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Unit 7: Essay Writing (Short Essays)

money laundering, incentives, fees for services rendered and scams have become a way of life. We Notes
should demand transparency and accountability. That is the crux of the problem in our polity, which
has so far been only preached but seldom practised. The top has to be clean to make the lower levels
clean. Unless they are clean, they cannot enthuse or enforce discipline.
Corruption at high levels of political leadership leads to corruption in the bureaucracy and other
wings of the administration, like, the police or the Public Works Department. It spreads from top to
bottom. It’s a vicious cycle. Along with money power, muscle power has also polluted our elections.
Quite a number of our MPs and legislators have criminal records against them. People with moral
integrity and honesty should contest elections and should be voted to power. The collective mass
movement can change the quality of our Parliament and State Legislatures in a big way. These
legislatures in turn would be able to divert the resources siphoned off in corruption, for human
resource development and the development of rural and urban India. There is a need for a new
beginning to make India corruption-free.
Instead of promising to deal only with the symptoms, the government can tackle corruption more
effectively if serious efforts are made to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people. The
government policies should aim at lowering rates of infant mortality and increasing life expectancy
at birth through improved healthcare services. Investment in primary and technical education as
well as in adult literacy is very important. Development in infrastructure sectors especially power,
telecommunications and roads and investment in social sectors in the interest of human resource
development, downsizing of governmental machinery on all fronts, gradually and over a period of
time, will certainly help in bringing down corruption to a minimal level. By reducing the size of
bureaucracy, the scope for corruption at levels of interaction with citizens will also be reduced. Poverty,
that is, stark poverty at least can be eradicated but corruption can, perhaps, never be completely
eliminated. As one national leader pointed out that corruption, like diabetes, can only be controlled,
but not totally obliterated. However, there are a few honest men everywhere, because of whom the
nation survives.
In a country where corrupt elements do not hesitate to make money for buying coffins for our martyrs,
the depths of depravity can be well imagined. Our attitude is so laidback that we don’t even lend our
support to those who are fighting against it. Everyday, reports regarding malpractices in different
departments are published in the newspaper, but they hardly have any impact on us. They have
become an integral part of our life. Unless we adopt zero tolerance towards corruption, this evil
cannot be reduced. One can only recall Professor Galbraith who said years ago, “There is nothing
wrong with Indian laws, nothing wrong with its (socialist) economy, or with its political and judicial
institutions, what ails India is its moral poverty”. Galloping corruption and the lack of integrity at
higher levels needs consideration without further delay for the health of our democracy.

Key-words

1. microscopic minority—so small in number that they are hardly visible
2. permeated—penetrate throughout, pervade 3. et al—and others (Latin word) 4. kingpin—essential
or leading person 5. laundering—transfer (funds) to make their source seem legitimate 6. diabetes—
disorder of pituitary leading to a disease in which sugar and starch are not properly absorbed.
The disease can be controlled but cannot be completely cured 7. socialist—an economic system
which advocates that community as a whole should own and control the means of production,
distribution and exchange

Points to Remember:
1. Corruption is a widespread phenomenon in public life.
2. Corruption is rampant in politics and in public services.
3. In government offices, the practise of corruption is all pervading.

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