Checking Wrong Corruption

Well let us examine this point, is vigilance active today, more than ever, as it was in its past, the day it was formed? Well, the answer could be yes and those who say NO, will probably be talking about the era before the emergency in India, the result of which the "post Emergency", had profound impact on administration which led to nothing but supine inclination towards supremacy, whatever its form may be. Political and bureaucratic sycophancy increased to such an extent that every policy was nothing more than an economic elixir for those who were the Guardians.

Need of Vigilance
In India Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) was formed in 1964, and the norms of its operations were laid, that it was supposed to work through CBI or through other means, but it was not an investigating agency in itself. Well rules are the same even today and don't expect a Godly power for CBI, when it comes to execution of a case, policy makers and policy executors play their dice. Despite of these drawbacks we should take pride that till now it has arrested many bureaucrats, framed charges against puissant political figures (some positive aspects could be drawn from this), and so many official staffs. The best part about this is that the complaint you put against some government representatives are heard often. But despite its regular performance, which could be justified through news particularly of those which are printed in local press, it has always been considered imbecile. Why? I think its a sixty five thousand dollar question when one digs the causes deep within and the events turn out to be apocryphal.

Hunting down the Wrong Parasites 

Vigilance, the day after it became active, developed a sense of hatred among those who were analysing its impact profoundly and even among those whose analysis were based on anecdotes. The reason, definitely is genuine. Of all the arrests which vigilance made till date, turned the table against them, instead of co-operation from public they beared the blame of turncoats. The reason, obviously, their failure in making the system "Holy". Now, if they are making arrests, whether of low or of those who are considered high (definitely autocratic), even then if they receive such a hospitality, then either the situations and conditions are vague or the results are. But in most of the cases the situations have been proved correct with full backup, then it definitely points to results. Let us look and examine some results.

Most of the public of this great India,young or old, which once had witnessed youths like Khudiram Bose and Bhagat Singh, unfortunately is under the shackles of those who just want their resources for themselves. Most of the population is directly or indirectly involved  in a business which runs on the government's mercy. So if Vigilance arrests public servants like Marketing Officers (who charge Rs. 6 per sack of cereal) or a Block Development Officer (who asks for a percentage in even the Widow pension scheme), then it certainly involves those who are a part of mob, may be just a bit powerful, because a chapati is not cooked with a lone hand, definitely you need the other. Now if you look at those who are arrested for such penalty, they have to pay the Godfathers who are certainly among those or controlling those who are making arrests. And after these arrests, those who belong to the class of being arrested, try to change their living conditions but fail to do so, reason- the unconditional demands from the Godfathers remain unchanged, trying to cope up with what it has lost from these recent arrests.  This sparks their wrath, among those who are arrested and among those who were earning through them, and since they constitute the majority, vigilance is praised only in the media uptill the next very day.

The demand is simple, instead of ruling among the hearts of local newspapers, vigilance should take leap among the nationals also the way today SC has taken in many issues. But alas! those days have become road-not-to-be-taken for Vigilance, may be because it's not autonomous or may be because it doesn't want to. The hatred among the common mob and its authenticity can not be justified but what could be and should be drawn is that CVC can not proceed this way. One example is of an IAS officer who when caught red handed while taking a bribe of Rs. 1 crore in Bangalore, threatened the vigilance officers of filing a case  against them under Harizan act, the blame being an obvious one, that he was being trapped and continuously harassed by them. They had no other option then to turn back because what Harizan act needs is just five witnesses and the ticket is booked for an unknown penalty. What could be drawn from here is, lawmakers have made it so weak that law can not protect itself from being misused.

Example could also be drawn from Indonesia which has emerged as a boisterous democracy where those who are the most powerful and most corrupt, are praying for favour and blessings not from God but from Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi or KPK, which is an anti corruption agency powered with all the desired tools, it has not only investigative powers but it is also empowered to punish culprits with punishments which are congenial to the country so that it can be safe from their milching. Due to KPK's strong hold, police and many others tried to frame charges against its members, but wide public protest in favour of KPK and the rigid behaviour of KPK members, the court came forward and absolved them from all those charges. The juggernaut of KPK in Indonesia after the downfall of terrific military dictator Suharto has changed the course of country to a very large extent, and it has started taking India on HDI parameters one by one.

But the best part is that KPK is the lone player, I suppose, because still Indonesia is 20 ranks behind India in Corruption Perceptions Index. If Indonesia can show its determinacy in reviving itself, then why not India which is enjoying democracy for 60 years.

Hope in the Future

Well with the job index falling in India one could definitely expect a reform. In 2001 the job index or the job proportion (government is to total workforce) was standing around 5.0 in India as compared to near 1.0 in most of the developed countries and in China it was around 1.3. Well it has certainly fallen from 5.0 but not that good even today. What it reflects is that if more no. of people are engaged in private sector when jobs are in required proportions, then definitely the demand for reform will be firmer. The demand for Janlokpal, the recent proposal of CIC for the inclusion of political parties under RTI, the ongoing debates on whether to make CBI a constitutional body or not, digitisation  of public policy and their successful executions like that of PDS in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and digitisation of Rashtrapati Bhawan, these all are pointing towards a positive future, let us hope not for another crisis in this sector, because its running short.