excise, C.P.W.D., Municipalities, etc., are reportedly ill-famous in this regard. Educational institutions such as schools and colleges have also been affected by the cancer of corruption. Reputed and big schools in most of the cities are alleged to be taking very high donations for the admission of students. There are also reports of certain medical, engineering and management institutions taking donations for the admission of students. This is not all. Committing frauds in mark-sheets of students, manipulating the results of examinations, all form a part of corruption. This can ruin the career and the future of deserving students. Corruption is more pronounced in politics. It is an open secret that every candidate has to spend lakhs of rupees to contest an election for the Legislative Assembly or for the Parliament.Once elected, he is tempted to compensate the amount spent by fair or foul means. This leads to enormous corruption. Corruption is also widespread in trade and commerce. Unscrupulous traders indulge in corrupt practices like black-marketing, adulteration, etc. to cheat the customers. Big business houses and multinational amass a lot of black money by indulging in unfair practices. In short, there is no sphere of activity which is free from corruption. After Independence, there were many government activities, programmes and projects involving massive investments. Consequently, there was lack of adequate control and accountability, which led to corruption. Most of the people who were influential began thinking of their own vested interests. Yet another reason for corruption in India is the existence of too many controls, rules and regulations, restrictions, permits and licenses. In this process, those persons who are at the helm of the affairs make a lot of money that's why! People like Anna Hazare are asking for making a law of effectively rein and punish the corrupt. What problem in there in making such law? It is not just India alone which has been badly affected by it. Corruption is a global phenomenon at the present time. Every country is facing this problem. The best way to deal with this menace is to eradicated it from its roots. Rules and regulations or even law must be simplified to that they are easily understandable to the common man. Only persons or high moral character are proven integrity should be chosen for a government job. People should be educated and well aware of their rights and duties. They should be bold enough to assert their rights. The feet way to fight this problem is to develop a vigilance machinery within one's own country. This is problem only when there is a wholehearted support and co-operation of the people of the country.
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