03-27-2014, 11:28 AM
You have made a very valid point. Today, despite the all out development of the nation India remains the home for the largest number of poor people in the world. There is no point in repeating the statistics to indicate the poverty level and the allied perimeters.
You will agree that today we hear of corruption in every sphere of public activity, be it rural development or purchase of 155mm artillery .It has affected every institution of the nation including some of the NGOs I am told. Having served the nation as a civil servant for more than three decades, I have seen the gradual fall in the level of honesty at least in the Government sector. I do not have any direct experience of what is happening in the Public Sector Undertakings.
Why this has happened? The escalating cost of fighting the elections is the main reason. The decision makers today i.e. our elected representatives do spend huge amount either directly or through their political outfit to win the election. Once they get elected, it becomes necessary to generate the funds to pay back the sources from which funds were obtained. This opens the gate to corruption and it results in a cascading effect. Every public figure is not corrupt in the sense that they are accepting bribe in cash but there are many who facilitate corruption in kind or by extending favors and facilities to certain interests.
Today the entire decision making process is sometimes influenced by certain special considerations, in order to safeguard the interest of certain industries or individuals. It is very easy to accuse a small time babu in the Government of corruption, if he accepts a bribe to do his job. Unfortunately, the critic seldom thinks beyond to find out why the babu is indulging in corruption. It is quite possible that he has to pay a cut to the higher up and the shares ultimately end up at the top decision making level. Those individuals who do not fall in line and cause hindrance to the network are liable to be eased out from any important position at the earliest.
This being the present state of affairs, it requires massive reforms in the whole election process , so that we can have a corruption free society in India.
You will agree that today we hear of corruption in every sphere of public activity, be it rural development or purchase of 155mm artillery .It has affected every institution of the nation including some of the NGOs I am told. Having served the nation as a civil servant for more than three decades, I have seen the gradual fall in the level of honesty at least in the Government sector. I do not have any direct experience of what is happening in the Public Sector Undertakings.
Why this has happened? The escalating cost of fighting the elections is the main reason. The decision makers today i.e. our elected representatives do spend huge amount either directly or through their political outfit to win the election. Once they get elected, it becomes necessary to generate the funds to pay back the sources from which funds were obtained. This opens the gate to corruption and it results in a cascading effect. Every public figure is not corrupt in the sense that they are accepting bribe in cash but there are many who facilitate corruption in kind or by extending favors and facilities to certain interests.
Today the entire decision making process is sometimes influenced by certain special considerations, in order to safeguard the interest of certain industries or individuals. It is very easy to accuse a small time babu in the Government of corruption, if he accepts a bribe to do his job. Unfortunately, the critic seldom thinks beyond to find out why the babu is indulging in corruption. It is quite possible that he has to pay a cut to the higher up and the shares ultimately end up at the top decision making level. Those individuals who do not fall in line and cause hindrance to the network are liable to be eased out from any important position at the earliest.
This being the present state of affairs, it requires massive reforms in the whole election process , so that we can have a corruption free society in India.