On Corruption in India

[Spitfire]

How about coming up with solutions? We all know - why, where, how...

Now we need to see what needs to be done.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Even if voting is restricted to PhDs even then you will have corruption. Corruption is in the genes, not in literacy or illiteracy.

So its a case of no hope for India?

Originally Posted by phamilyman

I think a long sustained recession with mass famine and breakdown of institutions will help people realize the uselessness of freeloading.

You believe other than doom and total chaos nothing will make a difference?

I know its a bit far fetched but for quite sometime now I've also felt that an Indian Political Service program like IAS and IPS could be instituted to ensure that only people who clear that are eligible to stand for public office. That way we can ensure that people who get elected are of some calibre. But you always have the chance someone will bribe through that exam too

[tsk1979]

I don't know whether there is hope or not, but whatever the mess is, it not due to education or literacy

[DKG]

Mind you in corruption it is as much a crime to pay as to receive!

One thing that can be done is to increase the transparency in transactions. This makes it difficult for corrupt officials to use the gray areas to their advantage.

My suggestions are:

1. Increase literacy

2. Increase transparency in transactions

3. Increase accountability

4. Introduce stronger penal action against erring officers. Today too many laws protect the useless lazy employee

[jat]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

How about coming up with solutions? We all know - why, where, how...

Now we need to see what needs to be done.

There seems to be no hope.

I feel, legalising the entire corrupt system will be the best solution

e.g. Govt offices should put the boards outside for fixed rates, seasonal discounts.

Even peons of govt offices should be allowed to put red light over their bicylcles by default

etc etc.

The problem doesn't lies with literacy but education. The education of people in govt machinery. Just go around and ask the customs guys, how many of them joined the custom service to serve the nation, and how many just to make money.

Our govt system is all powers and no accountability. Until, the accountability is attached to them, there is no hope for the India. It will keep on degrading.

For example, if a politician is unable to perform, he or his direct relatives can't contest elections anymore for say next 10 yrs. If an administrative officer or police officer fails to deliver as per requirement/bench mark, he or she to be sent for addtional training and further promotions to stopped.

Then only, they will start performing. This may not stop corruption, but will definitely will increase the performance. In today's situation, the terrorist don't have to do anything, but just hire a politician, govt servant to facilitate them.

[bblost]

Put up a large notice board with pictures showing how to do each specific transaction.

On that board also mention how much time each activity should take.
A number to call up and inform if it takes more than that time.

Enforce the same.

A large part of corruption will be removed.

[tsk1979]

On a sidenote, corruption exists in developed countries also. However it is at a very high level. Low level corruption is mostly absent.
At high levels, the corruption(shady deals, contracts to friendly companies, election donation to get laws passed like DMCA etc.,) is actually higher than what you get here.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by bblost

Put up a large notice board with pictures showing how to do each specific transaction.

Actually the Hyderabad RTA did just that and have improved the system considerably. Previously it was like a free for all system dominated by brokers. This has been virtually eliminated and a lot of transparency created.

The highlights are

1. Transparency

2. Accountability

3. Grievance redressal

I think to a smaller but visible extent the passport office too has improved their operations.

[appuchan]

Rate of corruption is directly proportional to the demand-supply gap for public services. Effectively, this is nothing but politicians running a business out of public services. There is a complete lack of accountability for politicians and government servants and ofcourse absolute power corrupts. An increasing population and increasing affluence only pushed this up further. Nothing to do with education, attitude etc

A good example;

A road is to be built. It requires 60 cms thick macadam as per standards.
A contract is awarded based on 15:25:20 ratio. It translates to the actual road getting built with 15 cms thick macadam, 25 cms goes to the politicians (bureaucrats also get to share a good piece since they keep a lot of secrets for politicians) who awarded the contract, 20 cms goes to the contract winner. A win:win:lose deal for politician:contractorublic!

[appuchan]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

On a sidenote, corruption exists in developed countries also. However it is at a very high level. Low level corruption is mostly absent.
At high levels, the corruption(shady deals, contracts to friendly companies, election donation to get laws passed like DMCA etc.,) is actually higher than what you get here.

We are surely getting there with increasing influence of corporate bosses in top government offices including PMO. These industries are already big enough to influence a whole bunch of parliamentarians to get laws passed in their favor. We have seen quite a fee activities in that direction recently, especially with aviation and telecom ministries.

[DKG]

High level or low level corruption I personally believe that if you don't have the competence to earn wealth you won't have the competence to retain it either!

[appuchan]

Originally Posted by DKG

....

The highlights are

1. Transparency

2. Accountability

3. Grievance redressal

...

These are definitely the most viable options to keep corruption in check.

We will also need some sort of SLA (service level agreement) for all government services with a clearly defined response time. This will prevent govt officials sitting on files trying to extract money from the parties. I think this is also one of the factors which seems to have helped the passport office functioning in a better way.

[DKG]

There's another interesting development in some bids to clear corruption. The RTA now auctions/sells special numbers at high prices directly. Earlier it was the issuing officer who pocketed the cash. Now the RTA says pay Rs 5000 and choose a number. For the real special numbers they charge a higher fee. Its like legalising the process, actually its making it more transparent!

Same way the Railways introduced Tatkal. Earlier it was the TT pocketing the money. Now its the Indian Railways. No harm done. I believe the Tatkal scheme earned the railways 360+ crores!!!

[NetfreakBombay]

I think IT plays a role here. e.g. if status of projects or availability of resources is freely available on net, it improves transparency.

Ticket booking on Indian Railways is one such example. Online booking has reduced middlemen.

Another example is e-filing of IT returns.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

I think IT plays a role here.

That's a very valid observation. IT will increasingly play a role in helping essential services create more transparency. The e-seva system introduced in Hyderabad is a boon for one stop payment of bills for essential services. It also helps cutting down on commuting to different offices ie helping lower pollution