Views on CORRUPTION in our society

["Bharat Pardasani" <bpardasa@sun.iwu.edu>]

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I think the problem with INDIA is that there is no ACCOUNTABILITY built into
the system. Bureaucrats and Politicians get away with anything. Even on the
rare occasions when some one is cornered, muscle power is used to save the
accused. (Remember what happened when Jayalalitha was convicted of
corruption? She may yet become Chief Minister of Tamilnadu again! Remember
what happened when CBI went to arrest Sajjan Kumar in connection with the
anti-Sikh riots in Delhi - they had to return without him because his
cronies prevented CBI from going into his house.)
We as a people condone corruption easily. In spite of crores of unaccounted
money found in his house, Sukh Ram is acceptable to BJP as an ally -
obviously because he is able to get them votes in HP. In spite of all the
scandals, Laloo is the de facto king of Bihar!? I don't think you can find
such tolerance of corruption any where else in the world.
The old colonial Official Secrets Act still rules the roost in the
Government procedures. The colonial mindset that the 'subjects' are not
entitled to know the WHYs HOWs of? the 'Ruler's' decisions still prevails.
This is a good cover for corruption. Right to information should be a
fundamental right if Government decisions are to be transparent.
The clogged judicial system also contributes to the spread of corruption.
The citizen has no fair chance of getting justice and enforce his rights
quickly. He is therefore often forced to forgo his rights or to buy it.
We've reached a point of no return - now its percolated to the grassroot
level
Come, think of it - Government is the biggest litigant in India, even after
excluding criminal cases. I bet that the stakes in most cases are not much
higher than the cost of litigation (apart from legal expenses, Government's
litigation costs should include the cost of Court's time, social costs of
delayed justice etc.).? One wonders if this is just callousness or is there
a method in this madness! There lies the key to quick justice.
Education and empowerment are essential of the people at large. Education
and empowerment of the people is the key so that the real masters rule the
servants and not the other way round as is happening now.

Regards,
Bharat Pardasani


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