Bribery is the most common form of corruption which we encounter around us; Bhopal based journalist Shahnawaz Akhtar, recounts an experience with Voice4You which goes back to year 1995. This was the time when he was a fresh lime water, pure and soothing unaware of the heat of the rough patches. For some purpose he had to obtain a residential certificate which is issued by the perhaps the lowest level of the government institution –Block. He took unmemorable number of rounds of the office just to save Rs 5, which was being asked as a bribe from the clerk in order to issue him the certificate. In those days Rs 5 used to be enough to call for a treat with sumptuous jalebi or crispy pakaure, so he was not ready to give up. Finally he succeeded by becoming a whistle blower as he complained about the incident to the superior officer, Now he strongly voices that don’t pay bribe then there will be no taker . Below is his experience in his own words.
I refused to pay the money, but the other students some of them were college friends, had no problem in paying the bribe. They easily bribed the clerk in order to get their work done. But I told them, you people are giving birth to a system in which without bribing the official no work would get done in future. I am proud that I had full conviction for my duty as a citizen and not be party to any evil. Eventually I complained to the (Block Development Officer) BDO who heads the office. And to my muse the work done without paying any bribe. But the disappointing part was that no action taken against the clerk who must have continued his briber and many would have certain bowed to it. But I am sure had everyone would have understood the other side that giving bribe is also crime then perhaps the scene would not have been this.
16-year down the line, today, my fear has become a reality and now not only the bribe rate has gone several degrees high but people are confronting the bribe monster for getting even a petty work from a government department.
Here, I strongly profess that its I who believe that it is the "we" the common men who can change the corrupt system of our own, I also believe that the four pillars of democracy- judiciary, legislative, executive and media has got more role to play.
Because we live in a country where even after over 60 years of independence thirty percent people are still illiterate. And more than half of the 120 billion population is uneducated. Those who come under four pillars remain the privileged ones in society so obviously their role become bigger.
But if we really want to uproot the corruption, we should check not only the politicians who but bureaucrats as well.
Most of the politicians, who become MP or MLA got elected only for one term and their work or job remain insecure. But a bureaucrat got a secure job and they more or less remain on their respective posts for 30 years. They get a handsome salary but still they remain involved in the corruption either to please netas or to live more luxurious life.
The judiciary and media who actually play the monitoring role should also watch what is going on beneath them. The lower area of the two important parts of democracy has more corruption than one can imagine.
And the most important, we should have a society where a corrupt should be treated like an anti-social one not only be the law but by us also.
So, before it gets too late, lets play each ones role!
Akhtar is state correspondent with leading news agency IANS, he can be contacted at shah.journ@gmail.com
i like this ......
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