Corruption free society...myth or reality?

Published on: August 14, 2012 - 22:43

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Today our country is 65-year-old and is preparing itself to be a super power. However, there are many hurdles to cross still, corruption being one such hurdle. It hampers our progress and questions our morality as a nation. On Independence Day NT BUZZ tries to find out whether being free of corruption will remain a myth for Indians.

BY ARTI DAS | NT BUZZ

Imagine a country where every individual gets promoted according to merit, where files are cleared within a given time frame; basically where all work is done without the influence of money or power - a country where the law of the land is supreme, where power does not lie in the hands of few.

Many would say it is an idealistic situation. The fact of the matter is that we are so used to living or rather ‘surviving’ in the world of corruption that freedom from it is now looking like a myth.

Today, we are celebrating 65 years of Independence but we are still trapped in the issue of corruption that hampers everything, right from our economy to ecology.

Speaking to people from various arenas does give a similar feeling. “Well, it seems like that right? As long as we do not as individuals indulge in corrupt practices, we will remain susceptible to creating a nurturing environment for corruption at all levels. It’s all well to condemn corruption in the political sphere but we should also play our part in wiping out the menace in our personal and social spaces as well,” says Anita Haladi, associate professor at DMS College, Mapusa.

Elaborating on corruption at a personal level, many believe that they themselves have indulged in it and sometimes it is forced. “I think it is more visible in public sector rather than private sector. Right from the peon to the top officials there is corruption. Like once I had to clear one file, first that clerk told me that it will take seven months. But, my client was not willing to wait for so long. Thus, I was forced to pay Rs 200 to clear that file and after that my job was done just in a day. This is the reality of today,” laments Jessica Fernandes, lawyer from Nuvem.

She however confirms that it is us who germinate this seed of corruption. “Just the other day I learnt of one standard four student who gave chocolates to all her classmates in order to get them to vote for her as a class monitor. So, we as parents are part of this mess. In order to uproot this corruption we should start from grass root,” adds Jessica.

Many believe corruption is a reality and is spreading its roots all over. “Corruption in our country is a reality that is fuelled by the greed of the powerful, hidden behind the mask of plastic patriotism. India still awaits independence from rapist development, spiteful prejudice and regressive disregard for our countrymen!” says Pravin Sabnis.

They say a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. So, in order to make this anti-corruption journey we need to be patient. “It is we who start the corruption so it is we who need to stop it. We need to be patient. One file of mine has been stuck for the last one month but I didn’t speak anything about a bribe. Let them take their time. If I can why not others,” says TAG president, Prince Jacob.

Around a year ago when an uprising against this corruption started by way of the India Against Corruption (IAC) and the Anna Hazare movement, people hoped that change has begun. But, a year later the enthusiasm of people died down and we are back to square one - without a Lokpal bill.

Many believe that total eradication is impossible, but that does not mean that the movement was a failure. Artist, Subodh Kerkar explains it with a story. “Corruption is impossible to eradicate. It is like the story of a tehsildar (tax collector), who was very corrupt and couldn’t have done better for himself even when punished. He was deputed to sit on the shores a coast, given the task of counting waves as form of a punishment. The tehsildar found an opportunity to make money even here. He started collecting tax from ship captains that crossed the waves saying that the vessel was stalling his job of counting the waves,” relates Subodh.

But, he concludes with a silver lining. “I think it [corruption] has surely come down. Like for example, now we can get a phone or LPG connection without any influence of money. Also I believe that the Anna Hazare movement was a small but significant wave in a larger prospective. We need agitations, dharnas, but that’s not enough. We need a Lokpal bill and most importantly we need education and awareness about our rights as that will bring about change,” concludes Subodh.