CORRUPTION

Corruption is the exploitation of public office for private gain. It involves accepting money or favors, as a motive or reward for showing a favor or disfavor while performing official duties. The Indian Penal Code gives a lengthy explanation of corruption.

Corruption is a two-way affair. It involves the receiver of an unlawful reward and the person or organization which offers such a reward.

Types of corruption

Corruption is of two types

1.    Cooperative Corruption – In cooperative corruption, a corrupter voluntarily offers a bribe to a corrupt individual. A bribe by businessmen to government officials, by politicians to mafia, etc. are examples of cooperative corruption. Most cases of corruption are those of cooperative corruption.

2.    Extorted Corruption – Corruption is said to be extorted when a corrupt official extracts a bribe and a citizen agrees to give the same for avoiding harassment of persecution. The Policeman’s ‘hafta’ collection and the local ‘dada’s fee’ involve extorted corruption. Similarly, for getting any work done from government departments, the bureaucratic system requires a lot of signatures. Even the routine ones are affixed after ‘speed money’ has been offered

 

Causes of corruption

A variety of factors and forces have contributed to the alarming growth of corrupt practices everywhere

-          Consumerism and Demonstration Effect – The prevailing consumerism urges people to acquire money in any manner possible. The desire to have consumer durables like refrigerator, TV, etc., is further influenced by the demonstration effect. Demonstration effect is the demonstration of a higher living standard by those who can afford it. Such demonstration by the well-to-do affects their less well-to-do relatives, friends and neighbors who try to imitate the higher living standard.

-          Scarcity – Scarcity, real or artificial disturbs the market forces and increases the prices. Producers and traders take advantage of the situation and resort to black marketing. The situation is worse when a country suffers from natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, etc.

-          Narrow loyalty – Strong loyalty to the caste, ethnic, religious or linguistic community adds to corruption called ‘nepotism’. National or larger welfare is discounted in favor of caste or ethnic welfare. Promoting the undeserving and non-competent family members by politicians is a common feature in Indian politics.

-          Corruption by politicians – The patronage system is adopted by political parties to win the largest amount of political support in exchange of certain appointments. Such appointments are assured to those people, who can produce the desired results in elections without any consideration of merit.

-          Corruption by officials – Corrupt officials are usually lax in enforcing contracts so that the favored company may use shoddy, inferior quality of materials and thus make an extraordinary gain.

-          Corruption by policemen – Laws against gambling, theft, liquor, and prostitution are entered into the statute books and policemen are duty-bound to enforce them strictly. However, laws are seldom enforced with severity. It becomes difficult for the honest policemen to maintain honesty against the power of higher corrupt officers.

Effects of corruption

Corruption is like a contagious disease. It spreads from one to the other and weakens the entire system.

-          Moral degradation – Corruption is against the morality of any society. People indulge in wrong things for private gain. There are cultural distortions whereby people may almost cease to distinguish between right and wrong.

-          Social indiscipline – When corruption is widespread it becomes a part and parcel of life. People lose faith in integrity.

-          Hinders social welfare – A welfare society aims at maximization of welfare. With corruption, private gain becomes the priority against social gain and ethics get discarded.

-          Economic distortion – Corruption creates a section of people with ill-gotten money. They spend lavishly and wastefully and resources are used to meet their demands against the basic needs of the masses.

-          Checks economic progress – Quick decisions and smooth functioning of economic agents are essential for progress. Bribes are given to make the files move fast and genuine people are deprived of opportunities.

 

Measures to prevent corruption

-          Legislative measures – The Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947 was the first government effort at controlling corruption. The Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 widened the definition of public servants by including office bearers and employees of public organizations. These acts regard corruption and a cognizable offence and empower the police to arrest the suspected person without a warrant.

-          Simplifying rules and procedures – The more rules there are the greater is the scope for corruption. Since income tax, excise and customs departments are notorious for corruption, tax laws need this reform the most.

-          Sunshine Laws – Rules must be such that public scrutiny becomes possible. Government procedures should be made open. Such laws called sunshine laws would require that there be public comments and discussions before the relevant law is formulated.

-          Appointments for short tenure – Administration should be carried out with the help of experts from all walks of life who are appointed for limited duration. This will cleanse the political system.

-          Judiciary as a ‘watch dog’ – Controlling corruption is the function of the executive but when the executive is corrupt, the judiciary is forced to take on the duty of a watchdog.

-          Declaration of assets by politicians – It is desirable that it be made compulsory for all elected representatives of people to declare their assets.

-          Social action against corruption – Social action can take various forms:

a.    Public Interest Litigation

b.    Right to Information – Bill passed on 11^th May 2005

c.    Committed media – Newspapers, TV, etc. play an important role in exposing scams and keeping the common man aware of the details of corruption

d.    Role of NGOs – NGOs create mass awareness about corruption and guide citizens about the procedures for fighting corruption e.g. AGNI

e.    Humiliating corrupt individuals – This method may help in controlling corruption because the threat of social boycott is effective.