Question

essay writing on role of people in prevention of corruption in society

Answer 1

Corruption which has gone deep into our social life cannot be removed very easily. In fact, it can only be reduced or minimised, and can hardly be stopped altogether. No nation has become successful so far in this regard.

Even for minimising this problem, both preventive and punitive measures will have to be taken. The Santharam Committee on the Prevention of Corruption, insti­tuted by the Central Government in 1964, observes, “Corruption cannot be eliminated or even satis­factorily reduced unless preventive measures are planned and implemented in a sustained and effec­tive manner.

The Committee recommended the following measures:

1. A thorough study of the extent possible, scope and modes of corruption should be under­taken regarding each department, undertaking or ministry. The study must also suggest preventive remedial measures for the same.

2. Administrative delays should be reduced to the minimum to avoid corrupt practices. For this purpose:

(a) existing procedures and practices should be reviewed to avoid delays;

(b) time-limits should be prescribed for dealing with receipts and should be strictly enforced; and

(c) all nothings at a lower level than that of undersecretary should be avoided.

3. Attempts should be made to educate citizens in regard to their rights, responsibilities and the procedures of the government.

 4. Improvement must be made to increase the salary of the employers besides making neces­sary provisions for housing, medical facilities for the government employees, etc.

5. Informal codes of conduct for different categories of employees particularly belonging to the departments dealing with economic affairs must be evolved insisting on them not to avail them­selves of entertainment and other facilities provided to them by those with whom they have official dealings.

6. Officials should not have any dealings with a person claiming to act on behalf of an indus­trial house unless he is properly authorised to do so.

7. Companies and businessmen should be obliged to keep detailed accounts of expenditure.

8. Officers for the administrative posts should be selected with great care. Only those whose integrity is tested to the fullest satisfaction must be appointed for the key posts.

9. There should be a complete ban against government servants accepting private commercial or industrial employment for two years after retirement.

Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947:

Certain sections of the IPC could be used for punishing those who are guilty of taking bribe. The Central Government introduced in 1947 “The Prevention of Corruption Act” for the more effective prevention of bribery and corruption. The Act, of course, has been a miserable failure in reaching its target. We know that corruption has increased out of all proportions.

Examples:

(i) Teachers earning money through private tuition and book royalty not included it in their income tax returns,

(ii) Music artists earning huge amount of money by giving programmes on contract basis and including only a part of it in their income tax returns and retaining with themselves a major portion of their earnings and so on.

(ii) Its illegitimate sources are many.  

Bribes, black marketing, smuggling, selling commodities at prices higher than the controlled prices, and so on.