Anna Hazare's Anti- Corruption Fight

The tentacles of the corruption octopus are spread in every nook and corner of the country. It is like a  well oiled business entereprise which keeps expanding every year. The only difference being that it has no recognised offoice bearers. The only investment needed is to somehow legitimately or otherwise get a government job, at the Centre or State level. The membership of the great corruption industry is then automatically assured.

It is a very fair industry and gives Return on Investment or ROI as per the level  the Govt. employee is able to attain at frequent intervals.Upon resorting to corruption the employee need not be afraid of being caught or punished. Once in a blue moon a employee here or there may get caught because of some headstrong citizen. But no need to worry. The rules of prosecution are so involved , the burden of proof so cumbersome and the fantastic slow rate of judicial proceeding,all work hand in hand ,in favour of the employee. All the while he continues to draw his salary though at a slightly reduced rate.Most of the times if superior officers receive complaints against a lower employee of being corrupt, he is transferred to a new place, where after a lull he starts again being corrupt.

Why do citizens pay bribes is not the question to be asked. What choice do they have against an empowered corrupt official system. The govt, officials know unless they move the file, or grant the approval required, the citizen can not proceed furthur. So at lower to middle level it is speed money. At higher levels it is planned siphoning of government funds. Millions of citizens are paying bribes everyday at various Govt.  offices to get their legitimate work done. Studies have brought out how first preference is given to those who have paid bribes and next to those who use the RTI route. There is last or no preference given to the citizen who has not done either. As stated earlier the Govt.employee is just not bothered nor he is afraid of being hauled up. The bribe gets shared all the way up the tree of officialdom.

I have often wondered how the bribe takers are at peace with their conscience and their family members especially thier chuldren who know from where the money comes. Millions of corrupt families exist in our country. So many bribe givers say they feel very low when they give bribes.Does the Railway sleeper class TC sleep peacefully having taken bribes to give sleeper berths to travelling passengers.

The system is so well established, the bribe takers are so used to it, will Anna's movement  for a strong Lokpal make a difference. Will corruption go down?  After all there was a very strong Lokayukht in Karnataka and still the politicians were looting the state. Or now that Lokayukht has taken action and judicial proceedigs initiated against the offenders will it act as a deterrent.

Anna's movement is perhaps a big first step in the direction of curbing corruption. The path is not going to be at all easy.The affected corrupt at all levels are going to make it very difficult and are going to use all tricks to weaken the fight.  Anna needs to be supported whole heartedly by all right thinking citizens. Even if corruption goes down by a small margin the hightened awareness should go a long way to expose and humiliate the bribe takers. May Anna come out victorious.