EMPOWERED CORRUPTION

EMPOWERED CORRUPTION

                                 “Power Corrupt and Absolute Power Corrupt Absolutely “

Indian Penal Code of 1960 defines corruption as “ Any gratification whatever, other than legal remuneration, as a motive or reward for doing or forbearing to do any official act or for showing or forbearing to show favor or disfavor any person, or rendering or attempting to render any service or disservice to any person.

Santhanam Committee defines corruption as “Any action or failure to take action in the performance of duty by a Government servant for some advantage is corruption. “ Krishna K Tummala observes that in the wider interpretation of corruption even inefficiency in performance would be considered as corruption.

Corruption in common parlance can be defined as” Moral negligence or fall from probity “

Corruption thus involves:

1) Abuse of authorized position.

2) Digression from system.

3) Non-Action when action is necessary.

4) Private gain for self-seeking motives.

5) Financial or non-monetary forms

6) Damage to community good.

Corruption in India is prevalent since time immemorial. Kautilya in Arthashastra has devoted one chapter titled “ Detection of what is Embezzled by Government servant out of state revenue . In this Kautilya talked about the all pervasive culture of corruption, 40 ways of misappropriation of public funds. How difficult it is to obliterate it. How and Why in spite of all checks and balances people will indulge in corruption and the ways to ameliorate corruption. In fact Ashoka applied Kautilyas principle which assisted him to lessen corruption in his regime. But, During Mughal Period, The famous BAKHSHISH culture blatantly legitimized corruption.  Moreover, during the East India rule, there were numerous incidence of authority indulging in corruption e.g. Warren Hasting, Paul Banfield etc. Edward Gibbon said “ Rome rose to great height when roman and their leaders wanted to give their best to Rome and Rome fell when the Romans and their leaders began to take best from Rome”

Problem of corruption in India is mounting since Independence.  With Independence came the partition, assimilation of princely state, License Raj etc. All these provided ample opportunity to corrupt people to siphon away money which ultimately resulted in scandals starting from Jeep Scandal to CWG, 2G spectrum, Illegal mining etc.  According to Swiss Banking Association report Indian national have deposited 1456 billion in Switzerland. According to Mr BimalJalan, India’s growth rate would have been around 8% between 1980’s to 1990 if there would have not been any corruption. In fact as per UNDP report for South Asia, if India’a corruption would decline to level of Scandinavian country, Its GDP would increase by 1.5Percent and FDI by 12%. 

Cause of corruption in India is the Ingrained Corruption culture coupled with low awareness, red-tapism, misgovernance, Illiteracy, Constitutional corruption etc. Currently, India is witnessing the onslaught of Materialism, Westernization etc. which has filled the ‘animal sprit’ of corruption in India people as they aspire for more, which has resulted in ‘ living beyond the means culture’. Corruption problem has aggravated in recent times because of corporate-bureaucratic-politician nexus which culminated into huge source of Black Money. In fact corruption is so omnipresent at the top echelon that at lower lever people see corruption as  “ Low risk and high award action”.

Containing corruption in coeval world is of paramount importance. We have to keenly listen to kautilya to obliterate corruption. Kautilya in his Arthashastra stated “ Cases of corruption should be examined by the investigation committees appointed by the king. Those proven should be expelled from the services and their property confiscated. Moreover, corrupt person should be publicly paraded with cow dung stuck on their faces and their head shaven, and they must be banished from the kingdom.” This approach was popularly known as kautilya’sdandaniti. Kautilya’sdandniti in contemporary world means taking strict possible legal, administrative, judicial action against the corrupt. Thus to contain corruption, as per report of Santhanam Committee, CVC,CBI,SVC were set up. Corruption can be reduced by decentralization, competition, good governance, transparency backed by strong civil society, judiciary, social audit and media. But the hindrances to contain corruption are umpteen viz. coterie of dishonest officers, excessive job security to civil servant, lack of evidence, pervasive corruption at lower levels, protracted inquiry lower the moral of officers investigating the case. 

A country is known by its human resources. People make institution and institution the nation. Thus probity of individuals in society plays vital role in building the character of country, which ultimately affect the economic growth of the country. The committee on Standard in Public Life, a UK based organization gave seven principal which a public servant must follow to contain corruption. These seven principals are Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership. 

Education is the best medium to obliterate corruption. Education will bring awareness thus citizen will demand accountability from office holder. Besides education, speedy trial, systemic reform, civil society, Transparency, E-initiative, liberalization, adopt a public servant, accountability, maintaining probity by civil servant will go long way in solving problem of corruption.

The above analysis makes it apparent that corruption is ingrained in our society. In order to alleviate it we need both short and long term solution. The most lethal weapon against corruption can be education followed by successive reform. In fact social climate needs to be cultivated so that corrupt person, however successful may be needed to suffer social opprobrium. This led us to create culturally homogeneous society, where there is consensus on values thus diffusing corruption. In the last two decade countries have made herculean effort to contain corruption otherwise because of globalization and liberalization, corruption can dent the image of country and thus adversely affecting investment. APJ Abdul Kalam said “ If we can’t make India Corruption free, then the vision of making the nation develop by 2020 would remain a dream “

“Be the Lamp unto yourself”- Lord Buddha.

Submitted By - NilayaShanker