The menace of corruption

Written by Civil Services Times Magazine

Tuesday, 12 July 2011 17:23

The most menacing social element - corruption has entered the realm of socio-economic and
political being of our nation with a sense of naked realism. It has, now, come to rule the crust of
the social, political, economic, administrative and moral existence of Indian democratic set up.
It has become all-pervasive and normal way of our daily routine. No body is satisfied with what
he already has; he is always in the look out to grab the other peoples possessions; he is willing
to go to any length to get it. He wants to hoard all and go on amassing till his death. If the laws
of the land are enforced three quarters of our most respected citizens would be in our countrys
jails.
The politicians and administrators (civil servants), in India, have forgotten the basic dictum of

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The menace of corruption

Written by Civil Services Times Magazine
Tuesday, 12 July 2011 17:23

democracy that power involves responsibility. They all have simply turned themselves into
power mongers and given the Indian administrative and political infrastructure shape wherein
they themselves can wield power without responsibility. This sense of power without
responsibility has corrupted them. They forget the fact ill-gots do not bring peace and prosperity
either to them or to the nation. The politician-criminal-bureaucrat nexus is like a blood-sucking
monster that lives off everything around it. There are plenty of bookies, shylocks, and criminals.
They are the people; most of us want to be.
Corruption has destroyed, prevented and corrupted just about everything that exists. Everyone
is in competition. All are in a bloody race to lay hands on as much as is possible before it is all
our. Corruption has become an established welfare and development funds are being cleverly
and at times, openly, siphoned to personal and private accounts in and abroad.
We pay serious attention to the meance of raging corruption which, along with poverty,
inequality, civil conflict, discrimination and violence, is a major issue that has not been
adequately addressed. Corruption is lack of integrity, which could be financial, intellectual or
moral. In the context of public life, we are primarily concerned with the lack of financial
integrity. The corrosive negative impart of corruption is being increasingly realized. The World
Bank defined corruption as use of public office for private gain. It is increasingly, therefore, in
the context of public affairs and governance of the country that the issue of corruption is being
discussed and highlighted.
Particularly after the end of the cold war, the corrosive impact of corruption is being
increasingly realized. It is seen to be anti economic development, anti national and anti poor.
The need for checking corruption in global business also emerged more or less simultaneously
after the end of the cold war because, in the globalised economy, the need for ensuring good
corporate governance was soon realized. Globalization has intensified corruption to the utmost.
We are therefore living in a world where when it comes to public governance,the need for
integrity and checking corruption is increasingly realized as very valuable. Even in business,
the need for honesty is being underlined by the focus on the principles of corporate
governance. Ultimately, corporate governance depends on the two elements of transparency
and accountability. Because, without transparency accountability cannot be enforced, and
accountability in the case of an enterprise is to ensure that the interest of the shareholders and
stakeholders are protected. the smart-ones, the heroes; and mod But the challenges facing the
anti-corruption movement have changed markedly over the last decade. When the
Transparency International was formed in 1993, national and international leaders wilfully
ignored calls to tackle corruption. The Transparency International is an NGO based in Berlin,
which annually publishes the grading of the countries on the basis of what is called Corruption
Perception Index (CPI). Now the body of evidence is too large, and the pervasive impact of
corruption recognised as too great, to ignore.
Arguments are advanced to justify corruption on the grounds of:

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The menace of corruption

Written by Civil Services Times Magazine
Tuesday, 12 July 2011 17:23

1.
Corruption
Transparency
sectors
judiciary.
management
funds.
No
country
of
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society,
Report
of
International's
uis
natural
p
immune
tthreat
2006,
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iwith
ofor
n
resource
continues
construction,
even
to
graft.
CPI
countries
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revenues
experience
to
New
be
education
that
an
Zealand
obstacle
and
are
lapses
can
and
consistently
and
lead
to
police,
in
accountability.
Finland
investment,
to
to
misappropriation
ranked
ppolitical
demonstrate
a
rinvariably
linadequate
impedes
ithe
in
a
Corruption
the
-made
ment,
top
of
in
effe
10
the
disaster
and
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cin
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tand
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iand
vseveral
e
relief
all
2.
Kautilya
expecting
people
While
as
in
commenting
acertainly
not
his
person
only
Arthasastra
on
honey
the
said
inevitability
on
that
his
expecting
tongue
of
corruption
not
athat
revenue
to
lick
in
it.
the
official
Thus,
revenue
corruption
to
be
department,
dry
honest
is
seen
was
the
by
great
like
inevitable
but
also
natural.
it3.
Though
obvious
among
corruption
that
India
countries.
is
is
a
one
From
of
the
phenomenon,
the
more
ranking
corrupt
of
there
India
countries
is
in
a
the
lot
in
of
Transparency
the
difference
world.
in
International's
the
degree
of
CPI,
4.
corruption.
large
On
efforts
movement.
the
other
In
are
fact,
sporadic,
hand,
there
citizen
is
localized
no
users
active
and
of
and
public
short-lived
sustained
services
and
civil
themselves
have
society
never
movement
are
acquired
responsible
against
the
character
for
corruption.
of
a
5.
lack
Government;
institutions,
orientation
We
of
can
an
effective
in
of
identify
including
the
acceptance
Government
system.
seven
corruption
Police
These
of
key
officials.
and
'Bribe'
factors
reporting
include:
Judiciary;
as
that
a
mechanism;
Lack
stand
poor
of
of
life,
out
economic
transparency
custom
as
lack
responsible
of
policies;
and
honesty
and
culture;
for
accountability
in
the
official
ineffective
widespread
in
training
the
in
ti-corruption
the
and
system;
The
media
tolerated
exposure
in
in
monitoring
some
of
several
countries,
public
scandals
funds
and
in
and
highlight
holding
the
the
public
media
increasing
officials
has
played
role
to
played
account.
a
key
by
role
Corruption
civil
in
society
exposing
is
no
it.
longer
Another
anti-corruption
extent
around
there
be
accessed
is
to
the
a
key
which
credible
world.
question
publicly,
policy
asset
They
remedies
the
declaration
currently
find
of
greater
prosecution
that
have
being
the
the
by
longer
on
public
asked
link
for
corruption
between
violating
such
officials
is
the
laws
kind
levels.
asset
the
affects
have
of
law,
declaration
Attempts
impact
levels
been
and
various
the
in
of
are
place,
corruption
and
more
'standard'
less
particularly
the
corruption.
to
information
in
evaluate
countries
where
the
can
India
high
Hong
in
can
bringing
be
rate
can
Kong
tackled,
of
down
(ICAC)
corruption,
was
as
once
corruption
other
was
become
notorious
but
set
countries
have
up
in
a
corruption-free
Hong
and
been
for
have
that
corruption.
Kong.
able
organization
done
Hence
to
country.
turn
it.
In
1974,
the
around
has
There
first
the
been
and
thing
Independent
have
able
tackle
to
been
be
to
corruption
realised
bring
several
Commission
a
dramatic
is
effectively.
countries
that
corruption
against
change
with
the
Corruption
bureaucratic
of
adopted
parties
corruption
money
politics.
starting
collect
can
involves
Corruption
is
in
point
never
oxygen
corruption,
India
funds
of
political
take
is
the
in
the
in
cash.
the
vicious
black
India
business
result
parties
initiative
This
owes
money.
cycle
of
collecting
corruption,
is
aothers
to
black
lot
vicious
fight
Hence
to
money.
corruption.
the
funds
corruption
cycle
a
fact
political
for
Black
starting
that
election
It
in
system
is
money
NGOs
the
with
democratic
and
which
political
is
and
other
the
is
finally
oxygen
corruption
system
purposes.
dependent
corruption
the
for
we
criminalization
corruption
which
All
have
leading
on
political
black
lies
to
and
at
corruption
in
our
country.
four
was
and
even
the
bureaucrats
decades
exploited
this
legitimacy
sector
flourish
red
after
by
is
licence
of
the
tape
was
because
not
independence
the
corrupt
by
free
and
state
era
results
corrupt
from
consequent
were
and
institutions
the
from
corruption.
means.
finally
was
permit
scarcity
atool
need
number
the
breeding
giving
The
licence
of
tribalism
This
for
goods
recent
rise
of
speed
all
raj,
ground
factors.
pervasive
to
and
among
phenomenon
the
criminalization
money,
services,
only
for
The
the
corruption
way
corruption
permit
the
corrupt.
lack
legal
influencing
in
licence
politics.
and
cushions
NGOs
The
has
transparency,
resulted
business
raj
also
the
root
for
of
politicians
shows
more
cause
safety
in
the
the
than
that
of
that
loss
We
vicious
have
to
think
in
terms
of
a
systematic
approach
to
tackle
the
issue
of
corruption
by
breaking
cycle
elements
designed
laws
so
criminalization
criminal
they
made
there
the
scope
like
to
starting
attack
charges
is
cleared
work
the
of
to
of
no
black
check
Income
corruption
on
against
question
with
of
black
by
have
politics,
money,
the
political
Tax,
been
money
use
of
at
courts.
exemption
Customs,
the
itglobal
criminals
laws
of
corruption.
is
framed
black
political
and
necessary
The
like
reform
money
very
in
and
and
level.
court,
politics.
For
Benami
delay
Excise
the
of
checking
must
ensure
should
the
transparency
These
in
should
Transaction
be
campaign
the
that
vigorously
be
political
judicial
measures
prevented
be
those
made
funding
element
prohibition
system
corruption,the
candidates
implemented.
will
almost
from
laws.
go
is
needs
enhanced.
ato
contesting
Act
zero
To
long
against
starting
to
which
reduce
The
exemption
way
be
tackled
whom
transaction
To
were
in
elections
point
the
reducing
prevent
laws
and
till
Bureaucratic
reduced.
long
up
Fortunately,
right
greater
technology
bring
way
guilty.
difference
who
isis
the
our
help
are
after
to
in
The
lack
system.
information
transparency
greater
affected
Simple
need
their
in
between
disciplinary
of
can
bringing
the
the
corruption
relevance
Secondly,
for
transparency,
result
current
rules
most
sunset
simplification
can
life
down
in
can
authorities
by
and
be
UPA
significant
the
can
clause
has
corruption
there
a
be
system.
death
powerful
be
government
passed.
easier
the
tackled
in
of
should
should
first
our
for
rules
reduction
because
This
access
the
These
laws,
The
step
be
ifway
take
combined
the
poor
has
for
transparency
third
forward.
so
of
for
following
procedures
they
broad
empowering
passed
immediate
and
corruption.
important
citizens
often
the
laws
with
In
measures
the
three
fact,
needy.
cannot
and
widespread
for
continue
so
action.
Right
aspect
IT
citizens
one
their
that
point
empowerment
application
It
should
to
afford
problem
the
rights
Corruption
is
to
strategy
Information
to
prompt
scope
application
be
ask
go
bribes.
one
we
a
and
infor
questions
is
long
of
of
punishment
might
have
adopted.
corruption
e-governance
the
mation
Act.
way
of
statute
poor
in
public.
mean
information
The
our
in
in
and
cleaning
First,
book
very
society
country
of
bring
is
the
in
the
will
the
If
into
work
human
we
account
are
together,
rights
serious
the
framework,
making
issue
about
of
use
protecting
as
corruption.
of
well
as
human
moral
the
The
practical
and
challenge
rights,
legal
as
tools
arguments
is
members
immense,
and
strategies.
provided
of
and
civil
can
society
by
only
the
we
international
need
to
take
ifshould
we

A
with
rhetoric
anti-corruption
Though
effects
much
pervasive
rigour
longer
of
is
money
corruption
not
and
challenge
term.
followed
movement
commitment
lost
The
directly
in
is
up
potential
to
and
with
to
ensure
by
of
corruption
movements
the
action.
quality
gains
people
that
Another
from
of
lessons
is
government
concerned
the
entrusted
fighting
most
challenge
how
corruption
obvious
with
with
and
to
is
power.
other
the
fight
to
and
build
well-being
are
aspects
corruption
Too
immediate
immense.
stronger
often
of
of
anti-corruption
aundue
a
good
ties
cost,
rbe
population
eimproving
a
between
governance.
the
d
ois
negative
p
tThere
are
ethe
dto.
Corruption
restores
education
diverted
to
is
victims
a
powerful
resources
of
corruption
force,
to
their
but
around
itthrown
intended
is
not
the
inevitable
purpose,
world,
and
or
bringing
unavoidable.
with
them,
better
opportunity
Diminishing
health,
nutrition
and
its
hope.
impact
and
educational
and
transparency
this
Supreme
combined
qualification
in
Court
the
our
with
political
system
has
and
forced
and
system.
initiative
wealth
empowering
the
candidates
details
for
The
e-governance
Right
and
the
to
this
people.
Infordeclare
is
the
should
mation
their
first
go
step
criminal
Acts
a
long
to
is
bring
another
way
background,
in
in
greater
good
step
taken
a
The
lives
destroy
desperate
governance
rights
good
misleading
same
governance.
purpose
way
of
corrupts
governance
time,
and
of
their
the
of
life.
duties
situation
the
concepts
the
whole
can
loved
The
should
honesty.
prevailing
handle
as
into
dictum
ones.
nations.
and
well
of
realize
aterms
rights
desperate
the
chaotic
In
Corruption
as
"honesty
lop-sided
fact,
Its
situation
that
have
elimination
the
situation
of
greed
situation
is
the
honesty
is
concept
the
properly.
Government
can
best
and
is
the
monster
destroy
requires
should
not
of
narrowed
policy"
concept
But
honesty
aon
thing
a
not
more
which
and
desperate
gross
has
of
be
to
its
has
governance
narrowed
than
be
duties
taken
very
needs
misconception
also
undertaken
one
image.
action.
as
harmed
in
to
person's
the
down
a
be
have
policy;
destroyed
background.
At
The
lightly.
the
present,
of
led
life;
the
cause
itscope
the
should
This
concepts
itput
or
concept
can
and
only
of
and
At
itan
is
will
be
good
ruin
the
good
the
made
ofjust
of
the
Members
knowledge
candidates
believers
ailments.
of
of
should
of
Parliament
corrupt
For
grass-root
this
be
practices
elections,
based
realities;
on
state
and
should
their
should
money-mongers
legislature
sound
be
make
transparent,
social
should
laws
footings;
should
come
accordingly
free
be
from
persons
and
kept
the
fair.
to
at
suit
people
of
The
bay.
criminal
the
selection
with
need
background,
fuller
and
of
contesting
redress
Political
Much
in
social
of
booming
have
petty
corruption.
never
where
decry
the
democracy
Government
little
gains.
of
the
Parliament
come
and
they
the
interference
industry
corrupt
respect
administrative
They
are
The
out
corruption
has
in
so-called
to
feel
to
section
and
for
derailed
the
their
blame;
punish
the
social
as
is
open.
is
presence.
well
stink
hankering
circles.
due
of
the
elite
and
obligations
persons.
such
On
as
to
of
people
lost
of
politician-criminal-bureaucrat
this
corruption;
This
pressure-groups
Now,
society
its
after
triangular
contrary,
is
too
pious
and
they
very
power
are
must
can
they
should
unfortunate
and
equally
they
nexus.
be
and
harm
criticize
well-defined
and
prepared
show
wrongful
change
to
It
wipe
be
is
their
to
corrupt
nation
high-time
blamed.
note
them
themselves
to
gains.
triangle
respect
goal.
share
that
and
politicians
out
We
It
For
that
the
fellow-citizens
of
should
the
has
to
corruption,
the
or
have
such
strict
blame
media-the
taken
be
mainstream
and
corrupt
become
bold
laws
for
aofficers
shape
rising
to
itcost.
be
for
forth
people,
openly
passed
selfish,
not
our
end
but
of
of
estate
All
should
dismantle
the
concerned
ruinous
be
the
a
staunch
end.
edifice
should
will
join
the
to
hands
this
corrupt
effect.
and
people,
make
Itthat
is
high
itor
a
they
time
point
will
that
to
lead
weed
we
the
stand
out
nation
corruption
as
rock
and
to
the
at
face
any
entire
and
people
to

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