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New Delhi, 12 February, 2016                                                                                                                                                                 

Global Sleaze Index

INDIA IN SLOW MOTION

By Dr.S.Saraswathi

(Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)

Transparency International’s latest Global Corruption Index for 2015 shows a slight improvement in India’s rank, from 85 among 168 countries in 2014 to 76 amid 174 last year. True, the rank has improved yet there is no change in the country’s score of 38 on a 100 points scale.

Indeed, some people are inclined to look backwards and derive satisfaction that countries with a worse record have increased from   89 in 2014 to 92. But they overlook that six more countries were included in the index this year.

Undeniably, India’s steady score card of 38 points and loss of 62 points is shameful. Think. If these were marks obtained in a school or college examination it would have resulted in a sure shot detention in the same class! 

In fact, India’s rank was worse at 87 among 178 countries with a score of 3.3 on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 10 (cleanest) in 2010, wherein corruption had become routine.  Interestingly, in the global context while Asia-Pacific countries have shown poor performance, there is over-all stagnation in Europe and Central Asia.

Alas, India does not appear to be worried about its dismal performance year after year, despite having anti-corruption laws and a vigilant media. Even the “India Against Corruption” campaign has lost its vigour and fallen on the wayside as a spent-up force.   Worse, the national media which had exposed some big scandals does not seem to be perturbed at our inability to better our abysmal corrupt record. 

Shockingly, the rot has expanded horizontally and percolated so deep in to society that the common man is unable to decipher any abnormality in corrupt practices.  Be it the public or private sector, markets and voluntary organizations. 

Moreover, it has entered worship places, sports fields and the entertainment arena.   Learned saint Kautilya, author of “Arthashastra”, was right when he said that “humans are fickle-minded” and listed a detailed administrative arrangement including an espionage network to control sleaze.

Sadly, corruption has become a way of life in which most people find themselves either as participants as givers or receivers of undue benefits or else as facilitators of a corrupt transaction.  Code named as “speed money”, “brokerage”, “service charges” etc.  

Consequently, in this environment, anyone who refuses to participate in the sleaze circus is looked upon as a pervert, a non-cooperative unsocial character, and a stumbling block in the success ladder of life. 

Clearly, the challenge today is to fight this environment relentlessly to at least reduce if not eliminate corruption altogether given that     dishonesty is as difficult to fight as superstition both of which have become a part of routine life. 

Pertinently, India’s anti-corruption movement dates to 1860 wherein the Indian Penal Code defined corruption as “acceptance by public servants of any gratification other than legal remuneration in exchange for an official act”. 

But the fight against sleaze began only in 1941 when the Delhi Special Police Establishment was created to investigate corruption cases involving War and Supply Departments, the source of this evil. The Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 led to the formation of the Administrative Vigilance Commission in 1955.      

Also, the Government appointed the Santana committee to find ways to prevent corruption in public life in 1962 which had begun to erode public life. Describing dishonesty as an “improper or selfish exercise of power and influence attached to a public office or to the special position one occupies in public life”. 

The Prevention of Corruption Act adopted in 1988 linked pay-offs with taking illegal gratification for rendering any service or disservice to a person and prescribed punishment for improper use of public office.

The Act was amended in 2013 and the maximum punishment for graft was enhanced from 5 to 7 years. Furthermore, besides straight bribery with money, corruption includes various forms of “quid pro quo” and nepotism.      

At the same time, there is no gainsaying excessive rules also encourage violations. Shortage of goods, time consuming procedural details, secrecy in decision making and loopholes in laws and rules are some of the major factors leading to corrupt practices. 

Remember, discretionary powers are meant to be used to expedite action and allow room for public interest and humanitarian considerations in taking decisions according to rules.

The secret of Denmark’s top rank in the Global Index is thanks to be its “Danish Model” of welfare system.  Reasonable living conditions are assured to everybody covering fair working conditions, social security, healthcare, decent salaries and pension schemes et al. 

Individuals do not need to worry about old age savings or insurance for dependants. Its weapon to prevent corruption is not law, but corporate social responsibility. Resulting   in many companies competing in the race for “zero tolerance” corruption aided by a “whistleblower system” to help expose unfair practices.

Tragically, the Denmark Model is beyond India’s imagination as it is already neck-deep in corruption. However, the country can follow America’s version to uncover corruption networks and form a mass movements against dishonesty with the help of a vigilant media and active NGOs.

In Japan, anti-corruption legislations largely focused on civil servants and politicians extends to businesses also. Singapore has strong anti-sleaze laws which provide for confiscation of benefits. In addition, its judiciary has also adopted a policy of stern punishment. Thus, promoting efficiency in administration seems to be the country’s approach as it ranks 8th in the Global Index.       

Expansion of the arms of Government, proliferation of laws and rules and continuous elections combine to provide more and more areas for corruption which can be classified as political, administrative/bureaucratic, professional, unskilled and menial.  These are often inter-linked with everyone helping another as members of a fraternity.  

Undoubtedly, where the top is corrupt the disease spreads fast as ethical standards are deteriorating sharply. The corrupt are hardly caught and rarely punished. Scandalously, public apathy to the growing rate of corruption in politics and administration is amazing. 

Notably, the tendency to overlook corruption and treat it as a part of a game, coupled with the near total ignorance of the masses to the height and depth of its expansion have together aggravated the situation.

In sum, whatever be the source of bribery and corruption --- political power, administrative authority or law enforcing responsibility --- this evil has a multiplier effect on every system and process. Whereby, its impact is felt everywhere: In academic bodies, religious organizations, scientific institutions or just entertainment clubs. 

At present, rival Parties act as a check against one another but not with the aim of ending corruption. “Make hay while the sun shines”, seems to be the common prescription.  As a result an extensive system of patronage has become the functional principle in most organizations following total tolerance to corruption at every level.  Conflict of interests is allowed to stay.

Under these conditions the common man is forced to accept and participate in the system for his survival. The time has come for him to wake up and challenge India’s slow motion in fighting corruption. ---- INFA          

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)