Is corruption-free governance in Odisha unachievable? Is it a myth? The answer to it is a mixed one with both yes and no. Presently, reports of corruption have hit the headlines in the State.
It is about the alleged disproportionate assets amassed by senior forest officer Abhay Kant Pathak and MLA and former Minister, Pradeep Panigrahi. Property acquired by them looks to be huge, not proportionate to their legal income. Prima facie it appears to be misuse of their official power.
It is a case of corruption at high level. It allegedly exposes an unholy nexus between a politician and a bureaucrat. But investigation is on.In criminal jurisprudence, an accused is innocent till he is proved guilty in the court of law. And very often, in this modern tecnological age it is too hard to unearth the corruption at high places.
The State' s BJD Government headed by Naveen Patnaik always boastfully claims that the Government has adopted zero tolerance policy towards corruption and grafts and the corrupt public servants are warned of stringent actions. Many of such officials are given compulsory retirement. In some cases pensions are stopped. Even a shadow of corruption is not tolerated. And the 5T initiatives are instrumental in maintaining transparency in the governance also, thus the Naveen supporters assert.
It has worked with absolute honesty and the strictest action is taken when the corruption comes to light
Now, perception of zero tolerance to bribes is very high in the State. But corruption does not seem to abate. The tainted officials are being caught at the time of taking bribes and are seen parading in the street. There is in fact no respite still in the increase of number of corrupts. It is really a wonder.
In an endorsement of Naveen's zero tolerance policy towards corruption, Odisha has been ranked one among the least corrupt States along with Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka and Goa in the 'India Corruption Survey, 2019'. The survey was conducted by the Transparency International India, a non-Governmental organisation to ascertain the level of domestic corruption in the country based on perception feedbacks. India has slipped two ranks low from 78 to 80 in the in the global ratings of corruption index. Fortunately, corruption level in Odisha remains stagnant in the report.
There is also criticism to this survey report in Odisha. Many say, there is nothing to be happy here. The Odisha Government has cracked whips on some petty corrupts; registered vigilance cases and shown to the survey that the zero tolerance strategy works very mercilessly.
But corruption at high places still exists. Pathak - Panigrahi, the most touted graft case now, is just the tip of the iceberg. It is a small part of a much larger problem that remains hidden, they say. Corruption is generally of two kinds. One is petty corruption and another is grand corruption. These two terms are given by the Transparency International.
Petty corruption is linked with bribery. It occurs at small scale at the implementation end of the public services when the public officials meet the general public. It happens in many small places such as registration offices, police stations, licencing centres, Tehsils and in many other private and Government sectors. It happens at the time of delivery of services.
Petty corruption is not a small crime, not just a small change either. It is as expensive to society as a large scam. It (petty corruption) cannot be therefore, tolerated as a small price to grease the palm.But grand corruption is different. It involves high level public officials with gross misappropriation of public funds which significantly reduces the budget available for implementing different schemes of education, infrastructure and standard of living.
Corruption is a Frankenstein monster now in India. It has enormous threat to growth, development and governance. It needs to be totally eradicated, but when?. It is a big question, indeed. In 1993 a committee with NN Vora, the former Home Secretary of India as its head, in its report has emphasised that it is easier for the persons in position of power to commit corruption.
It has in a way strengthened the dictum of Lord Acton that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In India power rests in politicians particularly the elected representatives, political executives and the bureaucrats. All of them help grow unholy nexus among themselves.The politicians seeing their political future uncertain in this age of electoral politics and elections as highly expensive, desire to amass wealth and the bureaucrats in name get benefits without any fear of check and balance.
The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) report confirms this trend. Majority of MPs and MLAs in India are crorepatis now. Their assets are seen multiplying after each tenure. Odisha is no exception.
How much money does a man need to live? This question is genearally being asked when the vigilance raids find currency notes of lakhs of rupees, a number of pass books, bonds and the documents of buildings.
The country was struck in surprise in 1996 when the CBI raiding the house of Sukh Ram, the then Central Minister, recovered Rs 2.50 crore kept in his almirahs, pilow and bed covers. It was one of the largest hauls of currency notes till then.Wants are unlimited, no doubt. But when the desire to fulfil the wants becomes uncontrollably intense, a psychologist says, it becomes a disease, a syndrome.
Taking bribes becomes a habit then. Therefore, there must be two front approaches to tackle corruption - the anti-corruption agencies like CAG, CBI, Vigilance, Lokapal, Lokayukta, media and courts need to be proactive besides public awareness against bribes and corruptions and to impart education to the students inculcating in them the essence of honesty, integrity and of living a simple life.
Non-possession and non-stealing are also the core essence which our religious scriptures teach us.
(A Gandhian author and columnist, lawyer. Puri. Ph: 9861469328)