We Indians are so familiar with corruption that, nowadays, it does not surprise us even if any huge amount of corruption case is exposed. Every Indian is now habituated to it and very well knows that any work to be done needs a fair amount of money.
Eleven MPs were caught on camera for the ‘cash on question’ scandal. Another half a dozen were exposed while asking commission for the MP Local Area Development Scheme. We are quite used to bureaucrats demanding bribe but this madness has not even spared the judiciary. A former Chief Justice of India recently admitted that at least 20% of the higher judiciary is corrupt. This has proved that, be it judiciary, executive, legislative, every section of our constitution is addicted to this iniquity.
We cannot term that India alone or other developing/underdeveloped countries, which lag behind economically, are corrupt. The truth is corruption is a global phenomenon. Corruption has laid its hands on developed countries too. The major cause of corruption is ‘Greed’, the greed of humans to be rich and successful by easy ways avoiding hard work. In addition, when it is coupled up with poor conviction rate in any nation the fear of punishment vanishes and corruption flourishes. Developed countries like USA, UK etc are very well corrupt.
However, what makes India different from the other countries? In India, even official and routine work, which is very well within the limits of the judiciary, requires extra money. Employees working in any government based organizations, be it from a ‘D’ class employee to an ‘A’ class officer has to be bribed for the completion of work. Hardly any one in India fears the law. However, in the Western world, for getting a work done that is well within the framework of law does not require bribe. The work is done routinely. However, illegal work does require that extra money in western world too.
This points the major difference and that is, be it legal or illegal; in India no work is done without bribing the authority. For instance, the cash on question scandal, the MP’s were caught on camera for taking money to ask questions in the parliament. To ask questions in the parliament is very well the duty of an MP, which is to be done in the Question Hour. Moreover, requesting an MP to ask questions is a legal thing. However, by taking bribe, these politicians have proved the extent to which our government has descended.
However, the ministers alone cannot be blamed in this whole matter. Indian citizens, themselves, have accepted the fact that no work can be done without bribe. They have accepted corruption on a day-to-day basis. However, if the citizens become aware of the particular laws, a lot of difference can be made. Knowing the necessary details, as to the numbers or other details of the anti corruption bureau, at least a few corrupt officers can be put behind bars. Moreover, elections can also be the best weapon to fight against corruption. Citizens should stop electing corrupt politicians. Many times, we overlook the character of the politician to the work he has done. However, that should be prevented because; whatever work the politician must have done, a corrupt politician is always a criminal.
Moreover, the political head of our country should also take some initiative in putting an end to this practice. India has such taught politicians, which lead the country and represent it globally. These people should make strict laws, while appointing senior level officers, which in turn appoint the other lower level officers. Following stern rules and regulations from the senior levels will automatically bring about discipline and orderliness in the subordinate levels.
India has brought the Right to Information Act into action. This can also prove to be a tool to minimize corruption. However, barring a few thousands of the population, hardly any one knows about the Act and its advantages. Hence, it is the responsibility of the governments and NGOs to educate people about it. Moreover, the citizens should also come forward, get themselves educated about the Act and their rights, and bring them into application wherever necessary.
Technology also has a lot of potential. Modern technologies and information can also reduce the evil and end this long run practice. After all, it is the secret cameras that helped in bringing into light the corrupt practices of the MPs in the cash on question case.

Changing Attitude.

As usual, I was waiting at the station to catch a CST local to reach to my college. I missed my regular train and so with a aggravated look on my face, I was waiting for the next train to arrive. I went to the wheeler, bought a newspaper and started going through the headlines. After a 5 minutes wait, my train finally arrived at the station. I boarded it and sat near the window seat, and went back to my half-read newspaper.
Suddenly I heard a feeble voice calling me didi. I turned around in amazement to see a 5-6 year old boy, shabbily dressed, with his right palm stretching towards me, asking me to give him a penny. I looked at him for a few seconds and something about him fascinated me that I started conversing with him. I asked him the reason why he was begging. He said, ‘He was the only son in his family with four sisters and his father used to drink every night and beat his mother. His mother was a laborer in a construction site where she used to work on a temporary basis. So, he had to provide some financial help to his mother and that could be done only by begging.’ I gave him a penny and got up to get down at my station. I got down with a grave feeling in my heart, thinking about the poor kid, who at this tender age of joining school and playing around with kids of his age, had to beg and support his family financially.
The next day I had to catch the same train and I met the same kid again. We started conversing. This time the talk lasted for a long time. I found a smile on his face while he was talking hence I curiously asked him the reason why he was happy. He told me that a person was going to lend him some money and from that money, he was going to start selling litchi in the train. He was happy with the work he was going to do as he had to stop begging after he starts selling litchi. I encouraged him to do so but also advised him to study.
For a few days, I did not meet the boy as I could not board the same train.
After a few days, I saw the same kid on the platform with a basket full of litchi. I walked up to him and bought some litchis from him. Along with the litchi, he gave me a packet of bindis. I was stunned and asked him the reason for giving me a bindi packet. He said, girls look good in bindis and that he addresses me as didi so he would love to see me wearing a bindi. I was astonished and touched by the boy’s gesture. Such a small kid showing such maturity flabbergasted me.
I told some of my friends about the whole incident but they kind of ridiculed me and advised me not to talk to beggars as according to them they are wicked and awful people. And, that higher-class people like us should not talk to such people and lower our standards.
However, for me, such a small incident changed my whole perspective of looking towards people. A shabby looking kid, who had never attained school, had so much respect for his elders. In a society like ours, we discriminate people according to their financial status and their way of living. People are respected on the basis of the bank balance they have and their way of dressing. Nevertheless, we often tend to forget that a person is not judged by the way he dresses or the way he looks. In today’s world a person is evaluated by taking the exteriors of the person into consideration rather than his interior i.e., his heart and his nature. Now a days, even children going to school, where they learn morals and discipline hardly show so much respect towards their elders. However, a small illiterate kid had by his everyday experience of life had learnt to respect elders and talk politely with them.