I PAID A BRIBE
What would we do without it? by Bijoy Venugopal
Take corruption out of the morning papers and we will have nothing to read. Take it out of prime-time television news and our favourite anchors will have nothing to scream about. Take it out of sports we will have nothing to play for. Take it out of politics and we will have utter anarchy.
Corruption – that quick and dirty practice of allowing money to change hands to get things done in a hurry – inhabits our lives so pervasively. And what’s all the fuss about white and black money? Anyone who has received a crisp 1000-rupee note for no lawful reason will tell you it is a pleasant, peachy pink.
Well, sometimes it doesn’t involve money at all. Enterprising government servants will accept your contribution in kind, perhaps even kindness.
Not that you can tell the difference. Fifteen years ago, after failing my first shot at a driving test, it dawned on me that my shortcoming lay not so much in my driving skills as my tactless approach to getting things done. Next in line was a young man in a Maruti Omni who couldn’t tell the wiper controls from the gear shift. But his genial uncle snapped open the boot and allowed the RTO inspector to steal a furtive glance at its mysterious cargo. The candidate was passed without a hiccup.
No money changed hands but three baskets of juicy Mulgoa mangoes sufficed to certify a dolt as a driver for the next two decades. How can you account for that?
That was in 1991, three years after the Prevention of Corruption Act became law. Perhaps the law’s biggest loophole, which allows our corruptible friends in positions of influence to dream up creative solutions to their cash-flow problems, is that it doesn’t define corruption adequately. Add to that other loopholes such as citizen ignorance (which the RTI hopes to address), the fallacious assumption that government servants are corrupt owing to low salaries, the fear of vendetta, and the resigned belief that you will lose out if you don’t pay up. Now arrange the loopholes, intersect the common areas, and you have an interesting Venn diagram – an Olympic symbol of corruption. Now, who can blame Kalmadi and Co. for being inspired?
Gritting your teeth at the memory? Lighten up. Some among us argue that corruption is not a systemic disease but an inherent and inviolable aspect of our culture. Therefore, they say, it must be accorded pride of place as a national treasure and patented along with yoga, turmeric and whatnot.
Well, nothing wrong with that. Marijuana and prostitution are legit in the Netherlands, so why not legalize corruption in our country by reserving a berth for it in the Union Cabinet? As politicians vie with each other to impress us, we might finally see some sincerity in politics. Imagine how many netas would kill to become the Hon’ble Minister for Corruption? And who would pass up the chance to serve their country by doing what they do best?
All thanks to corruption!
# Bijoy Venugopal is an independent content consultant, cartoonist and freelance writer based in Bangalore
Corruption: No coming Back..........
It's really frustrating to see the sharp fall in values & ethics for which we Indians were known. From Panchayats to Medical council to Commonwealth to Adarsh to Ministers to Chief ministers, everyone is dying to make money in a way that simply make me feel ashamed of. I strongly believe that the level of corruption has surpassed the limit from where there is no coming back.
May god give all of us the strength to accept Corruption a way of life.
Try getting anything done without paying
The greatest frustration would be to try to accomplish getting your job done without paying... For example, every major business operator on the streets on Mumbai pays someone or the other, in most cases the cops to either keep them safe or to avoid harassment from local political gangs. The grassroots level of this misery creeps into every level of society whether it be getting your license or simply getting a government stamp. It will shock you to know that every cop station has a detailed spreadsheet maintained of payments received from business to keep them safe and then a well established heirachy of payment within the group by %... think about it, can you stop that... no, so no use lamenting as to what can be done by you, it has to start with action, and this has to begin at the top.
Dont Pay for whatever reason
They are asking for bribes because we are paying to them. We are in very much hurry to get our work done as if tommorrow will never exist. why cant we make them do our job done without paying a single money ? Aren't we paying enouhg of taxes for their salaries ? And even after paying huge taxes directly and indirectly, all our money is eaten away by these politicians via different scams. and there is no account of whatsoever nature from them, and again a new face is introduced to us for another scam. This is because we people are accepting it as it is. Had we revolted earlier, these scams would never have existed.
Still today we can unite and revolt, atleast our children will get better future. make all the corrupts including ministers accountable and ask them to refund all the money back and punish them for life and or until death so that nobody ever dares to do so again.
Rich Gets richer
By bribe,
It the rich get richer and poor get poorer.
For example:
For registration on a site, the average fee+ bribe is 1000+12000, which is pretty expensive for a lower class people.By this they wont even get their property registered.Since the registration would not be done by only accepting the fee. The people loose their land cos some so call mafias or corrupt people are able to pay more, So more that the property which is not registered will be registered under their name, without any single documents.
So the people loose their land to by such corrupt people and the govt people who is only bothered to fill their pockets.
There are thousands of such cases in the court, lower class people would not be able to pay the fee(lol feeee) in court and lawyer(money eater), ultimately they loose their property. and the mafia gets richer by selling this land to other(probably for even 3 -4 buyers... ha ha ha) .
Paying through my nose......
I am a citizen of India, and I started earning 13 yrs back. Since then, I have been paying bribes-to India. Bribe to fix the roads, fix the electricity, fix water. And you know what- the bribes are just that, bribes.What do you think all the taxes we pay amount to, if it is not being used for India's welfare? Where is that money going?If the taxes are paying for the multi-million scams, then is it not "just a bribe".
And today, the fourth pillar, which was crumbling for some time has fallen too. We have the taped conversations of people like Barkha Dutt, Vir Sanghvi et al, lobbying for selling seats in the cabinet. If they are not pimps, what are they?
I am ashamed of now talking to outsiders, to say that I belong to India- the largest democracy in the world! or the largest sham in the world? When was the last time a minister or a babu was truly convicted, and put in jail. If Chavan has been involved, or Yeddyyurappa, or Kalmadi, or Raja, or Manmohan Singh- the worst punishment is Resignation? Resignations- what the hell are the resignations going to achieve? Where are the millions we have paid in taxes? Where is my damn money? Is anyone going to jail? or to Dubai for a holiday? Is there anyone really paying for what they have done? Yes I think- I am paying for not revolting against the state and accepting the state of affairs. Had I revolted, may be, just may be- things would be different.......
Every body is only talking Bribe and corruption.
It has become a fashion now to talk about the bribe and corruption. starting from RATAN TATA, Every body is only talking that he was asked so much bribe...
I want to know, if any body has got his job done without paying the bribe despite having demand of bribe ?
How many of us has this courage ?
At least I have done it several times. Though it is always painful and difficult to accomplish such jobs but one thing I have learned out of IT
" People ask bribe only because all are ready to pay the same. If one decides that I will not pay bribe, then nobody can dare to ask for it." Of course it will make life bit difficult.
So if you want that corruption should not exist then take an oath and decide today that whatever may happen I will not pay bribe. After few difficulties you will start enjoying this.
Corruption is old hat
"Corruption is a British invention", a noted historian once said. "During the mughal rule there were many ways to approach people in power and get your work done. There was NAZRANA, DASTUR, and PESHA - elegent terms, hallowed by tradition. The Brits took all that away. All that is happening today is a return to tradition."
An interesting perspective, you will admit. Perhaps the gentleman's tongue was quite firmly wedged in his cheek, perhaps he was serious.
Another interesting perspective: a democracy involves elections, and standing for elections requires money. So long as we have elections, corruption will flourish.
People who think if
People who think if corruption is out of newspaper then there would be nothing to read. Should try watchin the DWTV (German Chanel)
I do agree there is corruption everywhere, but there are levels of corruption. I feel the corruption level in India is something I can no longer take.
There has to a revolution to stop this.
Bijoy Venugopal
I fully agree with him. Corruption is there every where in the world. Recently I visited US. The corruption at lower level is not there. If Cop sees u over speeding the memo will come to ur residence. No compromises. Almost every thing is hassle free. Getting a passport, a birth certificate everything done without a pie spent on bribery. Hospitals may be costly but hassle free. Your bills are passed as per norms. No hanky panky. It is so transparent i used to think when our country is going to be like this. Let us hope a beter tomorrow.
anandakrishnan k
anandakrishnank@gmail.com
Driving license
I have lived in India for almost 25 years and I started operating motor vehicles at the age of 15. I never had a license in my pocket ever. I have gotten caught a lot of times but managed to get away with it. The only reason why I never bothered to get a driving license is because getting a driving license is such a hassel that I just didnt wanted to get a driver's license. Also the fees I would have paid to get a license would have been more then the total money I paid as bribe to get away for not having a license. We need to make government processes convenient and easy. If things are convenient to do, people will do it or else, they will give the bribe and find other ways of not doing the things the way they are supposed to be done. Best way is to provide all the services online that way no human interference and no scams.
Non conventional Energy -Tamil nadu corruption Rate
Engineer K*****s*****....( Nik name Extortionist) 5000 to 50000/- per file ( monthly basis also accepted)
Despatch clerk ....2000/-file
Peons 1000 + 1000 ( otherwise files will be lost)
Chief Engineer Honest
corruption centres
PWD,electricity Board, Revenue Department, electrical inspectorate. In Tamil nadu Electricity Board , Non conventional Energy source Engineer accepts bribe as case to case basis or even on Monthly payment ,irrespective of quantum of work. some accepts cheque.surprisingly the present and past chief engineers happen to be Honest.
at the base of it it's the
at the base of it it's the poor that suffer the worst. They don't have the contacts to gain favours nor the money to move the government cogs. The greatness of any society has to be measured in how we look after the weakest. Unfortunately caste allows us to view the other as less than human and not deserving of our full respect.
Legit corruption!
Good idea Bijoy! To tax the bribe money so as to make it legit. That way we make it an open market.
I totally agree with what you
I totally agree with what you are saying... I truly would not be surprised if oxygen and corruption are taken in the same context in the next few years. Honestly I think the only thing which I think WILL and CAN stop corruption is the world ending in DECEMBER 2012... I hate to say this but Corruption runs in ALMOST everyones viens. I am not yet 18 hence I havent really dealt with the government or the system as whole in way which requires PAYING A BRIBE. I really dont wanna do this EVER!!!!!