India faces the problem of corruption at various levels. This
problem is eating our country internally. It is time for each one of us to
realize the negative impact of corruption on our country and contribute our bit
to make it corruption-free. It is often said that Indian politicians are
corrupt, but that is not the only arena where corruption lies. Corruption lies
in every sector, and it is ruining our country.
I
dream of a corruption-free India. A place where everyone works hard and gets
what he deserves. A place that gives equal opportunity to everyone based on
their knowledge and skills irrespective of their caste, colour, creed, or
religion. A place where people don’t use other people around to get accomplishes
their selfish motives.
But
alas, India is far from the ideal place I imagine it to be. Everyone is so
engrossed in earning money and enhancing their lifestyle that they don’t mind
using corrupt ways to fulfill their dreams and ambitions. It is a common notion
that those who work with honesty cannot reach anywhere. They hardly get any
promotions and continue to earn meager salaries. On the other hand, those who
seek bribes and use unfair means to accomplish their tasks climb up the ladder
of success and make a better living.
In
India, anyone can stand for the elections and form a political party. The
eligibility criterion does not include a person’s educational qualification.
Some ministers haven’t even attended school and have completely zero knowledge
about the political system. Some have a past criminal record. When such people
govern the country, corruption is bound to happen. A minimum educational
qualification criterion must be set. Only those candidates who meet the
educational criteria and have a clean record must be allowed to contest the
elections. The candidates who win the elections must then be trained to handle
their duties and responsibilities. An educated and well-trained person can
certainly run the country better. There must be
a set protocol for everything, and the activities of the ministers must be
monitored by a higher authority to see if it is being followed.
Lack of education is one of the main reasons for the growing
corruption. Many people belonging to the uneducated class use illegal and
corrupt means to earn their livelihood. Spreading education can help in curbing
this problem to a large extent. The lower classes in our country undermine the
importance of education, leading to increased corruption. The government must
make policies to ensure that every child in the country goes to school and
secures education. A society filled with educated people is likely to face less
corruption.
The jobs in the market are less compared to the number of
qualified youths. While many youths these days roam around without any jobs,
others take up jobs that are not at par with their qualification. The
dissatisfaction amongst these individuals and their quest for earning more
leads them to take up corrupt means.
Strict laws must be made for people who indulge in corrupt
practices such as taking and giving bribery, using illegal ways to expand their
businesses, accumulating black money, etc. These people must be punished
severely. People in our country get away with corrupt practices such as giving
and taking bribes, not paying the income tax, following corrupt means to run
businesses, etc. There is no strict law to monitor the activities of people.
Even if people get caught, they are not punished severely for it. This is the
reason why corruption is high in the country.
The media and government should join hands to conduct sting
operations to uncover corrupt people in different sectors. Such sting
operations will not only uncover the corrupt people but will also discourage
others from indulging in such practices. We must take it as a responsibility to
follow the right course of getting things done rather than giving bribes to get
them done speedily or to escape fines.
Technology can also help in bringing down corruption. CCTV
cameras must be installed in government offices, at red lights, and other
places where the cases of taking and giving bribes are high. Recorders can be
installed at places where it is difficult to install cameras. People can also
take the initiative to record any corrupt practice on their mobile and share it
at their nearby police station.
People in India are scared of going to the police, even for
lodging a complaint against someone. They avoid going to the police station
because they fear getting caught up in the nitty-gritty of the police inquiry,
which may bring a bad name to them. The procedures at the police station must
be such that those who wish to help the police must not face any inconvenience.
Greed and growing competition in the market are also reasons
for growing corruption. People these days have become extremely greedy. They
want to earn more than their relatives and friends, and in this mad rush, they
do not hesitate to employ corrupt means to realize their dreams.
Everyone wants the country to be free of corruption and
criticizes the government for not doing anything in this direction. But are we
trying to curb the issue at our levels? No, we are not. Knowingly or
unknowingly, we all are giving rise to corruption. Nobody is ready to take the
initiative and work as a team to drive this evil away from the country.
The causes of corruption are known to all. It
is said that once the cause of a problem is identified, half the task is done.
It is now time to look for solutions rather than discuss the problem
repeatedly. Our country can flourish and grow
better if we get rid of the problem of corruption. It is the joint effort of
the individuals, media as well as the government that can help in building a
corruption-free India. They must take it as a responsibility to work hand in
hand to make the country a better place to live.
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