Most of the days when we open the newspaper early in the morning, the headlines that stare at us are that of some scam or the other. In the last few months we had Aadarsh Housing Society Scam, Common Wealth Game Scam, Telecom 2 G Scam, Illegal mining scam.
What do we read from this? One way to look at this is to feel disheartened that our society, government and bureaucracy is in a state of continuous degeneration and the world in general and our country in particular is on a slippery slope. A slope that is leading to moral disintegration and anarchy; a modern Sodom or Gomorrah awaiting fire of destruction from heaven!
Another way to look at this is that we have had such scams all these while and the increased activism by citizens, judiciary, and news papers supported by technology tools are help to unearth and unravel more of these. Better reach of news through print, television, internet, blogs, facebook and tweeter is helping better dissemination of these stories far and wide and make many of us aware and alive.
I believe the most powerful of all is the transparency and exposure that could help to bring about better social deterrent and citizen vigilance. This increased transparency could and is becoming some sort of a check to many and could bring about some sort of discipline and moderation in our society.
If we take a deeper look, most of the scams and injustice that will catch the attention of the wider press are those that are sensational and it involves political and bureaucratic elite, celebrities or because it is gory. But what affect the life of the majority are the corruption, callousness and lack of service orientation of the institutions that facilitate our day-to-day life. It could be getting a land title certificate, a birth and death certificate, paying our electricity bill, getting a mistake rectified in by Income Tax Assessment, getting a ration card and due ration against that card, treatment at a government hospital, getting complaint redressed by the police man and so on.
When it comes to areas where stakes are very high, the corruption or lobbying, which is often a sanitized version of corruption, often is there to influence decisions and policies. This happens in most places in the world. But many countries successfully manage to make the life comfortable for our day-to-day needs. This helps to reduce waste of time and gives peace of mind for the common man.
It is in these areas that we are quite backward compared to many others. Is it because we don’t pay the officers and employees a decent wage that they have to resort means of corruption? Is it because we don’t have proper checks and balance in service delivery that deters inefficiency and insensitiveness? Is it because service orientation is not a part of our culture? Or a combination of all?
Citizen activism and exposure can have a larger impact in this area. It is here that the technology tool can be a great support to each of us can play a role in building a social momentum. “I PAID A BRIBE.COM” is an excellent initiative in this direction. It accepts the fact that there are times we have not way except to pay our way through. It gives an option to anonymously present our experience. It also gives us an option to recognize instances where we could get work without bribe or when we got an opportunity to resist.
If a larger cross section of the society joins in such initiatives we will definitely see some results. We don’t have to give too much of our time nor do we have to inconvenience ourselves by being seen as a trouble maker or a whistle blower (which often is bad for the concerned though good for the society as a whole) or be a martyr. We don’t even have to take a moral stand of not paying a bribe to get what we want. We just have to anonymously share our experience and encourage our friends to do so. At the least it will help the next person to find out what the market rate (of bribe) for a service at a certain location. As an economist would say efficient price discovery!
“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness” Unknown
What do we read from this? One way to look at this is to feel disheartened that our society, government and bureaucracy is in a state of continuous degeneration and the world in general and our country in particular is on a slippery slope. A slope that is leading to moral disintegration and anarchy; a modern Sodom or Gomorrah awaiting fire of destruction from heaven!
Another way to look at this is that we have had such scams all these while and the increased activism by citizens, judiciary, and news papers supported by technology tools are help to unearth and unravel more of these. Better reach of news through print, television, internet, blogs, facebook and tweeter is helping better dissemination of these stories far and wide and make many of us aware and alive.
I believe the most powerful of all is the transparency and exposure that could help to bring about better social deterrent and citizen vigilance. This increased transparency could and is becoming some sort of a check to many and could bring about some sort of discipline and moderation in our society.
If we take a deeper look, most of the scams and injustice that will catch the attention of the wider press are those that are sensational and it involves political and bureaucratic elite, celebrities or because it is gory. But what affect the life of the majority are the corruption, callousness and lack of service orientation of the institutions that facilitate our day-to-day life. It could be getting a land title certificate, a birth and death certificate, paying our electricity bill, getting a mistake rectified in by Income Tax Assessment, getting a ration card and due ration against that card, treatment at a government hospital, getting complaint redressed by the police man and so on.
When it comes to areas where stakes are very high, the corruption or lobbying, which is often a sanitized version of corruption, often is there to influence decisions and policies. This happens in most places in the world. But many countries successfully manage to make the life comfortable for our day-to-day needs. This helps to reduce waste of time and gives peace of mind for the common man.
It is in these areas that we are quite backward compared to many others. Is it because we don’t pay the officers and employees a decent wage that they have to resort means of corruption? Is it because we don’t have proper checks and balance in service delivery that deters inefficiency and insensitiveness? Is it because service orientation is not a part of our culture? Or a combination of all?
Citizen activism and exposure can have a larger impact in this area. It is here that the technology tool can be a great support to each of us can play a role in building a social momentum. “I PAID A BRIBE.COM” is an excellent initiative in this direction. It accepts the fact that there are times we have not way except to pay our way through. It gives an option to anonymously present our experience. It also gives us an option to recognize instances where we could get work without bribe or when we got an opportunity to resist.
If a larger cross section of the society joins in such initiatives we will definitely see some results. We don’t have to give too much of our time nor do we have to inconvenience ourselves by being seen as a trouble maker or a whistle blower (which often is bad for the concerned though good for the society as a whole) or be a martyr. We don’t even have to take a moral stand of not paying a bribe to get what we want. We just have to anonymously share our experience and encourage our friends to do so. At the least it will help the next person to find out what the market rate (of bribe) for a service at a certain location. As an economist would say efficient price discovery!
“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness” Unknown
I quite agree with you that "it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness". I though wonder why you did not mention the RTI Act, the basic tool that drives transparency. Or is it a reflection of the fact that citizens, whom the Act is supposed to empower, are yet to 'discover' it?
ReplyDeleteWell said, Koshy. I do get depressed when I read the newspaper, so I try to avoid it!! Would rather watch the news channels and turn off whenever it gets too much!!! Thank u for sharing that link, sounds like a great initiative. Will share it on FB too.
ReplyDeleteToday development is witnessed in all walk of life and almost everyone is educated and aware of the societal happenings, even then we come across or witness the escalating or skyscrapping evils in the society (major ones like what you have mentioned) and we citizens turn deaf ears though we have its deep impact in our conscience. I appreciate your bold steps to eradicate such darkness with this sensitive and awakening post. Definitely shall do the needful.
ReplyDelete- indli viewer (www.indli.com)
Thanks Koshy that was a nice read. Am of the strong belief than having an efficient I.T infrastructure can stem this evil. Also circulation of paper money should be reduced and encourage e-payment for all major transaction. I was disappointed when of these was mentioned in the budget.
ReplyDeleteThanks Koshi, this was a nice read...when it comes to corruption many of us see it as a disease that has affected our countries so deep that no one can suggest a cure... I specially appreciated your comments on the needs of the common man being met n the peace of mind he should have. Corruption I feel happens due to ones fear of deprivation...our history suggests that most of our ancestors have lived being deprived of many things n have knowingly or unknowingly passed on this insecurity to their next generations...which by now has become big in numbers!!
ReplyDeleteFurther, every organisation when it hires an individual tries its best to get more value for it's money which mostly ends up exploiting the one with a greater need...the common man...
A possible solution to this could be to educate the organisations to change the way they look at their people n give them the peace of mind which kills any form of insecurities that might be embedded there for a long time....
Corruption is a disease that has a cure!!! 'No Exploitation' !!!