Page 120 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

English - II

Notes Points to Remember:
1. The wealth and prosperity of the past.
2. Definition of poverty.
3. Effects of poverty.
4. Causes of poverty.
5. Provisions of poverty alleviation in various Five Year Plans.
6. Conclusion.
7. Corruption

Corruption is a widespread phenomenon in today’s public life. In the past 55 years, we have virtually
institutionalised corruption as an inseparable part of our life. Incorruptible officers and public figures
have become a microscopic minority fighting with their back to the wall for survival. Mr. T.N. Seshan,
former Chief Election Commissioner of India, opined that every patch of Indian society has become
corrupt. Reacting defensively to allegations of corruption in every sphere of life, Indira Gandhi had
said, “Corruption is a global phenomenon”. The issue is the degree and extent to which it is to be
found in India and elsewhere.
The phenomenon of corruption is rampant not only in government offices but even in politics. Many
people become Panchayat Members, Panchayat Presidents, Councillors, MPs and MLAs and Ministers
in order to make a fortune and not to serve the people. Politics is the most lucrative business these
days where money power and muscle power are the best investments and leadership can be passed
to the succeeding generations of the family. Precedents at the national levels have permeated to all the
levels. Politics for many is the short-cut to fabulous wealth. Honest civil servants cannot survive
under corrupt Ministers.
In government offices also, the practise of corruption is all pervading— right from the petty village
officer to the head of the government department at the Centre or at the State. In most government
offices, members of the public cannot expect the official to do his duty unless he gets the ‘extra’
money-the lubricant that helps the machinery to move. Corruption has reached such high levels
because some of us indulge in it for petty gains or convenience and the rest tolerate and accept it.
Giving and taking bribes has become the norm rather than an offence. Corruption has become so
common nowadays that people are averse to thinking of public life without this phenomenon.
Corruption has almost paralysed the entire Indian system.
We often wonder which is the most corrupt department or section of the administration in India. A
survey was conducted by the ORG-Marg for an NGO called the Transparency International India to
find out the number of people affected by corruption in different sectors. The survey disclosed that
the greatest number of people affected by corruption (8.1 crore) was by the Health department, followed
by Power (5.9 crore) and Education (5.3 crore). The department which least affected people by their
corruption were Police (2.0 crore) and Railways (3.3 crore). About 1.3 crore people were affected by
corruption in the judiciary and 0.7 crore in the Taxation department. What is really shocking about
the ORG-Marg finding is that corruption is silently corroding the two key areas of development of
our nation.
Is there any salvation for our country from the virtual poisoning of the entire body politic by corruption?
The former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Mr. N. Vittal suggested several times that a new
fundamental right such as, the right to corruption-free service should be incorporated into the
Constitution. This would allow judicial action if it was violated. Mr. T.N. Seshan tried to cleanse the
election system, but in spite of his sincere efforts, he failed.
The anti-corruption agencies, such as the vigilance commissions, anti-corruption departments, CBI et
al are constituted to look into and trap the bribe-takers. Such actions can have a short term dramatic
effect, but would not deal with the root of the problem. Moreover, the kingpins arc too clever to be
caught in any trap. However, the greatest obstacle in eliminating corruption is the fact that public
morality is virtually non-existent. Wholesale corruption has corroded the pillars of democracy. Bribery,

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