In a recent discussion with my boss over corruption in India, we came up with some interesting points that I thought of jotting down here. I don't think these are something which has never been thought about but I don't see much talk about them either.
Its common to see the way things work here abroad and laugh about the inefficiencies that are there in India due to corruption. I think its right also, unless you see the difference, appreciate the positives and condemn the wrong, you are never starting on the way to make changes. There's no doubt that things in Indian government institutions that deal directly with the common public are the ones that are the hotbed of the corruption machinery. So broadly speaking what are the causes of it:
Less salaries in Indian public sector. It makes me wonder sometimes how Subir Raha must be getting than his counterpart CEOs. Might be one tenth or lesser. I don't mean he will go corrupt because of not being able to manage in a 20-30 Lakhs p.a. but consider when the same ratio translates to the babu types jobs. I don't know what they get but from what I constantly hear, their salaries are sub 5000 for many. I wont comment its less or more because anyhow there's no limit on more anywhere. But in comparison to what he is offered in bribes, the things that he deals in generally translate into more than 10x times his salary. Which is a great motivator to take the plunge. There would be a great mass who wont take the effort of killing his conscience if his basic needs are satisfied and he gets the respect in the society but at 5K types salary that's not what one can expect. So these rock bottom salaries are one big motivator for the corrupt. Consider Indians pay 21,068 crores as bribes per year anyhow that amount of money is flowing as black money. I think there are many people who feel that instead of charging me 50Rs for a driving license better charge me 500Rs and save me the pain of paying 6 babus 50 rs each and having lesser respect for my own country.
But if you think over the above argument, a person who reaches higher posts and starts earning something which other people in industry get then also he does not stop being corrupt. The reason being, its like once corrupt, always corrupt. Its like yaar ek baar aur sahi, phir nahin karoonga. So once you are into this cycle, there's no ending, how much ever you earn or store or stash.
Society is one more reason. We as Indians keep forming groups and generally recognize ourselves as part of a group only. There are no rights and wrong, we are quite comfortable in convincing ourselves about the aims of the group and follow them as gospel truth. consider a fresher joining a department of xyz revenue collection and distribution. That fresher first identifies himself with the seniors who eat truck loads of notes, then their lesser ones who service them and get some suitcases for their families and it would be in such good harmony that he would also fall in love of the concept and start doing the same stuff. We hardly have rebels, individuals who are ready to challenge the established. We just flow with the things. So my hypothesis is that India in the next generation is going to be a rage without any stopping. You'll see an honest, un-corrupt country. That's because I see a lot many un-corrupt, satisfied people than I used to see in the generation of my uncles, father's friends etc etc who I know are working in sarkari company and making black money and yet being good individuals in their personal lives. The day this percentage decreases and percentage of people who are honest goes high, we'll have followers who will do the same. So I guess its going to be an exponential growth in it.
So the matter is about conversion. I think India should reduce the number of converts by taking appropriate measures. A good salary to match other industry standards is one first step. In countries that I visit these public services either get more or equally paid than other similar professions. People do live in the same society and then feel part of it. They have incentive to be non-corrupt. Awareness can be improved first by stressing more about these issues in School, increase penalty of being corrupt and setting examples of honest people. I think these are little abstract but I think its happening slowly. I admire the way the new industries in India have taken these things very seriously and have their own excellence in executing these stuff.
India is currently placed at 88th rank among 159 nations according to a report by Transparency International. Consider India is the 4rth largest economy of the world (considering Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)) and the second fastest major economy of the world and if corruption does not fall then its difficult to imagine any further growth.
At the end of all my fundas I will leave with a very good report(Transparency International India) of Indian corruption.
Technorati Tags: Corruption, Economy
2 comments:
You have hit the nail on the head. But there are other issues which drives people to corruption. Like you said, once corrupt always so. You have people accepting bribes from Rs10 to millions. I think I do not have to lay an example to defend the later. I think it the conscience and moral values that will play the most significant part in a person saying no to corruption. No matter how stringent the law is and the implications of being exposed, the crave for more and “easy money” will never leave a corrupt person whatever is the earnings.
I guess the clichéd argument of “We” supporting corruption cannot be ruled out either. We get a DL by paying a sum of 500/- instead of the regular lawful procedure and term it as a tip to the agent for his service equating it to the tip you leave a person serving at a hotel. The “extra” money for the “value added” service passes off easily than terming it as a bribe to get your job done. It is all intricately wound in the day to day lives of millions. Purchasing a movie ticket paying an extra Rs 20 makes life easier rather than waiting for a week to purchase standing in a queue and being on time. We pay bribes but forget the people still waiting in the queue and who cannot afford an extra 20. Admission to colleges, procuring a ration card, slipping from traffic police without your DL and insurance, it is all thriving at the grassroot levels and across all sections in society. It is situation where you have some paying and others accepting. This is difficult (but not impossible) unless the disparity levels come down drastically and leave people across the social system to be at level grounds economically.
So the “ideal” solution will be when a person realizes the fact that this is unlawful and what is wrong should not be done at any cost, even at the cost of his convenience, personal gains and his life. This can however also be brought on with influence from the righteous people if not from self awakening.
... and this will be The ideal state.
Hi....u both guys have moved into right direction. I would like to add that the strenghtening of the Right to Information Act and the use of Technology which will make this information available to much more stake holders and make them aware about the rights will make things easier for the rooting out corruption, eg. use of CCTV, tapping of phones, use of mobile phones to record the person who ask bribe on phone, use of mobile camer by general puhlic when they say traffic police wallah asking for bribe...
Role of all media is also very important in educating people about how to tackle this menance and infoming ppl abt their rights
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