Games not only dented our image but brought one
core issue to centre stage: CORRUPTION.
This is first time in
India that a Minister and top
level bureaucrats including an MP and some businessmen were put behind
bars for their role and the highest judiciary
kept its vigilant eyes on the investigation.
So we are in the midst of turbulent times.
Whenever any big scandal is surfaced,
common man feels helpless and insecure.
Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev at their individual capacities desperately
tried to bring a movement in people on the issue of corruption and black
money earlier, but they got only limited success due to one reason or
other. But the 2G scandal and Common Wealth Games Scam changed the
landscape and a huge sudden outpouring of public anger helped Anna Hazare
to galvanize support from middle class with a slogan to bring
legislation on LOKPAL which was otherwise gathering dust for
the last 42 years.
The issue helped to
unite all social activists like Kiran Bedi, Baba Ram Dev, Shanti Bhushan,
Prashant Bhushan, Santhosh Hegde and Arvind Kejriwal etc. to fight
corruption unitedly. So the movement spread like a wildfire and Anna
Hazare's protest programme at Jantar Mantar became a huge success as
Government climbed down to announce immediate tabling of Lokpal Bill in
the winter session of Parliament
Now the Lokpal Bill was introduced in Parliament and was referred back to
Standing Committee. The bill will have wide deliberations for
possible insertions and deletions in the existing draft and the
process will take some more time as it involves consultations among all
political parties . The so called Civil Society representatives at
this stage should not struck to their demand to introduce only
their version of Lokpal Bill i.e. Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament. They
could give suggestions to the Standing Committee which will be considered on
merit. There should not be any apprehension at this stage, because it
will get Parliament nod only after a thorough discussion in both Houses of Parliament
and there is ample scope for improvements in draft stage. The much
contentious issue of inclusion of Prime Minister could also be amicably
resolved. But the Team Anna is trying to seize the Govt. and
insisting to introduce only their version of Lokpal Bill which is not
correct.
Let us see, why anybody becomes corrupt ? What drives any person to
indulge in corruption ? I think it is greed in dangerous
proportions and absence of moral values which corrode the
person. The craving for material possessions blinds a person
to indulge into this mess. So the first reform
should start at home. At government level, the Administration should be
transparent, especially at higher level and decision making should not be left
to any single individual.
When there is no corruption in higher echelons of power, lower
level bureaucrats can't venture into it.
The core issues that need to be addressed in the Lokpal Bill are timelines
set for basic citizen services like issue of Ration
Card, Death/ Birth Certificate, Approval from nearby Municipality for
approval for house plan, electrical connection, driving licence etc. The
Act should explicitly mention the kind of action being taken
for failure to deliver those services ?
It is appalling that these issues are not covered in the Govt. version of
Lokpal Bill. Th Lokpal Bill of Govt. version is very light and it
can not bring an effective legislation. The recent Karnataka
episode where Chief Minister Yddurappa had to submit his resignation for his
indictment in mining irregularities is a grim reminder to consider the
inclusion of Prime Minister in the Lokpal ambit. Since we are not
putting lid for improvements in the proposed legislation, it is not wise to
scream panic at this stage.
It is a peculiar Indian syndrome. we explode and seep our energies
in the mindless arguments or agitations cornering the contentious issues.
So it is the need of the hour to low down our emotions and allow the
things to happen through consultative process.
After all, we are a matured democracy and we should act responsibly.
Otherwise, we will end up as a laughing stock before the world.