Governance
Corruption is commonly defined as misuse of public office for private gain. While private gain is typically interpreted in terms of monetary benefit, it can assume the form of non-monetary benefits such as improved chances of re-election and helping friends or members of one’s own social, professional, caste or religious networks, political party, vote bank, fraternity or cadre, to obtain public resources disproportionately or out of turn or to shield them from punishment for their wrongdoings.
The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission’s 4th Report on “Ethics in Governance” says that “Corruption is an important manifestation of the failure of ethics and values system in a society.
Unless values are restored, nothing much can be done to improve the conduct of human beings. Creation and strengthening of institutions for monitoring adherence to these value systems and enforcing them by properly designing a set of incentives and disincentives are of utmost importance in promoting ethical conduct by public servants.
The solution to the problem of corruption has to be more systemic than any other issue of governance. Merely shrinking the role of the state by resorting to poorly thought through and/or badly implemented deregulation and mindless privatization is not necessarily the solution to the problem – it is simply abdication of its responsibility by the government. As the events in the recent economic meltdown in US and elsewhere has shown, such policy actions just relocate unethical behaviour. Existing institutional arrangements have to be reviewed and changes made where those vested with power are made accountable, their functioning made more transparent and subjected to social audit with a view to minimize discretionary decisions. All procedures, laws and regulations that breed corruption or come in the way of efficient delivery system have to be eliminated. The perverse systems of incentives and disincentives and their application to public life makes corruption a high return low risk activity. This needs to be corrected. Also, social monitoring through empowered autonomous and credible structures of civil society must be established for all levels of public offices, from the lowest to the highest.
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), 2014 which measures the perceived level of public-sector corruption around the world has placed India at 85th position out of a list of 175 countries.
“Stemming corruption requires strong oversight by parliaments, a well performing judiciary, independent and properly resourced audit and anti-corruption agencies, vigorous law enforcement, transparency in public budgets, revenue and aid flows, as well as space for independent media and a vibrant civil society,” said Huguette Labelle, Chair, Transparency International.
Common Cause has played an active role in fighting the scourge of corruption. Its various interventions can be accessed
Common Cause has played an active role in fighting the scourge of corruption. As early as 1995, Common Cause filed a PIL in the Supreme Court to press for the establishment of an effective framework for combating corruption by creating the institutions of Lokpal at the central level and Lokayuktas at the state level. You may visit our Case Library section to read more on this petition. The essential features of the legislation for establishing an independent and empowered Lokpal were first outlined in an affidavit filed by Common Cause in this PIL in August 2008. This was the starting point of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Many of the subsequent PILs of Common Cause have addressed the core issue of lack of transparency and probity in public life.
Some of the other initiatives of Common Cause on this pernicious issue are listed below:
Launch of Common Cause’s Anti Corruption Logo
War on Corruption- A Brainstorming Session
Seminar on Ethics in Governance
Please click here to download the anti corruption logo and the guidelines for its usage.
