COMMENT
Why Honesty Doesn’t Pay
Corrupt politicians and bureaucrats stall anti-corruption initiatives
BY B.G. VERGHESE
14 Aug 2009
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| (Pic By Tribhuwan Sharma) |
Corruption has become a way of life. Everybody complains of having to grease palms to get anything done by the bureaucrats — from the lowest functionary to the highest official. From politicians, the police, contractors, businessmen, middlemen and all those with any discretionary authority to even sections of the judiciary, educational institutions and hospitals — the disease has spread to all levels. The malaise is not just confined to speed money. It represents the takings of a second salary, often far larger than the first at the cost of the poor and the law-abiding citizens. Honest officials, on the other hand, fear for their lives. There are two kinds of corrupt people: the “honest” babu takes money and delivers, while the “dishonest” babu takes the money and does not deliver. Some years ago, civil servants in Uttar Pradesh ran a competition ranking the most corrupt officers in the state cadre. The results were startling — and true. Yet, no action was taken.
The reasons for this graft are many. If red tape and procedural delays offer scope for corruption, deregulation has cleaned up many transactions. In some cases technology has helped, as in online railway bookings.
Corruption may have initially spread from the bottom up, but it is now clearly sustained by malfeasance at the top. The criminal justice system too, has been corrupted and corroded with policemen holding the rule of law to ransom. Police reform is today possibly the most vital element of good governance, security and intelligence. But despite several commissions and exhortations from the Supreme Court, little has happened. An independent and impartial police is the last thing many politicians and bureaucrats desire.
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The Vigilance Commission, CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) and media have done much to expose corruption at many levels. But the procedures for investigation and prosecution — such as the “single directive” requiring superior bureaucratic or ministerial sanction to proceed — have stymied progress. The reason given is that honest officials are daily pressurised and blackmailed to partner or condone corrupt practice and that civil service morale demands that these honest officials are protected. This is not a convincing argument and the pressure, humiliation and danger to life and limb such officials face otherwise is far greater. The powerful UN Convention on Corruption of which India is a signatory has not been ‘ratified’ and incorporated in Indian law because few want such a mechanism to thwart their designs. A Lok Pal has not been appointed for 40 years on the plea that inclusion of the prime minister could pose dangers of subversive petitions that could paralyse the government. Even when prime ministers have declared their willingness to be placed under the jurisdiction of the Lok Pal, objections have been raised in other quarters. Institutions of Lok Ayukts have not worked well for reasons of procedure, credibility and lack of interest by state governments.
The annual reports of Transparency International-India study ranks states and 10 major departments of the government within them with a large public interface on a corruption index. Most fare poorly and the trends over the past few years have not been positive. Yet wherever the law and standards have been enforced, corruption has come down. A striking example of this is Hong Kong, where venality among public services has been snuffed out by strict and swift action by a Corruption Commission. The same processes and discipline are perfectly possible in India. But the political will is totally lacking.
The rot has spread deep. It must be firmly excised, otherwise the country will be exposed to instability and violence by an enraged populace.
The author is a visiting professor at Centre for Policy Research, and is on the advisory council of Transparency International India
(Businessworld Issue Dated 18-24 Aug 2009) |
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