Financial impropriety is just one kind of loss caused by corruption. Organisational decay causes permanent damage to the system
The ongoing turmoil that was set in motion after it came to light that Railway Board member Mahesh Kumar had bribed then Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla, for a posting of his choice, is akin to a tsunami slamming the nation. It has led many of us to look within and ponder on the growing absence of character and a moral value system as an individual rises (if one can call it ‘rise') up the hierarchy in his professional world.
Yet, it is surprising that on official forums, both in the public and the private sectors, one rarely witnesses either a focus or an open discussion on the pressing need to eradicate corruption, instill value-systems and build character among those who run the management machinery.
These fundamental issues are almost always brushed under the carpet in favour of other mundane matters or vested interests. Free and frank discussions on these issues also continue to remain taboo. Consequently, these subjects are never brought to the table, perhaps due to the absence of men with sound value systems who have the courage to call a spade a spade.
Yes, it is true that in the bureaucratic arena, a spade is often identified with a spoon or a fork. The sheer absence of stress on the ‘truth' — ironically, even in the land of the Mahatma — ensures that the torrid state of affairs retains a valid ground to continue ad infinitum. It is also apparent that whenever the custodians of rules, procedures and systems abdicate their responsibility for personal gains either due to a lack of concern or out of fear, disgraceful incidents like the one recently witnessed start surfacing.
Professional honesty is the key and the lack of it acts as a powerful catalyst for corruption, of which the financial impropriety is just kind. Yet, what the nation invariably witnesses and remains concerned about is matters relating to monetary loss alone.
However, a myopic view of the organisation, a delay in the execution of decisions and projects, a lack of objectivity in decision-making and contractual matters, a lack of fairness in personnel matters, the inability to stand up to illegal orders, maltreatment of subordinates and a lack of concern for growth and development, are all glaring examples of professional dishonesty that invariably cause a more permanent damage than isolated cases of financial impropriety. Quite often even established rules, processes and systems are either followed or given the go-by merely to suit the convenience of the powers that be. Even the written word sadly appears to have lost its sanctity.
Having said this, though, there is also no denying that it is financial impropriety that quickly spreads like a contagious disease in an organisation which is devoid of professional honesty and, thereby, lacks the natural immune system that fights infections and keeps the body in good health. That corruption touches the lives of almost all citizens in almost all spheres of their existence is, therefore, a hard reality that is not surprising at all. Moreover, despite a majority of interactions between individuals and their organisations being laced with graft, it is strange that everyone complains about corruption, and yet, they do nothing to fix the situation themselves. Instead, they expect someone else to stem the rot on their behalf.
Finally, there seems to be a trend that favours anti-graft symbolism over tangible action. This will simply not serve anybody's purpose. On my morning walks cutting across the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, the names of the streets never fail to make me chuckle with amazement. Nyaya Marg, the street of justice, is followed by the Satya Marg, the street of truth. Niti Marg, the street of propriety comes next, only to be followed by Shanti Path, the street of peace and tranquility. Thereafter, I move to Vinay Marg, the street of humility and humbleness. And the most interesting of them all is Satya Sadan, the home of the truthful. It is evident to even a novice that a lot of water has flown since the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri came of its own.