Question

A short speech on the topic Public participation in promoting integrity and eradicating corruption

Answer 1

India is a democracy and so as Abraham Lincoln had rightly said, it is the “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Corruption on the other hand is something which is totally unwarranted and defeats the whole purpose of democracy. In a democracy, interest and welfare of the people is of paramount importance but the corruption makes it impossible for people to reap the benefits of the seeds they sow.The politicians and corrupt government officials, who are inebriated with power, try and take all the benefits of the taxpayers’ money and contain them.Corruption in a government can either be:of politicians; or of the government servants.Former is a more serious threat compared to that of the latter. There is a saying in Hindi, “यथा राजा, तथा प्रजा” meaning the subjects are no different from the king. To rectify the corruption of government servants, we need to rectify our politicians.What’s worse is the fact that whenever an allegation, charge or evidence of corruption comes into picture, politicians blame the previous government. Also, there is a growing trend among Indian politicians that they do not resign when an evidence of corruption comes into picture. And if the citizens ask questions, they are hiring party workers to call others as traitors, terrorist and similar epithets.It is setting a bad example for the government employees, who now are beginning to believe that as long as they keep on flattering the politicians of ruling party, nothing will happen to them, regardless of the corrupt activities they indulge in.We need to see the foreign leaders. They immediately give their resignation once their name comes up in a scam. The British Prime Minister offered resignation even for trifle reason that Britain voted to leave the European Union. And look at our leaders. They would not leave their seats even on deathbed.To correct this warped picture, it is responsibility of the citizens to come forth and raise a voice against it.To combat corruption effectively, it is responsibility for us citizens that before exercising our right of vote we should to see:Whether or not particular political party has high funding from unknown sources? For this you should see actual amount as well as the percentage of the total earning. There is a very good site called Information from National Election Watch(at least for now). You can read the Financial Information (Donation & Income-Expenditure).info there.Whether or not the particular political party has huge expenditure in the election campaign? Remember a party which is unable to pay its ‘actual’ election debts can’t be in business for long. Also, the expenses incurred in the campaign are actually borne by the people in form of taxes and inflation.Whether or not the Party workers of the particular party, are highly active on social media praising and photo shopping fake news in praises of the said political party? A good person does not need to publisise his goodness. Goodness is inherent and should be perceived automatically by the people. There is always something fishy about the person who needs to excessively publicise his goodness. Also party workers don’t do stuff for free. After all, they too have family and have to purchase atta and dal. To pay them handsomely, political party is most certainly corrupt.Whether or not there is sudden surge in irrational taxes or inflation? Most taxes and cess you pay are misappropriated to “you know where” (well, if you don’t, then the answer is “the party fund and personal expenses”) You can find the linked articles an interesting read:Rs. 1.4 lakhcrore cess money lies idle and cess you pay often unused or diverted: CAG - Times of India whether there are “authentic” Video, Audio and documentary evidence of scams or scandals without opinion of the newscaster or reporter available on social media? This one is self-explanatory.Lastly and most importantly, whether the standards of living of the masses has improved or worsened? Remember, the living standard does not mean possessing smartphones, gadgets or other items of luxury. It means whether the general populace is getting healthy diet and clean environment or not!I hope that my answer wasn’t too long.