Whether Indian Anti-Corruption Lokpal is Sufficient?
By Dr. Lalit Kumar Setia | @drlalitsetia | drlalitsetia@gmail.com
| Created Dec 05, 2017
Updated May 11, 2019
It
is well known that the corruption is the primary hidden cause to various
problems to the life of a common man. It is must to take pledge for not being involved
in corrupt practices and the people in India under the governance inculcated by
Prime Minister are taking the pledge with proud. Even the business environment is
being framed to make a common man empowered to stop corruption to a great
extent? But the moves to empower common man, are becoming barriers and hurdles
for the Government employees in public sector organizations to deliver their
best performance. The issue which is coming forward is, ‘What can an employee
do to stay far from corrupt practices?’
Enactment of Anti-corruption Lokpal Act:
It is well known that
combating corruption is a great political propaganda to score win-win position
in elections and every political party includes it in manifesto to attract
largest number of voters. Due to such commitments in manifesto, the ruling party
is also making Anti-Corruption Lokpal Act to be proved a great tool for
combating corruption. However, it will be too early to diagnose the impact of
the Act.
Former
Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose may become India’s first Lokpal.
Role of Social Activists:
The Social activist Anna
Hazare alleged both ex. Prime Minister Sh. Manmohan Singh and present Prime
Minister Sh. Narendra Modi for weakening the act by removing the provisions
made to combat corruption like "Mandatory disclosure of property details
of a government official".
The tools of Right to
Information Act, Citizen Charter, and initiatives for e-Governance through Mega
Mission Projects running around India, described on the website of
"National Institute of Smart Governance" are also playing great roles
in enforcement of Anti-Corruption initiatives. However, the new tool of Anti
Corruption Lokpal Act will prove a great support in independent functioning of
Lokayukta in each state of India.
Corruption and Goverance:
The issues of Nepotism
and unnecessary interventions of politicians in the fair functioning of
Government Officers (like officers of Indian Administrative Service and
Allied Services) will remain a challenge for next one decade. The fear of being
transferred in remote areas and doing mal-practices to please politicians so
that comfortable positions can be accomplished; will definitely benefit the
politicians and senior Administrators. The industrialists will also remain
active by using politicians for making a tool to get their work done with
misuse of Government assets.
How to treat problem of Corruption?
The corruption is not a
newly born disease and we know "older the disease, higher the tenure and efforts
required to be treated". If Lokpal also failed in India then also it will
not be a surprise. There is need to introduce new initiatives by taking
support of Information Technology in enforcement of Good and Electronic
Governance.
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© 2018 Dr. Lalit Kumar. All rights reserved.
