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by Rajen Kumar
No Escaping Social Media
Running a magazine concentrating on issues of small and medium enterprises and managing with limited resources is a like living life on the edge. In this rush of meeting deadlines,...
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Apr 2012EMRC, Brussels Associates with SME WORLD as its New Media Partner
EMRC has promoted business partnerships with the developing world and has organised dozens of business forums in key decision-making cities, such as Amsterdam, Rome,...
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The Last Word
Why Anna Hazare is relevant?
Rajen Kumar
Sep 2011
Sep 2011
When my son turned 18, he desired a learner's driving license. I advised him to go the transport authority. He abided by the procedure. He got the Learner's License without much difficulty. After the stipulated period, he re-visted the authority to have a regular driving license. He was asked to take a test. He could not clear it. Probably he could not tick a question or two questions correctly. He re-visited the authority, better prepared this time. He cleared the oral test as also the driving test. His joy knew no bounds. But hours later he rang me up – 'the license was ready but the license issuing inspector wanted Rs.800/-. 'Why this underhand consideration when you have passed all the tests?” I was irritated. “Everyone is paying, so I have to pay.” The logic was inverse. But he ended up paying a bribe ! It was his maiden brush with the system.
A few days ago, when I came across an ageing 70-year old woman in a district court begging to the lower rung judicial staff for a copy of the order, I felt inquisitive. I asked the ageing lady what was the matter? She confided that while the judge had ruled in her favour in a case against her tenants who were not paying the rent, her sole livelihood but the counter-clerk was insisting on a bribe. I intervened besieging the clerk to show mercy to a lady, his mother's age, but nothing moved him. “Sir, everyone pays. Even the lawyers pay to get documents and this is not my money. There are many and the share goes to them,” he was shamelessly brash.
The passport office takes the crown. The file moves from section to section, clipped with 'cash' at every clearance. The procedural hurdles have been crossed. But wait. A hammer awaits your head. The speed-post man flashes the passport before your eyes and eyes your pocket! He may not say 'bakshish', but mask it with moonh mitha karwayen'. The dictum: ek haath se doh; doosre haath se lo ! You are in a fix! To get the hint and get the much awaited passport. Or stand up? I know a friend who wanted his passport urgently. He refused to pay the constable who visited him for verification. Not obliging the constable paid him dearly. His verifications report was held up for six months.
Here's yet another instance – from the horse's mouth ! As a routine, A close friend was getting his house re-floored and re-plastered. That's all. Nothing was being added or altered. Arose unimaginable hurdles. The beat constable knocked at his door to befuddle him with out-of-context questions. Later, an MCD junior engineer turned up with searching eyes and salivating mouth. He sought a hefty amount. The SDM came with his own version, twisted to up the price. The more he pressed with his pleas; the more deaf he turned to them. To get rid of the greedy sharks, he paid. And re-did the house.
Years back, after Door Darshan telecast my documentary film, I received a call from the accounts department. “Sir, your royalty cheque is ready but you must come with 15% of the amount in cash.” I was not surprised as I knew how such complaint was common with other documentary makers who had given in. I, too!
One can hardly find a government office which deals with public and does your work without a 'consideration' beforehand, in cash and no haggling. You can hardly find any NGO which gets government funding without parting with a certain percentage of the amount at lower levels from peon up.
Are we to believe that the bureaucrats and the representatives we elect, who go onto become ministers are not aware of the swindling, albeit dwindling, state of affairs? Corruption has seeped into our psyche and system. Corruption is a cult now. This is what the septuagenarian Anna Hazare's crusade is all about.
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