Can Corruption be Eradicated From Our Society?

With materialistic values as topmost priority, moral and ethical values at the lowest span of ladder, every fibre of society indulged in-self aggrandizement, where not only credibility of politicians and bureaucrats but also of the judiciary is at stake, it is ridiculous to dream of a corruption-free society.

In this scene, an honest man is like a drop in the ocean which loses identity as soon as it mingles virtually in the salt water of the ocean. Corruption is a common practice and has become a way of life.

It is a matter of shame that even after 69 years of independence, India figures among the thirty most corrupt countries. The virus of corruption has crept into all walks of life and it can endanger the body politic of our nation.

Corruption always existed in human society in one or the other form. In primitive period, the scope of public administration was minimum; as a result, the scope of corruption was limited. After independence, with the scope of welfare state coming into existence the scope of being corrupt widened. Corruption has crept into every fabric of the society in such a way that it was the theme of speeches made by the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, during the golden jubilee celebrations of our independence. Every Chief Election Commissioner since Mr. Sheshan held the office has advocated the dire necessity of electoral reforms to strike at corruption at grass root level.

Corruption is regarded as a low risk and highly profitable way of making a quick buck and whoever is caught, often knows how to go scot-free. The country which is known for moral and ethical values, where truism is adored, fair means were advocated to achieve anything, has now accounted among the most thirty nations of the world. If everyone from Panch to Prime Minister, from Peon to Chief Secretary has been found involved and charged for many acts of commission and omission, how can we imagine to eradicate corruption in toto?

A peculiar face of corruption on our Country is that it goes upstream not downstream. So most of the fundamental policies and decisions about big purchases, contracts, projects, etc are distorted at the top level. The delay in disposing of the cases of corruption is one of the most important causes of flourishing of corruption. Corrupt officials even if caught can manage to go scot-free in due course of time by manipulations or otherwise.

The basic question is whether corruption can be eradicated? “Nothing is impossible”, can be said by an enthusiastic social leader but eradication of corruption is a next to impossible thing given the present spectrum of affairs. When the whole body of the politics is affected by the virus of corruption, eradicating it in toto is a Herculean task. Corruption is a multi-faceted, hydraheaded colossus problem to be dealt with several measures simultaneously.

The bodies like CVC, CBI, Lok Ayukta etc must be headed by the persons of high integrity and must be made autonomous truly with exceptional powers. The budgetary allocation to these bodies should be liberal and no hindrance of any kind should be allowed in their functioning. Election expenses must not be allowed to cross the limits. The loopholes like extraneous expenses by other party workers that are not included in party expenses must be plugged. The political parties have to be sincere and honest to fight the cancer of corruption. The chief hurdle is the unwillingness and lack of determination and will of politicians etc to eradicate corruption. All the policies, rules and regulations are approved by the leaders, they do not wish to claim themselves are entangled and so the eradication or corruption does not seem to be possible.

The youth of the society has a very important role in fighting the gigantic wild animal of corruption. General awakening can make the politicians and bureaucrats use their discretion carefully. The common men must cast their vote on the basis of values and character of the candidates. To eradicate corruption from the society, all have to fight it. It is the most powerful and the most dangerous monstrous evil, which rises to manifold itself stronger with the passage of time

By: Mona Kaushal