Tackling Corruption in India

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Work of International NGOs

Several International non-governmental organizations are doing huge amounts of work to make our world a better place. Three leading ones relevant to the present discussion are Amnesty International, OXFM International and Transparency International. It goes without saying that no human organization can be perfect and what one can hope for is that on balance these organizations make a positive and significant contribution to improving the world we all share.

This author has noted a significant political bias in the work of Amnesty International, or so it seems to him. As regards OXFAM International, while they have produced valuable data on the state of our world and wealth there appears to be a slant in their recommendations. For example while pointing out that just 62 wealthy individuals in the world have managed to acquire wealth equal to half the population of the planet; they have been repeatedly tweeting that Tax havens must be eradicated. While this would help, there are other even more significant steps, some that this blog has outlined in the note on inequality, Oxfam is silent on these.

However, as regards Transparency International this author has not found any shortcoming but only positive contributions. Their most recent data lists countries in the order of perceived corruption prevalent in these countries. It has been noted that countries with least corruption such as Denmark and Sweden are also the most peaceful, prosperous and happy ones while those with most such as Somalia, Sudan and Afghanistan some of the most miserable ones on our planet. It is also interesting to note that there is an approximate correlation between these ranks and that of happiness and evil found by completely different criterion in another blog by this author (here). What this simply indicates is these things are connected as in a human with a failing kidney; one by one the other organs begin to fail too.

India

As regards India, a new government to govern recently came in with the promise of tackling corruption that is a huge issue that harasses citizens of the country. The government has been successful in curbing big ticket corruption as prevailed earlier at the top yet there has been little change in the corruption index even after a year of its governance. The reason for this is that corruption exists in India not just at the top but is widespread throughout the country. The public faces this type of corruption frequently rather than the one at the top. It has grown steadily over the past several decades into a monster. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been concerned about this and a proof of this concern is headline news in the Times of India today – “Sack erring officials (translated) who don’t mend ways, PM tells Secys”

While the concern and pronouncement of the PM will have some impact, it would only be a little perhaps because greed is highly addictive and the hunger of a carnivore is not easily appeased once it has tasted blood, and what if some Secys share in the loot and in this sucking the blood of hapless citizens?

Ways and Means

On the general level it is understood that corruption is to be tackled at four levels. First by improving the justice system that is inexorably slow in India, second by improving laws that are hugely complicated and voluminous and thirdly by improving policing and lastly by improving ethical standards in society. While all this would take time to take effect even if the sincerest attempts are made towards it, one wonders if there is a magic wand that could lead to a quick improvement. In the opinion of this author, there is one that can make a significant impact right away as follows,

One major impediment to tacking bribery In India is a law that holds both the bribe giver and bribe taker guilty of giving a bribe. While the intention behind the act is good it also is a major impediment to curb bribery. A bribe giver will not report from fear of prosecution even when the bribe has been extorted from him or her. While the solution cannot be making it legal for giving bribes, there is another easy modification as follows, a modification in law that says,

“Giving a bribe shall not be regarded as illegal provided the bribe giver reports the matter within three days of giving the bribe. Reports can be made on a simple one page form available at all post offices and submitted at the same post office. A receipt shall be provided. Alternatively complaints can be lodged online at the central website xxxx.com. Physical receipts shall be provided at the post office and online receipt numbers online.”

Implementation and Processing:

It goes without saying that the complaint form must be very simple for ease of business. It may contain only the essentials such as: name/address/mobile number of complaint. Name of bribed (to the extent known or unknown)/address/place/approximate time/amount given in cash or kind. The last item must ask with yes/no only if the complainant has any proof such as witnesses/recordings with a request to retain proof for at least one year if required. Complaints with proof shall be pursued more vigorously whereas others would be a lower priority.

Complaints must be collected centrally and data loaded on computer. A copy of the complaint may then be sent by the central office to the appropriate local authority for considering action and another to a research bureau that shall continuously develop reports on repeated complaints of a place/person etc for information of policy makers and administrators.

Details are not mentioned here but these are easy to work out once the idea is accepted in principle.

The Magic Wand:

Once such a system is in place and if anonymity of complainant is maintained at least until the matter comes to head, it will work like a magic wand to reduce corruption hugely. Just the fear of the process would deter many a potential bribe taker from the act. While presently the bribe takers relax and sleep peacefully after taking bribes, they shall get sleepless nights after this new act is implemented since it is in the interest of the bribe giver then to visit the post office for a simple report and acquire legal immunity plus a chance of return of his or her money in case the bribe taker is caught, prosecuted and fined.

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