12-05-2005, 05:04 AM
Pioneer.com
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Needed, more whistle-blowers </b>
Joginder Singh
Wherever one looks one sees rampant corruption. In India there is no department which does not offer an opportunity to a person to make a climb from rags to riches. Revenue earning departments are well known for offering vast opportunities for corruption.
Despite the fact, that their top brass have been caught red handed while accepting kickbacks there has hardly been any decrease in corruption. The new entrants in services are as audacious and corrupt as their predecessors.
If any proof was needed of the massive scale of corruption in the country, it has been provided by the latest report of Transparency International. Its Corruption Perception Index, 2005, has placed <b>India in the 88th position among 159 nations</b>. In 2005,<b> India scored 2.9 on a scale of zero to 10, compared with 2.8 last year.</b> It is hardly a consolation that Pakistan has been pronounced as almost doubly corrupt than India and ranked 144th most corrupt in the world.
The latest report by Transparency International, Asia-Insights & Benchmarks from Citizen Feedback Surveys in Five Countries, identifies high levels of corruption encountered by citizens attempting to access seven basic public services. In India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, 100 per cent of respondents who interacted with the police during the past year, reported having encountered corruption. In Bangladesh, this figure was 84 per cent and in Nepal, 48 per cent.
Their experiences with the judiciary revealed that nearly all Indians, Sri Lankans and Pakistanis paid bribes. Judicial corruption was also significant in Bangladesh (75 per cent) and Nepal (42 per cent).
After the police and the judiciary, land administration has been identified as the next most corrupt sector across the region on the basis of the experiences of South Asian households. In Pakistan, 100 per cent of respondents who have dealt with the land administration authorities reported corruption. In Sri Lanka, this figure was 98 per cent. Land administration was somewhat cleaner in Bangladesh (73 per cent reported corruption), India (47 per cent) and Nepal (17 per cent).
The report also shows that even though public services should be made available freely, bribes and undue delays keep many from receiving them. It is primarily the poorest in society who suffer the most. The report also indicates that bribes are a heavy financial burden on the households.
Bribes have to be paid for availing all facilities be it health, education, etc. The survey report also revealed that bribes were extorted by public servants. Middle and lower level bureaucrats have been documented as the key facilitators of corruption in all sectors.
Another little noticed form of corruption in the country or where the Government money has been sunk, are the top 10 defaulters to the banking industry who owe more than Rs 2,000 crore as outstanding dues against their names. Out of the top 10 defaulters, four belong to the steel industry notwithstanding the buoyancy in this sector with profitability of steel companies substantially improved. Apart from this the total non performing assets or bad debts with banks stand at about Rs 55,000 crore.
In the last five years out of gross profit of Rs 1,15,000 crore about Rs 45,000 crore has been utilised for provisioning bad loans or writing off the money dues to the banks. In the last 10 years approximately Rs 75,000 crore of bad loans have been written off. It is obvious that Government has been soft on all those involved in such transactions. The loser is the common man. It is pertinent to point out that all this money has been wasted on the well off sections of the country.
There are about 119 members in the present Lok Sabha who, according to their own affidavits, had some case or the other pending against them at the time of contesting elections. This is an increase from 40 in the previous Lok Sabha. The present situation has caused great disappointment among people. It is almost as if the problem of corruption in public life has become a non-issue.
The situation was projected by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee while delivering the Bhim Sen Sachar Memorial Lecture: "Large sections of the people are greatly worried about the nexus between crime and politics as well as administration in the country. I am saddened to observe that politics in the country has to a large extent become criminalised and crime has become politicised."
The highest seats of power in the country have not remained untouched by corruption. Unfortunately, the corrupt today have lost the fear of facing ignominy after being charged with corruption. People now take duplicity in their stride to such an extent that violation of traditional ethics and principles has become acceptable to avoid pinpricks and confrontations.
The Santhanam Committed set up in 1962 to investigate into the causes of corruption and evolving remedies to stem the rising tide observed: "The advance of technological and scientific development has contributed to the emergence of a 'mass society' with a large rank and file, and a small controlling elite, encouraging the growth of monopolies, rise of a managerial class, and intricate institutional mechanisms.
The inability of society to appreciate an honest functioning social, political and economic process results in the emergence and growth of white collar and economic crimes. Corruption is a white-collar crime defying any permanent solution.
White-collar crimes have been jeopardising social and moral values. It is recklessly disrupting norms and rectitude. It has promoted hedonism, individualism that has supplanted traditionalism. Detestable competitive sprit to demonstrate affluence, living a life beyond means, living only for today and making the most out of it, an all round breakdown of family, societal, national discipline have all contributed towards mounting corruption, denying the underprivileged their legitimate share, making them poorer than before."
Election after election has produced fragmented verdicts with people known to have criminal records entering the legislatures and holding governments to ransom. There is flagrant violation of political norms. In fact, all political parties vie for with each other in fielding candidates who can win elections - their criminal records be damned. It is ludicrous to see people occupying positions of power, who are at the same time facing trials for corruption.
A standard argument is that these political worthies are presumed innocent till proved guilty. Regrettably, there is no national resolve or commitment to eliminate and wipe out corruption. The existing legal provisions need to be updated to bring about the preponderance of proof as sufficient, instead of proving the case beyond a shadow of doubt. At present, a number of cases end in acquittal due to technical reasons.
There is no reason why people who have been caught accepting bribes and who have assets disproportionate to their means of income should not be punished. There is a need to make the presumption of guilt more comprehensive at least in cases of corruption. Despite the directive of the Supreme Court there is no Whistle Blowers Protection Act, but only a lame duck resolution.
There is a need to bring about a comprehensive Whistle Blowers Protection Act. Corruption and bribery are not part of any Government servant's agenda. At the same time Government permission is required to book an officer of the level of Joint Secretary or above. Ours is the only country where such protection is extended to the corrupt or those suspected of corruption.
What can be greater indictment of the Government than Supreme Court's order to those at the helm in Uttar Pradesh to take action against the State's Chief Secretary?
Therefore, the law providing immunity to the civil servant needs to be scrapped. It is time we reminded the leaders of the country what President JF Kennedy said: "Take time to repair the roof when the sun is shining." It is too late now. But it is better to be late than never.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Needed, more whistle-blowers </b>
Joginder Singh
Wherever one looks one sees rampant corruption. In India there is no department which does not offer an opportunity to a person to make a climb from rags to riches. Revenue earning departments are well known for offering vast opportunities for corruption.
Despite the fact, that their top brass have been caught red handed while accepting kickbacks there has hardly been any decrease in corruption. The new entrants in services are as audacious and corrupt as their predecessors.
If any proof was needed of the massive scale of corruption in the country, it has been provided by the latest report of Transparency International. Its Corruption Perception Index, 2005, has placed <b>India in the 88th position among 159 nations</b>. In 2005,<b> India scored 2.9 on a scale of zero to 10, compared with 2.8 last year.</b> It is hardly a consolation that Pakistan has been pronounced as almost doubly corrupt than India and ranked 144th most corrupt in the world.
The latest report by Transparency International, Asia-Insights & Benchmarks from Citizen Feedback Surveys in Five Countries, identifies high levels of corruption encountered by citizens attempting to access seven basic public services. In India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, 100 per cent of respondents who interacted with the police during the past year, reported having encountered corruption. In Bangladesh, this figure was 84 per cent and in Nepal, 48 per cent.
Their experiences with the judiciary revealed that nearly all Indians, Sri Lankans and Pakistanis paid bribes. Judicial corruption was also significant in Bangladesh (75 per cent) and Nepal (42 per cent).
After the police and the judiciary, land administration has been identified as the next most corrupt sector across the region on the basis of the experiences of South Asian households. In Pakistan, 100 per cent of respondents who have dealt with the land administration authorities reported corruption. In Sri Lanka, this figure was 98 per cent. Land administration was somewhat cleaner in Bangladesh (73 per cent reported corruption), India (47 per cent) and Nepal (17 per cent).
The report also shows that even though public services should be made available freely, bribes and undue delays keep many from receiving them. It is primarily the poorest in society who suffer the most. The report also indicates that bribes are a heavy financial burden on the households.
Bribes have to be paid for availing all facilities be it health, education, etc. The survey report also revealed that bribes were extorted by public servants. Middle and lower level bureaucrats have been documented as the key facilitators of corruption in all sectors.
Another little noticed form of corruption in the country or where the Government money has been sunk, are the top 10 defaulters to the banking industry who owe more than Rs 2,000 crore as outstanding dues against their names. Out of the top 10 defaulters, four belong to the steel industry notwithstanding the buoyancy in this sector with profitability of steel companies substantially improved. Apart from this the total non performing assets or bad debts with banks stand at about Rs 55,000 crore.
In the last five years out of gross profit of Rs 1,15,000 crore about Rs 45,000 crore has been utilised for provisioning bad loans or writing off the money dues to the banks. In the last 10 years approximately Rs 75,000 crore of bad loans have been written off. It is obvious that Government has been soft on all those involved in such transactions. The loser is the common man. It is pertinent to point out that all this money has been wasted on the well off sections of the country.
There are about 119 members in the present Lok Sabha who, according to their own affidavits, had some case or the other pending against them at the time of contesting elections. This is an increase from 40 in the previous Lok Sabha. The present situation has caused great disappointment among people. It is almost as if the problem of corruption in public life has become a non-issue.
The situation was projected by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee while delivering the Bhim Sen Sachar Memorial Lecture: "Large sections of the people are greatly worried about the nexus between crime and politics as well as administration in the country. I am saddened to observe that politics in the country has to a large extent become criminalised and crime has become politicised."
The highest seats of power in the country have not remained untouched by corruption. Unfortunately, the corrupt today have lost the fear of facing ignominy after being charged with corruption. People now take duplicity in their stride to such an extent that violation of traditional ethics and principles has become acceptable to avoid pinpricks and confrontations.
The Santhanam Committed set up in 1962 to investigate into the causes of corruption and evolving remedies to stem the rising tide observed: "The advance of technological and scientific development has contributed to the emergence of a 'mass society' with a large rank and file, and a small controlling elite, encouraging the growth of monopolies, rise of a managerial class, and intricate institutional mechanisms.
The inability of society to appreciate an honest functioning social, political and economic process results in the emergence and growth of white collar and economic crimes. Corruption is a white-collar crime defying any permanent solution.
White-collar crimes have been jeopardising social and moral values. It is recklessly disrupting norms and rectitude. It has promoted hedonism, individualism that has supplanted traditionalism. Detestable competitive sprit to demonstrate affluence, living a life beyond means, living only for today and making the most out of it, an all round breakdown of family, societal, national discipline have all contributed towards mounting corruption, denying the underprivileged their legitimate share, making them poorer than before."
Election after election has produced fragmented verdicts with people known to have criminal records entering the legislatures and holding governments to ransom. There is flagrant violation of political norms. In fact, all political parties vie for with each other in fielding candidates who can win elections - their criminal records be damned. It is ludicrous to see people occupying positions of power, who are at the same time facing trials for corruption.
A standard argument is that these political worthies are presumed innocent till proved guilty. Regrettably, there is no national resolve or commitment to eliminate and wipe out corruption. The existing legal provisions need to be updated to bring about the preponderance of proof as sufficient, instead of proving the case beyond a shadow of doubt. At present, a number of cases end in acquittal due to technical reasons.
There is no reason why people who have been caught accepting bribes and who have assets disproportionate to their means of income should not be punished. There is a need to make the presumption of guilt more comprehensive at least in cases of corruption. Despite the directive of the Supreme Court there is no Whistle Blowers Protection Act, but only a lame duck resolution.
There is a need to bring about a comprehensive Whistle Blowers Protection Act. Corruption and bribery are not part of any Government servant's agenda. At the same time Government permission is required to book an officer of the level of Joint Secretary or above. Ours is the only country where such protection is extended to the corrupt or those suspected of corruption.
What can be greater indictment of the Government than Supreme Court's order to those at the helm in Uttar Pradesh to take action against the State's Chief Secretary?
Therefore, the law providing immunity to the civil servant needs to be scrapped. It is time we reminded the leaders of the country what President JF Kennedy said: "Take time to repair the roof when the sun is shining." It is too late now. But it is better to be late than never.
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