Political Corruption in Indian Democracy

Political Corruption in Indian Democracy

                                                                                         Dr. Shubhangi Rathi

Head of Political Science Department,

Smt. P.K.Kotecha Mahila College, Bhusawal

          Now-a-days corruption can be seen everywhere. It is like cancer in public life. This has not become so rampant and perpetuated overnight, but in course of time. A country where leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri have taken birth and led a value-based is now facing the problem of corruption. People have grown insatiable appetite for money in them and they can go to any extent to get money. Undoubtedly they talk of morality and the importance of value-based life but that is for outer show. Their inner voice is something else. Aim of this paper is to aware people about their rights and duties about political rights as well as inculcates moral values among them. In this paper I focus on political corruption in Indian democracy, process of election method of the political elites. Why people attract to do corruption? Causes, remedies, observation, suggestion are discussed in this paper. Lastly conclude that change the mentality of the Indian people is necessary to control the corruption in Indian democracy.

Problem of Political Corruption:

        All we know by Democracy is by the definition given by Great Abrahm Lincoln. He once said that ‘Democracy is for the people by the people’ and yes it’s true. We choose our own MP or MLP and they further choose PM or President for India. Ultimately we the common people make one common man so powerful and give so many responsibilities. If he does not work honestly we can remove him or throw out from the system in next election. So Democracy gives common man a power to vote. When we talk of corruption in public life, it covers corruption in politics, state governments, central governments, business, industry and so on. Public dealing counters in most all government offices are the places where corruption most evident. If anybody does not pay for the work it is sure work won't be done. If people want to get into leadership through corrupt practices, through corrupt means, I think that's detestable; we have to take action.
Survey Report of Transparency International about corruption:

          Berlin-based watchdog Transparency International conducted the survey "Global Corruption Barometer 2013" among 114,000 people in 107 countries to estimate the level of corruption globally. For the survey, approximately 1,000 people from 107 countries were surveyed between September 2012 and March 2013.

         The survey found that 71 percent of Indians believed that corruption within the country has increased and only 6 percent said it has decreased. With the growing number of corruption scandals, 87 percent of the Indian respondents feel the government is run by 'few big entities acting for their own interest'.

         The survey reflects a growing distrust in public authorities and institutions. A whopping 75 percent of Indians felt that authorities are corrupt and 62 percent admitted to paying a bribe to police personnel in the last 12 months. More than 60 percent believe that India is growing a breed of corrupt public servants that work within the ambit of the Parliament. Political parties universally emerged as the most corrupt institution after police and public officials.¹ A new survey showed that India is among the top nations where corruption has increased in the past two years. It also revealed that 85 percent of Indians believe political parties in the country to be corrupt.

Political Corruption:

         India is infamous for its corrupt politicians. Due to the disintegration or weakening of national parties, they have no other choice other than to support these corrupt among them. Most of the allies in the Government forming political parties have less than 50 seats and among them 90 percent is corrupt. But as the national parties do not have clear majority they have to get the support of small regional parties which have only a few elected members. So most often they have to be blind when the allies make any wrong move.

         When I was young, the time when I did not have the voting, always wondered why people are voting for the corrupt. I thought the uneducated and illiterate are the majority and they are unaware of these facts and vote the corrupt politicians to the legislation. But I realized the fact that in the fast growing economy of India most of the people are either educated or literate, and moreover the media has grown so fast that everyone is aware of all these dirty corruption.

      Then I wondered why these people are elected. Then most of the corporate media came with the fact that, the educated and people who got job, specially who works in corporate sector never vote. They say the reason as what is the use of voting all are corrupt. The uneducated who vote shown the same trend of voting the corrupt as they are unaware of the facts.

        But now days we can’t refuse to accept that democracy in India has witnessed rise in Corruption. I totally agree with the thought that Democracy is the risen for Corruption. In our near country China, they have punished their Railway Minister for corruption. At the same time, India had seen that our Railway Minister had just resigned from his post, when his own nephew was caught red hand. People chosen by people are misusing their power. They become king for next 5 years. They make laws and decide which law should be improves.  Since 3 decades ‘Lokpal Bill’ bill is in the dustbin of Parliament. Our ministers just discuss about this and then slept off. Recently many whistle blowers like Anna Hajare and Kerjiwal have raised this topic and they are fighting for this. If Government listen to them and make the law for the people, that’s the true Democracy in my opinion. Similar law is being demanded for Rapist but Government is busy in looting this country.

Causes of corruption:

        The causes of corruption are many and complex. We think following some causes of corruption.

·         In a highly inflationary economy, low salaries of government officials compel them to resort to the road of corruption. Graduates from IIMs with no experience draw a far handsome salary than what government secretaries draw.

·         Political elite believe in interest-oriented rather than nation-oriented programmes and policies.  

·         Election time is a time when corruption is at its peak level. Big industrialist fund politicians to meet high cost of election and ultimately to seek personal favour. Bribery to politicians buys influence, and bribery by politicians buys votes. In order to get elected, politicians bribe poor illiterate people, who are slogging for two times’ meal.

·         Corruption is caused as well as increased because of the change in the value system and ethical qualities of men who administer.

·         Complex laws and procedures alienate common people to ask for any help from government.

Observations:

      Is it possible to contain corruption in our society? Corruption is a cancer, which every Indian must strive to cure. Many new leaders when come into power declare their determination to eradicate corruption. But soon they themselves become corrupt and start amassing huge wealth.

·         Many People become materialistic and money oriented, there is no important of ethics and morals in business dealings. Many people thinking that money which coming to their pocket is good, same way many thinking that money which going out from their pocket is bad, but they don’t consider the way money traveling.

·         This is because these kinds of people have no moral accountability to anybody; and these kind have people have full trust on money, they strongly believing that money can hold big role in their life, they believing that money can solve their current and future problems, they believing that money can give them life without problems.

Suggestions:

         Control of corruption is very difficult. But it is not impossible. It is not only the responsibility of the government but ours too.

·         We can eliminate corruption if there will be joint effort. We must have some high principles to follow. The steps should be taken to correct the situation overall.  Declarations of property and assets of the government employees are made compulsory and routine and surprise inspections and raids be conducted at certain intervals. We may be models for the coming generation. Let us take a view to create an atmosphere free from corruption. That will be our highest achievement as human beings.

·         Funding of elections is at the core of political corruption. Electoral reforms are crucial in this regard. Several reforms like: State funding of election expenses for candidates; strict enforcement of statutory requirements like holding in-party elections, making political parties get their accounts audited regularly and filing income-tax returns; denying persons with criminal records a chance to contest elections, should be brought in.

·         Cooperation of the people has to be obtained for successfully containing corruption. People should have a right to recall the elected representatives if they see them becoming indifferent to the electorate.

·         Responsiveness, accountability and transparency are a must for a clean system. Bureaucracy, the backbone of good governance, should be made more citizen friendly, accountable, ethical and transparent.

·         More and more courts should be opened for speedy & inexpensive justice so that cases don’t linger in courts for years and justice is delivered on time.

·         Local bodies, Independent of the government, like Lokpals, Lokadalats, CVCs and Vigilance Commissions should be formed to provide speedy justice with low expenses.

·         A new Fundamental Right viz. Right to Information should be introduced, which will empower the citizens to ask for the information they want. Barring some confidential information, which concerns national and international security, other information should be made available to general public as and when required. Stringent actions against corrupt officials will certainly have a deterrent impact.

·         It can be only possible if people can understand and start to believe the values of ethics and morality in their life.  The most important thing is person should listen and follow the good part of his heart.

Conclusion:

          Lastly we can conclude that Corruption has been around since the time governance started in this world. A few of us voting out a government will not bring it to an end. People should realize the cause of everything. It is not just the politicians who are corrupt but all the people. Corruption is everywhere. It is like diabetes, can only be controlled, but not totally eliminated.  Every common man participates in it. So just don't point it out at politicians alone, it doesn't. Don't start the blame game. A lokbal bill is not the solution to the corruption issues in India. Corruption is an intractable problem. It may not be possible to root out corruption completely at all levels but it is possible to contain it within tolerable limits. Honest and dedicated persons in public life, control over electoral expenses could be the most important prescriptions to combat corruption.

Notes:

1.      http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/488914/20130711/corruption-india-indian-political-parties-global-barometer.htm

References:

2.      Gupta U.N.: Indian Parliamentary democracy ;Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi

3.      Jennifer Bussell (2012).Corruption and Reforms in India. Public Services in the digital Age, Cambridge University Press, Delhi.

4.      Gupta K. N. (2001). Corruption in India. Anmol Publication

5.      Yasir Husain. (2012). Corruption Free India: Fight to Finish. Epitome Book, Delhi.

6.      Lakshmi Sharma. (2012). Corruption in India- Problem and Solutions. Pratiksha Publication, Delhi