India has 83rd rank in the corruption perception index and most members of Indian bureaucracy and politicians are so corrupt that they do not hesitate to take money even from the poorest of the poor and vulnerable sections of society.
The results of the survey conducted by Transparency India International[TTI] have established this beyond any doubt.The organisation has come out with the most shocking revelation that people below poverty line have paid Rs.883 crores to bureaucrats between November 2007 and January 2008 in order to get basic government services that are the legitimate right of all citizens.Taking bribe for such services is condemnable and intolerable.
Poor people have to pay more for everything now with the price rise and inflation and their purchasing power has fallen sharply.
Payment for each and every service including medical treatment in government hospitals and getting ration cards etc by way of bribe has further reduced their purchasing power.
The goal of government is inclusive growth.But by their acts of corruption and bribe-taking bureaucrats and politicians are achieving exclusive growth for themselves to the utter exclusion of the poor from the growth process.The process of inclusion in respect of corruption has now covered judges as well.Corruption in judiciary has now brought about complete denial of justice to the poor.A rich man can kill a poor man and with the help of judges and by paying money he can easily shift the allegation and blame for murder to a poor witness and get him jailed or even hanged.This is justice today.
Unless we strengthen enforcement of law including anti-corruption law and give adequate punishment to the corrupt regardless of their position or clout we can not reduce corruption.At this rate we can only achieve inclusive corruption instead of inclusive growth.
Using Right to Information Act and instituting a system of external accountability the government must take firm action against the corrupt.
[Source-Businessline dated 12th July,2008]
No comments:
Post a Comment