Culture Corruption

A nation's stature is determined more from its people & cultures than its treasures . The people are the measure of its greatness and in a democracy the elected leaders are the definitions of the country.

India, a nation with, great personalities, great virtues like its culture , the fact of being the world’s largest democracy ,Its heritage , the abode of thousands of languages and various religions makes everybody spellbound by its wide spectrum of people and culture and also the fact that it is a country where every individual is free to practice his own religion, and to express his views, define India as one of the best places to live around the world.

But one more string that’s tagged to India is Corruption.

The very infection of Corruption has spread like an everlasting pandemic to the roots of our nation. At, every place-stage of the proceedings-every level-every angle ,money plays the driving force for getting works done and corruption phenomenon is one the leading cause for the downfall of all of us as a nation.

There is corruption in Political arena, in public services, in taxes and licenses and literally everywhere in India.

It has become a known secret to all and is most commonly spoken topic in every random conversation, that one can get any work done (quick-without delays-even though illegal) in a government office through payment of money to any concerned officer .This is shockingly true but a very bizarre act and even though we know that we don’t have to pay them for doing their duty, we end up paying the minimum sum with respect to the nature of work, saying, This is India, This is how it works ?

So is this how it all works in India ?

where has the infection sparked up? How on earth a country known for its honesty and sincerity of the people ended up being known for their corrupt works? And also managed to earn itself a proud 84^th place out of 180 listed countries in Corruption Perceptions Index ?

Lets first see some general day2day cases of India,

Everyone who gets their passport from Government of India, pays a sum of Rs. 200 to 500 to the officer who comes home as a part of police verification process.

But, why should we do that? We need not actually pay any money to the verification officer for doing his duty, but we do end up paying.

And in illegal terms, any who gets caught for parking at wrong place or for speeding on the roads or for triple riding, gets away from punishment by paying some money to the on duty police officer.

And if I mention various other locations and situations we the people pay money to the concerned people, the list amounts to more than a thousand or more instances.

Here in above instances, people often pay even though their work is legitimate and for other cases, people pay for escaping legal punishments. Paying money for over coming punishments for illegal acts is a very incorrect practice.

This not only takes our nation in a wrong direction but also becomes a breeding grounds for the corrupt officials. This allows everyone a freedom to commit mistakes and there by making our country corrupt and a true unsafe place.

According to India law, Not only those who take money/gifts as part of corruption are entitled for punishment but also those who pay the money are also entitled for same extent of punishment.

So Are we , the people are the ones to blamed for making our country so corrupt ? I say, Yes, we are equally responsible for the condition of our nation but who is to be blamed in this vicious circle ? If it were solved, our nation would have been corruption free

Somewhere, the tradition has begun and is continuing till date . So according to me, It is high time that we put an end to this practice everyone together should march towards a corruption free India.

But , let’s not worry too much about how it all started but let’s get down to the business of dealing with the problems that we face in facing the problem of corruption

From the Government point of view

The anti corruption bureau in India, is in charge of keeping a check on the corruption using Prevention of Corruption At, 1988 which falls under Central vigilance Commission and doesn’t fall into any ministry and is headed by the Central vigilance commissioner, the CVC is supposedly an autonomous independent body but with only powers to advice but not take action against any one which is indeed a backdrop of the system.

Various individuals and officers that are searched and investigated in a daily basis by the ACB of whom many are innocent and most of them are guilty, but I haven’t ever witnessed even a single politician getting prosecuted for their corruption.

Everyone is fully aware that politicians eat up all our tax money and they keep growing richer everyday but no one ever dared to investigate into their funds.

This implies that, somewhere in the independent functioning of CVC, there is a string attached with the politicians which prevents ACB from intruding into the corrupt practices of politicians and hence politicians fall safe all the time.

So this makes me think the prosecution and hype over innocents being nailed under corruption scam is just an affirmation to their inability to actually counter the real culprits.

This has to change. A real force or power has to awarded to the ACB which allows it to search or arrest any random politician at their own will and scan his properties and then take necessary action against them.

Also, earlier , gifts attained by anyone, no matter how expensive they were, were never checked upon and never had any taxes on them. This allowed corruption prone to receive money inform of gifs. Now the new law of levying heavy taxes on gifts that are not from close relatives should help in curbing corruption.

The legal actions taken on the guilty proven should be so heavy in nature that , it should be a warning to the others who even think of getting involved into corruption. And also the process of investigation should be made quick which in turn requires input money and man power which can be afforded for a dream that we all care about, after all, it’s all our tax money.

Now from the public point of view,

The first step that is to be taken is to avoid payment to any official or officers for getting your legitimate work done.

And then the most important part is , awareness.

Spreading of awareness about the harmful effects of corruption on the growth of our nation to one and all should be done in a huge manner.

Well, the most important part of the corruption fight is corruption is Education. Education for all helps people to know their rights and ways to counter the infection. It helps them know that they don’t have to pay for getting certain public service done.

Educating the children of this generation about the effects of corruption, will eventually erase corruption from the map of India in years to come.

We may not be seeing a change immediately, but certainly in some years time, I wish to see the change happening.

The topic of corruption is so huge and is spread in various direction that I could give only an overview of my opinions with minimum examples.

Always remember, It’s you and me together , who can bring a change.

Educate- to eradicate poverty.

References

http://www.cvc.nic.in/

http://apvc.ap.nic.in/js/vol1/c3t1s5.html

http://www.simpletaxindia.org/2010/03/gift-tax-tax-on-gift-budget-2010.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

http://www.u4.no/helpdesk/helpdesk/query.cfm?id=188

Political Diaries !!!

The Indian political system, with its flexibility to accommodate any number of contestants in an election, is one of the most amazing systems when compared with other leading systems all over the world. It redefines the meaning of democracy by providing an opportunity to the voter-public-to choose their best from the lot to represent them.

Politics, The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs (obtained from Dictionary.com), was supposedly derived from the word Politic meaning Artful, Wise, Sagacious etc is received by the public of India and almost all students as an occupation that is due to all negative impression.

Sadly, these days the term Politics is widely used these days between common public as a means to offend someone or used as a remark to identify petty tricks or back biting employed by someone.

What about the politics or politicians of India that makes us all draw conclusions which are always against the very system of it?

Some days ago, I was in a discussion with my friends regarding their opinions on politics and the discussion spurred up various sensible points which I want to mention in this article. Also, some valid Inputs from some of the recent articles that I read about our Indian political system along with few questionnaires I shot at people around me along with above mentioned situations, all of which led me to some viewpoints which I would want to mention in this article.

During the era of Independence, India possessed leaders or politicians, who took up the arena with the solo motto to serve the mother nation and stood as an example for the coming generations to look ahead into the prospects of serving the nation by taking up politics. Be it leaders like Nehru, who was our first prime minister who was known for his charismatic abilities to project India as one of the important nations of the world or his team’s ability to keep India away from signing treaties with any of the two super power blocks that were at cold war during that time, or be it Sardar Patel who was instrumental in unifying India as it stands now. The list could go on and on and it comes as no exaggeration if I quote them as the inspirations even now for the future aspirant politicians of India.

But at these days, We hardly notice anyone who actually works for people or anyone who took up politics for the very purpose of serving the public but yes, few exceptions are very visible, well that is how the nature works. No condition is ideal or 100% to its definition be it in a negative or positive sense.

First, starting with the current politicians, what would have led them to take up politics? The easy money that could be taken, so their families and generations to come live comfortable life? Or the power that comes as an attachment of respect and do-whatever-you like privileges? Or the dream of establishing their own statues all over their region of ruling? Or the freedom to propagate their religion? What is their driving force towards the scene? Well, except a few here and there, for others who are around, I don’t see any other reasons than stated above, for taking up politics.

The article which I read recently mentioned something regarding the expulsion of Shashi tharoor, a successful professional from the Indian politics and how a common employee-turned politician Rajiv Gandhi faced strict opposition in the field of politics when he entered into the arena. I began to wonder, why on earth isn’t there room for normal people in the politics. We all know about the party set up by the alumni of IIT’s that stood nowhere in the scenario of the political system. Also the failure of Loksatta party (Andhrapradesh, India) , led by an ex-IAS officer Jayaprakash Narayana and few other examples here and there everywhere, are all solidifying the argument that there isn’t any room for normal people into the field of politics. And for that matter, the movies always portray politicians as villains who chase the hero and in return get beaten black and blue. Well, Movies are stories picked up from reality and the daily blame-games played by politicians and their unruly debates and discussions in the decision making houses and their ever growing properties- do force any common man to take up this views.

The politicians, not all but, those who are spreading the wrong impression, should clean up their acts and keep them intact as they are the living examples for coming generations to encourage them to take up politics. The advent of new clean politicians will only help clean the system by driving out the corrupt and unwanted politicians.

The politics should be for those people or leaders who want to serve the people and benefit people and for those ambitious people who dream for a nation that is uniform all across the society in economic and social growth.

So what went into our system that makes us conclude in such an arrogant way about our leaders? And it is highly shocking to note that even after knowing about what is happening around us like what I stated till now, we end up choosing the same leaders again and again with our voting power. In a democracy, the existence of tainted leaders in the political system should be credited or blamed on the public.i.e.we, you and me. But the fact that a huge percentage of voters are uneducated and they always fall prey to the lucrative speeches these politicians make just before the elections.

So at the end, it all zero’s down to education. Education of the people,the common man. Education leads to increase in the awareness of what is going around the country and the system and also makes one realize his/her own rights provided by the constitution and would alert all voters and citizens and in turn make them become choosy about selecting their leaders whom they would want to be governing them and this entire process would also keep politicians on a check.

Educate to Eradicate Poverty-Educate to clean up Politics.

Always remember, it’s you and me-together-can bring a change.

Bharat Bandh !!! :: Worth it ? ? ?

Wow BHARAT BANDH! ! !. . . . . @again? ? ?

Bandh: A boon or a bane for the common man?

This article is with reference to the recent ’’ bharat bandh’’ that took place on the 5th of July 2010 in protest to the hike of petrol and diesel fuel prices. The poster reasons for the bandh were obviously the poor and middle class citizens but let’s analyze how beneficial it actually was to them and how successful it was at the end of the day.

According to me, the so-called projected benefiters were the actual sufferers during the bandh day. This conclusion will also reflect to the numerous bandhs that have taken place and to those infinity bandhs that are on their way to the people.

Briefly, A bandh ,is supposedly ,an united protest by the people all over the country in which people them self cease all their works in order to raise voice and throw a say that they aren’t willingly liking the action taken by the government or that they intend a change for the easy progress of the nation.

To start with during the bandh day, 5th of July 2010, in Visakhapatnam, The rain was pouring all through the day and with the given conditions of the tempered roads, the mobility across the city was becoming all too difficult and added to it all the public transport was stranded and there weren't any auto rickshaws or even local buses that commute people from one place to any desired location as per bandh protocol. Also added to it were the The Activists : The so-called, pro people-pro-Bandh-Pro People well wishers and anti-price hike, dawned in their political party colours, were flourishing all over the city roads , waving their flags and shouting all their way-for reduction of the prices of petrol. Added to this, They were also forcing people and others, who were commuting between their destinations and running their own private business as per their own fundamental rights, to shut down their works and head back home, Which is against democracy and the fundamental rights provided by the constitution to the people and I am sure there isn’t any so called- bandh protocol-that can overcome these rights but everyone keeps succumbs to the bandh protocol which is very interesting to note.

As I was wandering across the city along with my friends Alex and Vamsi, in an attempt to fetch some cash from the ATM and convert it to a Demand Draft, so the later friend can acquire his long awaited admission into his dream B school. Thanks to his luck, He is currently pursuing his studies in the very B school to which we were supposed to post the Demand Draft the same day, though all the attempts went futile for that day, thanks to the activists who managed to sneak into the bank just as he was about to transform his cash into Demand draft and would have managed to get it done, had he been at the bank with the money fifteen minutes earlier but again, Thanks to our own activists, as they managed to get my friend along with few other public stuck in an ATM booth for quite some time while he was attempting to with draw money from there. We went around the city for not less than 5 hours –from one bank to-almost all the banks –all across the city, calling it a day only after we were assured that the activists have managed to shut down the city and country to a pause.

Indeed a great Job, Ain’t it? They almost got a well deserved-future-earning citizen of the country from losing his path towards his dream and at this point it insists me to wonder, How many other students all across India were put into trouble this way and how many have the activists managed to axe down in life quest and in turn turning them to frustrated anti social elements? Well this very thought assures great kudos to the great activists and their Bandh. Likewise, how many sick people must have been prevented from reaching hospitals and service centres due to stoppage of public transport and fears of vehicles being thrashed by the activists. How many lives must have the bandh taken toll of? All across the nation, the bandh could have successfully managed to cut down the population in some minute percentage at least.

As we move on from one department to another, I can only see more of harm caused to the average middle class rather than good that was actually intended to be done. We, while moving across banks, witnessed so many people standing-getting drenched-in rain, waiting for any damn transport to reach home and escape from the bandh chaos.

Needless to mention, the loss of crores of rupees that was caused to various departments like for example the state road transport services due to null operations and also infrastructure loss from the busses that got burnt to ashes-probably -as a style statement by the bandh activists, But these departments have their own ways to recover their losses, by levying extra charge on tickets which again mount on the pressures already on the average middle class families. And the heavy infrastructure loss that is gained by our activists by damaging whatever they see on the roads and again, who is going to pay for all these loses? The public taxes, i.e. we the common middle class people again. I wonder what motivates them to take violent paths causing trouble to common man-fighting for the common man, while quoting Gandhi as their role model for one and all purposes.

The common middle class man becomes a toy between the political parties, who is played and fiddled with by both ruling and opposition for their benefit and greed to acquire power. The activists, The tools they employ in these games , only few of them realise that they too fall in to the middle class family and at the end of the day, they are the ones who are doing extra work and payments to recover the loses they causes. The politicians forget that they are working for people-if they weren’t working for money-if only they aren’t-but I am sure as much as you are- they are all-except for a few they are working for that –only-only and only for money.

Now we see, after months had gone by after the protest, We see that the common man has moved ahead with the price hikes and the government is moving ahead in thinking of levying extra charges but the bandh hasn’t caused any good rather than only harm and harm from all over

I Wonder what the upper and lower houses of representatives if for-if the issues pertaining to public life are to be debated and decided by means of bandhs which are even more harmful than the cause of bandhs.
Only way out is to SAY NO TO USELESS BANDHS called on by political leaders - and instead follow powerful & peaceful protests if the issue is indeed demanding and needs to be fought for protecting our lives and our rights provided by the constitution of India.

Educate to Eradicate Poverty: it’s only when you and me are ‘together’ –we can bring a change