Role of citizens in the fight against corruption Central Vigilance Commission has drafted a National Anti-corruption Strategy in September 2010. Chapter VIII of this strategy deals with the Role of Citizens in Anti-corruption. This page fully supports this strategy and is discharging the role of a responsible citizen in the fight against corruption by using tools such as moral appeals, exposure and embarrassment, appeals to pride, standing and responsibility besides standing up and playing a key role in exposing wrong doing and non compliances. Some extracts of the strategy: "Success in the battle against corruption hinges upon citizen participation in ushering in transparency and accountability. Citizens have a tremendous potential to participate directly and contribute at bringing about change using tools such as moral appeals, exposure and embarrassment, appeals to pride, standing and responsibility besides standing up and playing a key role in exposing wrong doing and non compliances. An anti-corruption strategy can be successful only it makes it an obligation for any member of society who sees corrupt practice being perpetrated to immediately report such a practice. Failure to do so should be tantamount to an offence itself. By virtue of this, there would be an obligation on citizens to actively take part in preventative measures against corruption. Raising awareness on corruption is a duty of every citizen of this country. Prevention is the best weapon against corruption. While agencies like CVC and ACB etc. are leading the fight against corruption by virtue of their mandates, their success would greatly depend on the complementary mass participation of society as a whole. As large segments of citizens depend on basic services where the government has a strong monopoly, watchful and assertive citizens can exert the right pressure on the government to render these services with high levels of integrity and report instances of corruption. ......... Citizens’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities need to be strengthened substantially." On administrative corruption it says: "Administrative corruption occurs at the implementation stages of government plans, schemes and even delivery of services. The two main causes of administrative corruption are: (a) inability of the civil servants to resist extraneous influences; and (b) active collusion. Absence of accountability, integrity and transparency, in the face of monopoly power coupled with discretion to exercise such power are the contributing factors for increase of administrative corruption. High expectation of corruption and low probability of getting caught creates a culture of immunity. Corruption could still prevail in spite of there being systems, procedures, laws and codes of conduct if informal cliques guide government activity. There is a widespread perception today that bureaucracy is characterized by inaccessibility, non responsiveness, and mired in complex cumbersome systems, procedures and rules. Acceptance of bribe by the top management makes the subordinates follow the leader. Similarly, the use of influence to secure appointments to civil service or posts in government, desired posts or to transfer to a desired place or to get promoted emboldens one to indulge in corruption which becomes progressively routine. Growing extraneous interference in administration and the nexus developing between the corrupt elements among the government servants and the politicians also compounds the problem."
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:25:47 +0000