Corruption-The Devil that Prospered-Is Janlokpal a Panacea?

“Corruption-The Devil that Prospered”. As a staunch supporter for the ongoing fight against corruption it is refreshing to see such a big mass mobilization India for such a noble cause big enough to draw parallels between the mobilization during the Civil Disobedience Movement or perhaps Quit India Movement. Currently the Country is uttering a common slogan "FIGHT CORRUPTION" and Enactment of Universally accepted JAN LOKPAL BILL seems to be the Agenda. The issue certainly deserves and commands all the attention it is getting. Thanks to Anna Hazare and his Magsaysay awardees. But the Janlokpal bill might not be the panacea to all the corruption related evils. It is at best and partly a huge step in the right direction towards the Vision of transparency in governance and corruption free country.

The need of the hour is a slew of measures in addition to the proposed Lokpal.

We always talk about responsible government why are we not giving equal importance to responsible citizenship. Off-course many of us will be aware of our fundamental duties and fundamental rights of our constitution but there are many brethren who are not educated enough, many poor illiterates in rural areas who fail to understand their rights. As they do not understand them it is obvious that they do not exercise them. People who involve in Corruption take this advantage and bank upon their unaware nature and innocent ignorance. Yes, along with spread of education which will make them aware, if we intensify this awareness as a part of our agenda in the fight against corruption it will help us in another step towards our vision. So we must start educating our unaware brothers and sisters about their rights and duties so they exercise it when in need.

Our country holds biggest elections where biggest Universal Adult Suffrage is exercised. Unlike Direct Democracy as in Switzerland where people directly involve in every decisions of the government through the actions of plebiscite and referendums, we have indirect democracy where we elect our representatives by casting them our votes and allow them to take responsible decisions for our welfare on our behalf. Election of our representative is a very critical task and hence our votes are said valuable. Instead of cursing our representatives after electing them about their in capacities and corruptions it would be better that we try refining our election process. Yes, naturally question arises that "How do we know whether Contesting Person is right or wrong in his intentions?" It is difficult but not impossible, Can’t we Demand our Honorable Election Commission to mandate some eligligibility criteria in the form of psychometric tests, consistency tests, morality tests to the party candidates who files for candidature in the elections. Such tests though may not be fully fool proof in our electing persons for candidatures but may help considerably in preventing irresponsible leadership that leads to malpractices and corruption.

Although E-governance is a very effective tool for maintaining transparency at executive levels, but implementing them in all areas and putting it into effective use needs more time and money. Once implemented this would also help towards the transparency. Demand for bringing in more E-governance in those areas where it does not exist will also be a good agenda.

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Bringing in Service Level Agreements in the public offices and public-private partnership companies which can ensure timely delivery of the services of the citizens without delay. If SLA is violated strict actions can be enforced on the responsible authorities. So demand for guarantee services and SLA enforcement in them should also be an important agenda in our programme.

We already have RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT which is called common man's weapon. Ambit of RTI has to be increased and has to be given more authority so that common man is assured of his information that can help him in fight towards inconsistency and injustice caused to him.

The concept of Ombudsman in the form of Central Vigilance Commission, Lokayukta in the states should be made more powerful in unraveling the occurring corrupt practices. Let’s try to look into clauses of these institutions and try to put forth opt demand for their enhancements and modifications that will make them even more powerful against corruption. Example Lokayukta of Karnataka under Justice SANTOSH HEGDE did a splendid and exemplary job to unravel biggest illegal mining of our country.


There can be still more areas where we can fight against the ideology of corruption which is tangible to us in different forms. So please do contribute your opinions and help contribute to this fight. If proper direction and attitude is given to this mass struggle We can really see a change in our future INDIA..We may envisage INDIA as the most transparent country in the world in the near future where development and welfare schemes,plans,programs are fully implemented without any corruption and malpractices.


However the janlok pal bill needs to be considered along with the government’s bill and the NCPRI,s version backed by the RTI activist ArunaRoy.

Highlights of NCPRI bill

1. Setting up of Lokpal/lokayukta at centre and each state to recieve investigate and prosecute all elected reps and class A officers in corruption cases.

2. A judicial accountability and standards bill to tackle corruption in judiciary at all levels while maintaining the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.

3. Public grievances lokpal to ensure effective functioning of all public authorities and act as ombudsman for dealing with citizen complaints violative of the citizen charter among others. This authority will be set up at each block/ward level as feasible in urban areas or at the taluk/village level as practicable in rural areas.

4. Strenghtning cvc (at centre and state levels)and bringing it under lokpal for effective conduct of departmental enquiries.

5. Whistleblowers identity will be protected by all the above mentioned institutions.

How does it allay the fears of Janlokpal bill while addressing the weaknesses of Lokpal bill?

Owing to decentralization the problem of violation of federal structures does not occur and neither the fear of a behemoth.

The judiciary is conveniently brought under its ambit without the usual “usurpation of power by executive” argument while maintaining its independence and ensuring accountability hence effective, transperent and timely delivery of justice.

Strengthening of already existing institutions (cvc) while clearly and effectively defining its jurisdiction and powers. Thus more of a reform than radical changes.

Comprehensively protects both the complainant and the accused thus ensuring free and fair trial.

Since the onus is on decentralization a more people friendly, user friendly and cost effective mechanism is possible thus giving further effectiveness to RTI and tackling the menace of corruption at the grass root levels which matters most for all.

Tackling corruption cannot be a one off exercise. It is a conscious and a continuous process requiring all facets of socio-political life-citizens,legislature,yardsticks of morality in a society,conscience.Lokkpal bill is just a legislative part of the whole lifestyle while the other less palpable but more important elements too need to be effectively developed..

Not just our politicians but even we citizens are to be blamed for the present state of affairs and hence have a social and moral obligation to right ourselves. Also important is the need to imbibe values into our future generation and not just prepare robots to compete in the rat race sans values. As Gandhiji said “the means is as important as the end”. Winning is not everything but the path to victory is.

Thank you
Prashanth and Sudhanva