Fight against corruption
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 19, 2014 -

The Parliament and State Assembly have passed the Lokpal Bill and Lokayukta Bill respectively in an attempt to make the administration free from corruption.

The Lokpal Bill will pave the way for establishment of an ombudsman to fight corruption in public offices and ensure accountability on the part of public officials, including the Prime Minister, but with some safeguards. On the other hand, the Lokayukta Bill is to do with the establishment of an ombudsman at the state level encompassing the Chief Minister.

Notably, many states have already established the Lokayukta. Maharashtra is the first state to establish the Lokayukta in 1971.

The main concern over such landmark legislation is how effective the widespread corruption can be contained. A US Congress-mandated report had even highlighted widespread corruption in India.

At the national scenario, at least some of the corrupt Ministers and officials have been indicted. But so far, there is no indictment of Ministers and officials on corruption charges in the State. Does this means that the State administration is transparent with no corruption at all?

The answer to this question is an obvious big "No". Corruption among the State administrators is an open secret.

In fact, corruption is in its "dignified status" in Manipur today.

Without any feeling of guilt, people proudly exclaim to have offered bribes to Ministers and officials for securing jobs, contracts, etc. There is neither hesitation nor repentance for the act.

Corruption itself has become socially acceptable. Some may consider it as another way of earning livelihood for the Ministers and officials. A simple analysis will unearth the level of corruption in the State.

The assets owned by the Government employees right from the peon to senior bureaucrats in some major departments will obviously throw light to their corrupt practices.

It is quite intriguing for some mid-level officers owning big mansions, which they could not have built even with the accumulation of the monthly salaries they received for a century.

These are just some few petty things. The common people in are questioning today about the efficiency of CBI and IT officials in the State.

They say that Ministers and officials in other states have been arrested and prosecuted on corruption charges, but Manipur seems to be enjoying immunity from such offences. Former Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa has been indicted by the Lokayukta. Many national leaders are now languishing in jail.

The point is if corrupt officials go unpunished, then indulgence in corruption will continue to remain dignified act in Manipur regardless of enactment or implementation of any anti-graft legislation.

One may argue that there is close a connection between the prevailing corruption and the system in which we live in.

But we say, corruption has come to be looked upon and considered as a part and parcel of our daily life today, because of the system we have created around ourselves.

So, to fight against public vigilance is important.

At the same time, public need to have the courage to stand up and say no to corruption instead of just blaming on the system.

It is we ourselves who are to be blamed, for we are the creators the same system that breeds corruption in our midst today.