The startling disclosure of corruption to the tune of close to Rs 8000 crore which could get bigger if the Commonwealth Games probe remains on track, is highly inappropriate although it is hardly surprising to know about the high level of wrong doing by those involved. No matter what the end result of the probe will be, one thing is for sure. This will not be the last we will hear about corruption. Unless we are able to cleanse the system from within, the fight against corruption will remain more of a slogan. If one goes through all the murky details emerging about the corruption taking place in relation to the Delhi CWG 2010, it is as much a failure of our system as it is about individual failings. The larger problem lies in our corrupt system. And because things can be done only through the support network of our governing systems both public and private, those who come in contact or deal with the system must compromise to get things done. What the system requires is a shock treatment. There is has to be greater transparency which is woefully lacking in our government system. Secondly power and responsibility has to go hand in hand. More often than not those who have discretionary power to take decisions fail to shoulder responsibility. In the case of the CWG probe underway, more and more it is the bureaucrats or the so called babus who are now being targeted. If at all they are guilty they should be punished. However it is well known that power belongs to the political bosses. A failure of the government cannot be solely blamed on the bureaucrats alone. In a system where the politicians call the shot, the responsibility of corruption cannot be suddenly placed on the government officers alone.
This is not to say that the bureaucracy and its members are above board. In fact a clean and efficient bureaucracy is the need of the hour in India. The IAS officers have the power to take decisions which directly affect people. They should use this opportunity to serve the public with greater sincerity and honesty. The IAS system should also reflect on its weaknesses. There is the tendency to serve their political masters more than the public’ which, perhaps, indicates that they are more politicians’ servants and less public servants. In public perception, this nexus is the crux of the problem. This leads to the misuse of the system as the bureaucrats to curry their own favours will protect the interests of politicians. This is the heart of the problem we are faced with while dealing with corruption. So even though there is such a hue and cry about corruption in the media especially in the backdrop of the CWG fiasco, whatever follow up measure or action is being taken, it is suspected that the entire process of identifying the corrupt and their corruption could be just an eyewash to satisfy the large scale public grievances. A few heads could roll but the political impact of it all will be minimized if not neutralized. If after all the dissection, investigation and public anger subsides, the country is still serious about fighting corruption, then there are already several lot of suggestions, reforms or corrections available. The only thing required is the political will to implement some of these reform measures. Otherwise, no matter the countless probe whether by the Chief Vigilance Commission or Joint Parliamentary Committee everything else becomes a mockery.
