Whether Corruption Can Be Eradicated

WHETHER CORRUPTION CAN BE ERADICATED?
Corruption is an act done with intent to give some advantage in consistent with official duty
and the rights of others. It includes bribery, but is more comprehensive, because an act may
be corruptly done, though the advantage to be derived from it be not offered by another.
Corruption always existed in human society in one or the other form. In primitive period, the
scope of public administration was minimum, as a result, the scope of corruption was limited.
After independence, with the scope of welfare state coming into existence the scope of being
corrupt widened. Corruption has crept into every fabric of the society in such a way that it
was the theme of speeches made by the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Lok
Sabha, during the golden jubilee celebrations of our independence. Every Chief Election
Commissioner since Mr. Sheshan held the office has advocated the dire necessity of
electoral reforms to strike at corruption at grass root level.
In this scene, an honest man is like a drop in the ocean which loses identity as soon as it
mingles virtually in the salt water of the ocean. Corruption is a common practice and has
become a way of life.
Corruption is like a cancer, which every Indian must strive to cure. Many new leaders when
come into power declare their determination to eradicate corruption but soon they
themselves become corrupt and start gaining huge wealth. Many politicians and government
officers are blotted with the mark of corruption.
With materialistic values as topmost priority, moral and ethical values at the lowest span of
ladder, every fibre of society indulged in-self aggrandizement, where not only credibility of
politicians and bureaucrats but also of the judiciary is at stake, it is ridiculous to dream of a
corruption-free society.
Causes of Corruption
The causes of corruption are many and complex.
Emergence of political elite who believe in interest-oriented rather than nation-oriented

programmes and policies are responsible for the increasing corruption in the politics. Change in
the value system and ethical qualities of men who administer. The old ideals of morality, service
and honesty are regarded as anachronistic. Tolerance of people towards corruption and the
absence of strong public forum to oppose corruption allow it to reign over people. Vast size of
population companion with illiteracy and the poor economic infrastructure lead to endemic
corruption in public life. In a highly inflationary economy, low salaries of government officials
compel them to resort to the road of corruption. Complex laws and procedures alienating
common people to ask for any help from government. Big industrialist fund, politicians to meet the
high cost of election. Bribery to politicians buys influence and bribery by politicians buys votes.
Many people become materialistic and money oriented, there is no importance of ethics and
morals in business dealings for them. This is because these kind of people have no moral
accountability to anybody and have full trust on money.
According to them money holds big role in their life and can solve their current and future
problems.
Eradication of Corruption
The basic question is 'can the corruption be eradicated?' Nothing is impossible' can be said
by an enthusiastic social leader but eradication of corruption is a next to impossible thing in
the present spectrum of affairs. It can only be possible if people can understand and start to
believe the values of ethics and morality in their life. The most important thing is person
should listen and follow the good part of his heart.
It is a high time to promulgate a strong and effective Lokpal Act by the Parliament, enabling
Lokpal to take cognisance of specific allegations of corruption even against the Prime
Minister of India. The Jan Lokpal Bill was passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya
Sabha in December, 2013 which aims to effectively deter corruption, compensate citizen
grievances and protect whistle blowers.
The bodies like CVC, CBI, Lok Ayukta etc must be headed by the persons of high integrity
and must be made autonomous truly with exceptional powers. The budgetary allocation to
these bodies should be liberal and no hindrance of any kind should be allowed in their
functioning. Election expenses must not be allowed to cross the limits. The loopholes like
extraneous expenses by other party workers that are not included in party expenses must be
plugged. The political parties have to be sincere and honest to fight the cancer of corruption.
The chief hurdle is the unwillingness and lack of determination and will of politicians etc to
eradicate corruption. All the policies, rules and regulations are approved by the leaders, they
do not wish to claim themselves are entangled and so the eradication or corruption does not
seem to be possible.
Corruption is regarded as a low risk and highly profitable way of making a quick buck and
whoever is caught, often knows how to go scot-free. The country which is known for moral
and ethical values, where truism is adored, fair means were advocated to achieve anything,
has now accounted among the most thirty nations of the world. If everyone from Panch to
Prime Minister, from Peon to Chief Secretary has been found involved and charged for many
acts of commission and omission, how can we imagine to eradicate corruption in toto?
Cooperation of the people needs to be obtained for successful eradication of corruption.

People should have a right to recall the elected representatives if they see them becoming
indifferent to the electorate. Electoral reforms are crucial to eradicate political corruption.
Several reform like state funding of election expenses for candidates making political parties
get their accounts audited regularly and filing income tax returns, denying persons with
criminal records a chance to contest elections should be brought in. More and more courts
should be opened for speedy and inexpensive justice so that cases don't linger in courts for
years and justice is delivered on time.
Corruption is an intractable problem. It can only be controlled, but not totally eliminated. It
may not be possible to root out corruption completely at all levels but it is possible to control
it within tolerable limits. Corruption has a corrosive impact on our economy. It worsens our
image in international market and leads to loss of overseas opportunities. Corruption is a
global problem that all countries of the world have to confront, solutions, however, can only
be home grown.
A peculiar face of corruption on our Country is that it goes upstream not downstream. So,
most of the fundamental policies and decisions about big purchases, contracts, projects, etc
are distorted at the top level. The delay in disposing of the cases of corruption is one of the
most important causes of flourishing of corruption. Corrupt officials even if caught can
manage to go scot-free in due course of time by manipulations or otherwise.
It is the most powerful and the most dangerous monstrous evil, which rises to manifold itself
stronger with the passage of time.
“Nothing is impossible”, can be said by an enthusiastic social leader but eradication of

corruption is a next to impossible thing given the present spectrum of affairs. When the
whole body of the politics is affected by the virus of corruption, eradicating it in toto is a
Herculean task. Corruption is a multi-faceted, hydra-headed colossus problem to be dealt
with several measures simultaneously.
To eradicate corruption from our society the fool proof laws should be made so that there is
no room for discretion of politicians and bureaucrats. The role of the politician should be
minimised. Application of the evolved policies should be left in the hands of independent
commission or authority in each area of public interest. Decision of the commission or
authority should be challengeable only in the courts.
General awakening can make the politicians and bureaucrats use their discretion carefully.
To eradicate corruption from the society, all have to fight it.

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WHETHER CORRUPTION CAN BE ERADICATED?

Emergence of political elite who believe in interest-oriented rather than nation-oriented

Cooperation of the people needs to be obtained for successful eradication of corruption.

“Nothing is impossible”, can be said by an enthusiastic social leader but eradication of

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