Corruption: Its Meaning, Type, causes and solution

Corruption meaning:

Corruption meaning:Corruption is when someone in a powerful position uses their authority to benefit themselves unfairly. It's a big problem because it hurts the country's economy and stops individuals and the whole nation from progressing. It's like a poisonous thing that spreads, causing unfairness in society and communities.

Presence of Corruption from Ancient Age

Corruption has been present in human society since ancient times. It is an age-old social issue that has taken various forms throughout history. The 'Atharva Veda,' an ancient text, even warned people to avoid corruption. Kautilya's 'Arthasastra' described forty ways corrupt individuals misappropriated government funds.

During the reign of Alauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, he had to increase the pay of his land revenue staff significantly to prevent them from engaging in corrupt practices. Even Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in his book 'The Discovery of India,' wrote about the widespread presence of corruption in society.

corruption during British rule in India.

In ancient times, public administration was minimal, so corruption was also limited. However, after Independence, as the idea of a welfare state emerged, the opportunities for corruption expanded. During Independence, the renowned statesman C Rajagopalachari referred to the Public Works Department (PWD) as the primary enemy of the country due to the prevailing corruption.

Nowadays, corruption has infiltrated every aspect of society, to the extent that it became a central theme in speeches by the President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of Lok Sabha during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of our Independence. Every Chief Election Commissioner, starting from T.N. Sheshan, has emphasized the urgent need for electoral reforms to combat corruption at the grassroots level. Some measures have already been implemented to make elections fairer.

Causes of Corruption:

The causes of corruption are numerous and intricate. Some of them include:

1. Emergence of political elites who prioritize their own interests over those of the nation, leading to increased corruption in politics.
2. Acceptance of corruption by people and the lack of a strong public platform to oppose it, allowing corruption to prevail unchecked.
3. The vast size of the population, coupled with illiteracy and poor economic infrastructure, fosters endemic corruption in public life.
4. In highly inflationary economies, government officials' low salaries push them towards corruption.
5. Complex laws and procedures alienate common people, making it difficult for them to seek help from the government.
6. Big industrialists funding politicians to cover the high cost of elections. Bribery to politicians secures influence, while bribery by politicians buys votes.
7. The primary reason for the proliferation of corruption is the shift in people's thinking. Disregard for moral and ethical values, coupled with a willingness to attain things by any means, whether right or wrong, has encouraged many generations to embrace corruption.

Forms of Corruption:

Corruption goes beyond accepting or giving bribes; it manifests in various forms. Here are some categories of corruption:

Conventional Corruption: Occurs when government officials, regardless of their ranks, illegitimately receive personal advantages that disregard public interests.

Unconventional Corruption: Involves government officials acting without considering public interests, but without clear monetary or transactional evidence. It includes misappropriation, theft, and breach of trust.

Grand and Petty Corruption: Sub-categories of conventional corruption. Petty corruption involves lower-level officials taking bribes to expedite public works. Grand corruption involves higher-ranking officials and politicians exploiting opportunities presented by government projects.

Political Corruption: Considered a type of grand corruption due to its seriousness and involvement of high-ranking officials. It involves politicians favoring specific companies and industries, often influenced by those shaping legislations or government policies.

Public and Private Corruption: Public corruption involves government officials misappropriating public funds, while private corruption occurs in the private sector and harms citizens' interests.

Systemic Corruption: Exists when corruption becomes deeply ingrained in a society, routine in dealings between the government and private businesses.

Individual Corruption: Occurs infrequently, involving isolated acts of corruption by a few individuals.
In summary, corruption takes on multiple forms, affecting various sectors and levels within society.

Corruption Perceptions Index

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is an annual ranking of countries based on their perceived levels of public sector corruption. It is determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys. Corruption is defined as the "abuse of entrusted power for private gain."

Published by Transparency International since 1995, the 2022 CPI ranks 180 countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The ranking reflects the situation between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2022. Countries like Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden are perceived as the least corrupt, consistently demonstrating high financial transparency on the international stage. On the other hand, Somalia (scoring 12), Syria, and South Sudan (both scoring 13) are perceived as the most corrupt nations.

Eradication of CorruptionThe eradication of corruption is possible, but it relies on people embracing ethical and moral values in their lives. To achieve this, we need stringent and foolproof laws that leave no room for politicians and bureaucrats' discretion. Minimizing the role of politicians and entrusting the implementation of policies to independent commissions or authorities in each public interest area can help. Any decisions made by these bodies should be challengeable only in the courts.

Illegal gratification, commonly known as speed money, is a common cause of corruption among public servants. To tackle this, the Madhya Pradesh Government passed the 'Public Services Guarantee Act' in 2010, which sets reasonable time limits for delivering various government services to the public. In 2011, the Bihar Government followed suit with the 'Right to Services Act.' Other state governments should also enact similar acts to prevent government servants from demanding speed money.

Measures Taken to Control Corruption:

The Jan Lokpal Bill was successfully passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in December 2013. The bill aims to effectively combat corruption, address citizen grievances, and protect whistle-blowers. However, the cooperation of the people is essential for its successful implementation. To eradicate corruption, citizens should have the right to recall elected representatives if they become indifferent to the electorate. Electoral reforms play a crucial role in fighting political corruption.

To achieve this, various reforms can be introduced, such as state funding of election expenses, regular auditing of political party accounts, and requiring candidates to file income tax returns. Measures like denying individuals with criminal records the opportunity to contest elections can also be implemented.

Efforts are being made to reduce corruption, such as The Black Money and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, which targets foreign black money, and the Income Declaration Scheme, 2016, to uncover domestic black money. The Benami Transaction Bill is another step towards curbing corruption.

The Central Government has established several departments as anti-corruption measures, including the Administrative Vigilance Division (AVD), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Domestic Vigilance Units in Ministries/Departments/Public Undertakings Nationalised Banks, and the Central Vigilance Commission.

In 2019, the government appointed India's first Lokpal, Pinaki Chandra Ghose, to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries. This move is expected to rejuvenate anti-corruption efforts in the country. To achieve effective results, it is crucial to open more courts for swift and affordable justice, ensuring that cases do not linger in courts for extended periods. Justice should be delivered promptly to strengthen the fight against corruption.

conclusion:

The government's emphasis on accountability and the implementation of initiatives like Digital India offer hope for India's future. Embracing digitalization can significantly reduce corruption by eliminating middlemen and allowing direct government supervision. Although corruption remains a major challenge, with systematic and focused efforts, it can be eradicated. By leveraging technology and implementing the right measures, India can strive towards a more transparent and corruption-free system.