Essays

While India is at the threshold of becoming superpower, the rising GDP and the progress of the country is getting eaten by the corrupt leechs of the country. Today, the common man is not only shocked but disgusted at the series of scams unfolding everyday — 2G Spectrum Scam, Commonwealth Games Scam, Fodder Scam, Adarsh Housing Society Scam, Bofors Scam—the list is shamefully endless. An average Indian citizen is hard working and diligent, but a multi-thousand crore scam fumes a tax-payer as he feels heartbroken and cheated for his valued contribution of funds towards the development and well-being of the nation.

Political and bureaucratic corruption in India is the cause of major concern today. From bribes to political maneuvering to misuse of authority to scandals—the average Indian daily finds himself struggling in the cobweb of political graft. The in-charge of the system, the so-called sarkari babus, with whom the power lays, are spreading the venom of corruption, and abusing their political power at all levels. The 2G scandal scam worth $1.76 lakh crore tops the list At the heart of this scam is the former Telecom minister A Raja who evaded norms at every level as he dubiously, issued 2G licenses to private telecom players in 2008 at throwaway prices of 2001, While issuing licenses, rules and procedures were flouted for bribes and personal gains.

Another major scandal hit India when the great sporting bonanza. Commonwealth Games 2010. was rather turned into a play field of frauds, deceit and unaccountability. The Chief of the Games Organizing Committee, Surest Kalmadi, is charged with corruption for discrepancies in tenders - like payment to non-existent parties, willful delays in execution of contracts, over-inflated price and bungling in purchase of equipment. Misappropriation of funds soaked this grand event in $8000 crore corruption scandal.

 After the 2G spectrum and Commonwealth Games , another massive $35000 crore Food-Grain scam came to light in Uttar Pradesh as huge stock of food grain meant for distribution under the Antyodaya, Annapurna and Mid-Day Meal schemes was smuggled outside the state and even to other neighbouring    countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. It is believed that top officials of the state as well as the central government colluded to divert the food grain between 2001 and 2007.

'Chard Ghotala', as it is popularly known in the vernacular language, Fodder Scam is another ma)or scam that puts a big question mark on the integrity and honesty of our politicians. The scandal worth $900 crore involved fabrication of vast herds of fictitious livestock for which fodder, medicine and animal husbandry equipment was supposedly procured. The scandal is another example of misuse of authority for personal gratification and fulfillment of selfish motives.

While the Indian politics is already replete with scandals like Bofors scam, Urea scam and Hawala scandal,  a new blot of a bigger magnitude emerges every day- The existing cases are pending and large number of cases pile up with every passing day. Fed up with such inadequacies, the people of India have taken initiative to bring change through the Jan Lokpal Bill. Under the leadership of Anna Hazare, an anti-corruption crusader, who began a fast-unto-death, the mass movement of people saw an expression of their collective anger against corruption and their willingness to see the enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill, The bill seeks for the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body, which would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisage trial in the next one year. This would ensure expeditious trial and cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years. The bill also proposes to confiscate the property and recover the loss that a corrupt person caused to the country, at the time of conviction. Most importantly, it would help a common citizen as financial penalty on guilty officers would be imposed if work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office.

The Jan Lokpal Bill is a step forward in the fight against corruption. This effective mechanism aims to bring transparency and accountability in public administration for preventing, punishing and eliminating corruption in India.