Corruption can be rooted out, provided proper measures are taken

By O.J.George

There were reports about the Prime Minister’s Office looking into a proposal for incorporating service agreements for employees who take up jobs, making it incumbent upon them to discharge their duties.

Failure to respond to demands like issue of certificates, documents and other services would automatically invite punitive action, as per the provisions of the service agreements being contemplated.

I was radically tempted to be transformed from the inbuilt assumption that there would be no redemption for democratic India from the evil of corruption.

Don’t despise me, for I know an editor who took blood money for sacking journalists, but that was in the name of incentive.

Such evil beings would be there always, but then they should not be basking under the glory of righting the society and doing justice and fairness to all.

Coming to corruption, all laws have rules and regulations issued for implementation of the content of the pieces framed by the legislatures.

Years on, there have been umpteen number of legislations touching the day-today life of the people.

The citizen has to get sanction from panchayats, village and other revenue offices, RTO and all, for birth, school admission,for the very living and even death.

No certificate or service will come automatically within a timeframe. The citizen has to grease the palm of the officials, which is not that difficult, considering the fact that there are agents in all the premises concerned for the underhand dealings.

The situation would definitely take a turn for the better, if proper measures are taken . The Right to Information legislation was a revolutionary step, which has empowered the citizen.

It works only because punitive measures against those who refuse to divulge information are inbuilt in the legislation itself.

Like that all laws being framed by various legislatures should have an inbuilt provision incorporating punishment to those who do not act within a timeframe.

For laws already passed, there should be an additional blanket law to be passed by Parliament and various legislatures binding authorities and other officials to the services expected from them within a timeframe. Then, all blocks, demands for bribes , pecuniary and other fringe benefits would pop off.

The service agreements should be executed not only by the new entrants, but also by those in service.

Otherwise, the more laws the legislatures pass, the more would be opportunities for the authorities and officials to bully the public and get illegal gratification.

Will the governments headed by various political persuasions take steps to incorporate punitive measures in respect of all services detailed in various laws and obtain service agreements from the officials?