Shiv Kumar Padha
There are many definitions coined about corruption but the one which fits well in the Indian context is ‘corruption is the dishonest behavior by those in position of power, such as managers, governmental officials and the politicians. Corruption includes giving or accepting bribe, double dealing under the table transactions, manipulating elections, diverting funds and laundering money. For the convenience of the readers we can compare a corrupt person, with a fish in the water where nobody knows when it takes water. The fish which come on the surface of water are easily caught by an ordinary net where as those in the deep water escape scot free. There are two types of persons who offer bribe, one who pays for the favors which are purely illegal in the eyes of law and that of the society, while the others include totally ignorant about the laws, their rights and the procedures of the departments they are concerned with. In the absence of ombudsman, accepting bribe with impunity encourage corruption at the entire hierarchy of politicians, bureaucrats and the subordinate cadre of different departments. India always stood for the values of truth, purity, honesty, dedication, spiritualism, renunciation and contentment in the world. There was no place for greed, selfishness in the society because it was believed that ‘God has created everything for man’s need but not for his greed.’ Every one, irrespective of his position in the society, believed in truth, beauty and goodness. They always placed country and countrymen first and never fished in the troubled waters. But with the passage of time the long nurtured values became topsy-turvy, greed and selfishness replaced contentment and selflessness respectively. The never ending greed of our politicians and bureaucrats brought the country on the crossroads from where the two ways leading to honesty and corruption parted from each other permanently.
A new global corruption risk index ranks India as 69th most graft-prone nation and the global corruption perception index ranks India 94th in the world. India is the third most corrupt nation among the countries of BRICS. Jammu and Kashmir a state enjoying the special status is the most corrupt state in the country. The state contributes app. 0.76 per cent to national GDP and is ranked 2nd in the list of highest grant receiving states of the country. There are a few industrial units in the state which can be seen mushroomed around Kali Bari Kathua, Samba, Jammu, R S Pura and Udhampur only, otherwise government jobs, transport and trade is the only means of lively hood of the people of the Jammu and Kashmir UT. The words green, white and yellow revolutions are all Greek for the people in the state. The state is totally dependent on other states of the country even for vegetables and other ordinary commodities needed in day to day life. In Jammu and Kashmir corruption has taken the place of industry which is flourishing under the patronage of ministers, politician and bureaucrats. The state is totally engrossed in political, administrative, professional and financial corruption. The government employees, holding lucrative posts are minting money brazenly through bribe and share it with their patrons in the corridors of power. Everybody knows that 90 percent of the beautiful bungalows and residential houses in posh colonies and areas of capital cities of the state and at district headquarters belong either to politicians, retired or in service bureaucrats or to those retired or in service employees in different departments occupying the lucrative positions. Not to talk of bureaucrats even the persons at clerical or equivalent position own their bungalows in these posh areas which they have rented at very exorbitant rates. With the money minted through the corrupt means these politicians, bureaucrats and government employees have either started their own industries, established professional and public schools in the capital cities as well as in other states of the country . Whole governmental machinery from the lower ranks to their patrons in government seems involved knee deep in corruption and bribery. Whether it is a routine work in the offices, related to appointments, transfers, tax payment or tax saving, qualifying entrance tests, selection process, backdoor employment, legalising the encroachments or release of funds for developmental purposes, one has to grease the palm of the babus 0f the concerned department from peon to the politicians because only the ‘ money can make the mare go’ in Jammu and Kashmir. Every day we come across the news about amassing of wealth by the politicians under the pretext of pseudo trusts in the name of their fathers and father in laws.
The slogan’ Na Khaonga Na Khane Doonga’ speaks about resolve of Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India, but in Jammu and Kashmir the slogan is totally reverse of it ‘Khud Bhi Khao Haemin Bhi Khilao’ which is the hidden motive of the bureaucrats and their patrons in power. In the wake of the assembly elections in the state the politicians give a free hand to the bureaucrats and employees of their respective departments to amass as much money as they can lock, stock and barrel which can stand in good stead during the assembly elections. As a result of which there is ‘Ram Naam Ki Loot Hai Loot Ske To Loot’ in every department during those days. Like the commodities the rates of corruption are also touching the sky these days. For instance the rate for transfers of teacher/ master/lecturer/principals in the education department one has to pay in five to six digits whereas for transfer to the departments like PWD, PHE, PDD, PDS, Excise, RTO, BDO, backdoor/political appointments and for other departments of public dealings one has to pay in six to seven digits. The corruption has gone deep into our blood and our tongue has developed taste for this easy money, in that case some harsh and stringent action need be taken against the erring and corrupt persons irrespective of the strata of the society they belong to. No doubt many governments have declared the deadwoods in different departments of Jammu and Kashmir from time to time who have been shown the exit. His Excellency has tightened the noose around the corrupt officers and the employees who have either been dismissed from their services or have been put behind the bars. In my view this is not sufficient because the corruption is breeding under the nose of the politicians and the bureaucrats. It is the need of the hour to identify the black sheep and fish out the fish drinking water stealthily. I hope that LG will definitely crack the nut of corruption and help root out the menace of corruption from the soil of the UT once for all.
