CAN CORRUPTION BE ROOTED OUT
It is anybody's experience that the electricity problem at home is little likely to get solved if one doesn't "spend" money on the electricity board employees.They simply will not come. We do want to get things done fast,don't we? We justify ourselves and prefer a suave "understanding" to a militant oppostion. We begin to feel that by staying a non conformist, we lose a lot. Resisting the temptation for giving bribes is at the cost of something else.But what if we don't mind the "cost"?The "cost" is bigger than the "deal" ,argue the big business magnets like Ambanis, in whose dictionary, bribery is not corruption but a mere "management of situations". Well, for a few others,who can see the long term erosion of a healthy social fabric due to corruption, some dilly dallying doesn't mean much.
I reckon,things are really not as bad as we imagine it to be. How many of us ever think of rooting out corruption by being a non conformist on a collective basis. We grumble, complain and attack what is actually within our means to achieve;if only we allowed ourselves some discomfort in the bargain. As part of the public, we could either individually or as a group/club resist corruption, making it a foolproof method, with time.What if those who have acute personal grievances at the corporation office or electricity board, join together as a team?
When the Electricity card has to be transferred to your name after the death or expiry of the owner and you being the successor, you naturally try to proceed with it, by following every rule.You apply at the Electricity board, with a requisition that it should be transferred to your name. At the time of receiving the card, the employee demands Rs. 100. Rest assured, even if you do not give him the money, he still has to change your name based on the requisiton letter, for it is his duty. But he asks for a bribe anyway and pretends he has something which will not give unless you pay the money.He would send you back and forth a dozen times. Do it cheerfully and of course, you will have to do some running around if you want to stick to your principles. If and only if you believe firmly on the principle that you will not pay money to the undeserving, you will discover that you can stay clear of greasing palms. After a few days of dithering you can get it, and without paying. So why pay?The employees only make use of the waiting period.They cannot stop from giving you what is rightfully yours for too long. He/she cannot tell you officially that you are to pay bribes and hold you at a ransom. As a citizen, you can recommend that his departmen may take action on the said unscrupulous employee.
Radhika(name changed) wanted to transfer her house documents to her name after her flat was bequeathed to her by her mom. The lady at the counter wanted 200 bucks for giving the receipt, for which Radhika was not willing. Radhika had already spent more than Rs.500 on the Attorney's attestation and the innumerable xerox of various house documents.So she went away without the receipt. After a month when she came back for it, she found that the name wasn't changed, the employee had got transferred as there was another woman in her place.The new employee insisted that a fresh requisition be made. Radhika flew into a temper; protested, refused,raved and ranted. But the employee repeated that she was helpless as she wanted the receipt to trace the files and could Radhika alteast give the receipt number, for further proceedings. Realizing the futility of arguments, Radhika, took another draft, met the notary public for attestation and finally submitted it ,not without the warning that she would not tolerate any more shoddiness. She would fight against corruption tooth and nail.When she returned for it, she was pleasantly surprised to learn that, the orders to change the name had already been issued within a fortnight, and now an enquiry was to be instituted demanding reasons for the delay. The employee was so panicky that she profusely apologized to Radhika,asking her to wait for a few days, till matters got straightned out; maybe two weeks? Radhika finally got the necessary document and without paying the bribe.
ThereforeI have strong faith in what Thiruvaklluvar says about Dharma
Dharumatthin vaiayi soothu kavvum
Aanaal iruthiyik dharumame vellum
(Justice may have a temporary respite when falshood tries to hold it by the mouth, but ultimately Justice alone wins.)
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