CORRUPTION IN INDIA IS A CONTINUOUS CELEBRATION!

According to Corruption Perception Index of 2022 by Transparency International, India ranks 85 (least corrupt nation) among 180 countries. As per this index the least corrupt countries are Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore and Sweden in the 1 to 6 rankings. One may wish to ask our fellow Indians whether our country can place our name among the above countries during our lifetime. If there is an answer, it would be a flat 'no'. Corruption will be steadily increasing here as no efforts are being made to eradicate the cancerous growth of this destructive element from our society. It seems that corruption is in the blood of most Indians. It all starts from laziness. Making money without any sweating is basically the trendsetter for corruption. Then comes the never ending thirst for comfort, power and so the accumulation of wealth. Cheating, pick pocket, theft, burglary, bribery etc fall in the same category of crimes.

Until recently Karnataka, Rajasthan, Delhi and Odisha were the most corrupt states in India while Kerala is the least. Of late it has been drastically changed. According to a study conducted by Transparency International in India during 2005, 62% of our people have first hand experience of paying bribe or peddling influence for getting services done in public offices. Using corruptive means for getting eligible things done seems to have recognised by our social philosophy since long. Politics may be the key factor that boost corruption in our country. There are umpteen number of people who have commenced their career with zero balance and now such ones have huge amount of wealth without any known sources of income. Though we have enough agencies to question the source of their wealth, no one dare to take the risk. The environment, it appears, is most suited in India for one to be corrupt. As per the media reports across the country, there are many cases reported every month about corruption cases involving government employees from peon to civil service officers.

Can we get rid off corruption from our country? Only stringent punishment can bring out any positive results. If the legislature, executive and the judiciary stand together this vice can be eradicated from our country. Removal from service, imposition of penalty by ten times of the amount involved in corruption and a life term imprisonment can be the punishment irrespective of the amount involved. Further to this the coming generation should be made aware of the adversities of corruption in our country. This subject should be included in school syllabus from Class 4 to Class 12. If these much could be done corruption can certainly be eradicated from our country. No one knows as what prevent the concerned to act suitably towards this direction.

K V George