∆CORRUPTION∆

                   "CORRUPTION"

 Majority of us are aware of the term “corruption” as it is frequently used in daily parlance. What is corruption? Different pictures emerge in our mind. The most plausible reference to the nature of corruption could be assessed in the words of Joe Bidden, 47th Vice President of the United States of America, “Corruption is just another form of tyranny.” The statement weighs corruption as equivalent to that of cruel and oppressive rule of government. However, for a common man/woman, corruption is a challenge, that he/she faces every day for protecting his/her fundamental rights and other privileges provided to him as human beings guaranteed by the Constitution. Corruption in public life is a way to get selfish gains through illegal methods and by misuse of public posts and public property. Corruption for private firms/companies is all about making unfair profits by exploiting the employees and consumers by circumventing government laws. Corruption prevails in every sector and at every level in the country whether big or small. Corrupt means and unfair ways are used to accomplish several big and small tasks by people belonging to the government as well as private sectors. This is because people want to make big bucks without much hard work.

Though the ranking of India in Global Corruption Index 2018 has improved by three ranks at a global rank of 78 among other countries. India is still far from becoming a corruption free nation. Corruption in India was prevailing even during the reign of British Empire. Even Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Muslim League leader, who conspired to divide India by creating Pakistan on August 14, 1947 acknowledged the rampant corruption during British rule in undivided India : “One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering—I do not say that other countries are free from it, but I think our condition is much worse—is bribery and corruption. Corruption is a poison”. Jinnah who colluded with the British to divide India if says so then it definitely indicates the deep-rooted institutional corruption in British India, firmly supported and practiced by the British authority to meet their selfish ends. Corruption is a poison which has sheltered in the minds of those who place themselves above society, community and even country to usurp ill-gotten advantages in life. It is the mistreatment of public resources just for getting some unfair advantages to fulfil the material desires. It is concerned with the unnecessary and wrong use of both power and position by anyone whether in the government or non-government organisations. It adversely affects the growth of the individual as well as the nation and reduces both personal and national income. It is a big reason for inequality that exists within the society we live in. It hampers the growth and development of a nation at all fronts socially, economically and politically.

HOW TO STOP CORRUPTION:-

🥢End impunity:-

Effective law enforcement is essential to ensure the corrupt are punished and break the cycle of impunity, or freedom from punishment or loss.

Successful enforcement approaches are supported by a strong legal framework, law enforcement branches and an independent and effective court system. Civil society can support the process with initiatives such as Transparency International’s Unmask the Corrupt campaign.

🥢Reform public administration and finance management:-

Reforms focussing on improving financial management and strengthening the role of auditing agencies have in many countries achieved greater impact than public sector reforms on curbing corruption.

One such reform is the disclosure of budget information, which prevents waste and misappropriation of resources. For example, Transparency International Sri Lanka promotes transparent and participatory budgeting by training local communities to comment on the proposed budgets of their local government.

🥢Promote transparency and access to information:-

Countries successful at curbing corruption have a long tradition of government openness, freedom of the press, transparency and access to information. Access to information increases the responsiveness of government bodies, while simultaneously having a positive effect on the levels of public participation in a country.

Transparency International Maldives successfully advocated for the adoption of one of the world’s strongest rights to information law by putting pressure on local MPs via a campaign of SMS text messages.

🥢Empower citizens:-

Strengthening citizens demand for anti-corruption and empowering them to hold government accountable is a sustainable approach that helps to build mutual trust between citizens and government. For example, community monitoring initiatives have in some cases contributed to the detection of corruption, reduced leakages of funds, and improved the quantity and quality of public services.

To monitor local elections, Transparency International Slovenia produced an interactive map that the public populated with pictures and reports of potential irregularities in the election. As a result, cases of public funds being misused to support certain candidates were spotted.

🥢Close international loopholes:-

Without access to the international financial system, corrupt public officials throughout the world would not be able to launder and hide the proceeds of looted state assets. Major financial centres urgently need to put in place ways to stop their banks and cooperating offshore financial centres from absorbing illicit flows of money.

The European Union recently approved the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive, which requires EU member-states to create registers of the beneficial owners of companies established within their borders. However, the directive does not require these registers to be made public. Similarly, the Norwegian, UK, and Ukrainian governments have all approved legislation requiring companies to disclose information about their owners, although these have yet to come into force.