The whole idea behind writing about the recent debate ripping through our nation –The Lokpal Bill, was to make a point. As the present and future of this nation, we young Indians need to jump in and make our presence felt. It is time to take stock of the situation and join in together to fight against the crimes tearing our country apart. ‘People against Corruption’ is one such campaign and we should be aware and make the government aware of its responsibilities towards the citizens of India.
Circa 1969, the first time the Lokpal bill was presented at the Loksabha (House of the People) but did not manage to get through to Rajya Sabha (Council of States) was the fisrt step taken against corruption. Lokpal bills were introduced at regular intervals time and again all through the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and last in 2008, yet they were never passed and its pending status describes the dire state of affairs of a huge democracy like India.
Corrupt as a word has its origin from Latin "corruptus": spoiled or ‘corrumpere" to ruin, literally break to pieces. Corrupt according to some dictionary definitions is best described as a verb or adjective that means lacking in integrity, open to or involving bribery or other dishonest practices, morally degenerate and perverted, putrid or rotten, contaminated, to become or cause to become dishonest. India at its best is a good example when it comes to the above said words. The Indian state being the worlds largets democracy is also a breeding ground for corrupt officials, practices and law breaking activities which time and again have proved the need and validity of the Lokpal Bill.
Watching the news for the last few days has made me think, what is it that the government can do so that we as citizens feel that we have not only the nominal right to vote for a representative (who normally is corrupt with civil/ criminal cases pending under his name) but also make sure that we aren’t fleeced at every given point.
The Jan Lokpal Bill is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year. Nevertheless the present government and its supporters or oppositions are gearing up for eyewash in terms of the Lokpal bill. According to a recent debate, civil society though has the right to know what the government is planning to do with the Lokpal Bill doesn’t have the right to intervene and ask for a joint panel in terms of drafting of the bill. Lokpal is the highest institution in India to investigate corruption at higher places in Government, including that of the Prime Minister (though this is still under debate).
Guided by the philosophy of Gandhi, Dr Kisan Baburao Hazare aka Anna Hazare, has struck again for the cause of the ‘aam aadmi’ and taken up the cause of common man and his fight against corruption. His movement ‘People against Corruption’ is gathering momentum and his decision to go on a fast till the government relents proves that the GOI needs to understand that unlike the last 42 years, this time around the people of India (both on and offshore) are serious about this bill being passed and come in to effect soon.
It’s a shame that our so called “political leader” are requesting Dr. Hazare to give up the fast on one hand and on the other not even considering the demand of a joint committee involving eminent members of the civil society while the drafting of the bill. The major reasons the Lokpal Bill drafted by the government is facing stiff opposition is due to the callousness of the bill in terms of the situations it has to handle in future.
The governments’ bill suggests that the Lokpal will not have any power to either initiate action in any case or even receive complaints of corruption from general public. The general public will make complaints via speaker of Lok Sabha or Chairperson of Rajya Sabha and only those complaints forwarded by Speaker or Chairperson of either houses would be then investigated by Lokpal. After this long drawn procedure the GOI has suggested the Lokpal or Ombudsman to be a advisory body which would suggest options to the government and would then pass on its report to the competent authority, which in case can range from the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. What kind of transparency is the government planning to maintain then? None!
The number of loopholes the existing bill has is enough for the ‘aam aadmi’ to raise a hue and cry about a situation as serious as corruption. Year 2010 has been the worst in Indian history in terms of corruption exposure and scams coming to light. Be it the Adarsh society scam or 2G or the Commonwealth Games, we Indians have been put to shame every time due to the senseless actions of our leaders and the lack of transparency and effective control over corruption.
Examples from various countries suggest that the institution of ombudsman has very successfully fought against corruption and unscrupulous administrative decisions by public servants. Sweden was the first nation which established an Ombudsman Office in 1809. Since then 121 other nations around the world have adopted this form of representation and the protection of human rights being one of the major purposes of such a representation. It’s our right to live in a corrupt free state and the government should finally wake up and do something about it rather than raise objections to civil society being part of the drafting committee.
Its been 62 years after Independence and what are we as citizens of the country doing? It takes a man like Anna Hazare to awaken the sleeping society to fight against corruption and demand that the governing authority take cognisance of what the people of the country want and not what is being forced upon us (as is been the case for the last 62 years).
The current movement spearheaded by Anna Hazare and other eminent social activists is a form of representation of the agitation and anger simmering in the hearts and minds of young Indians. Its a movement to pressurize or persuade the government in to taking an effective action against corruption and free the Indian society of a bane like corruption. The popularity of the movement and the interest it has been able to generate and the support garnered over the alst few days speaks of the angst and anguish in the minds of several Indians across the nation and all over the world. Its now the duty of the government to provide a nation of 1.2 billion people of which over 1/3rd still live below the poverty line a decent lifestyle sans corruption.
As a young Indian, I proud to be part of the generation which has finally realized the need of the hour and grateful to Anna Hazare and others who have initiated this campaign to make a difference in the lives of billions of Indians living in urban and rural India. It’s high time the Lokpal Bill is enacted and a strong society rises above corruption.Its not only the 'World cup' we need to win the world with a new India.
