ARE WE INDIANS LIKE THAT

                                                        Are We Indians Like That   

I though that any one who has read the headline news in today’s TOI Delhi Edition(Nov 24^th 2014)-

                   ‘300 Delhi lower court  judges under probe in Laptop scam’

 must have been  shocking. However when I spoke to a few of  friends about this, I got an impression that they were not quite surprised after reading the news. Obviously this does not mean that those whom i spoke to, were not approving of such a misconduct on the part of judges involved .In fact they were appalled though and still  not surprised since such misdemeanour happens every other day. Some day it is a high profile  politician, another it is top banker or some other day it is a revenue official or even a ponzy scheme run by someone who gets protection from some powerful people or even a perceived honest politician or a  private promoter  misappropriating investor’s money. The issue becomes very crucial if we ask ourselves a question -Are such instances’ one off ‘ or these are happening too often to be not concerned about. 

I am not a cynic .At the same time  like many , I am often concerned to find that our society often brushes aside such news (about corrupt and unfair practices ) as not something unusual. Defintely no right thinking person likes such behaviour .However it also appears that this is something which is taken casually.

When I reflect on this issue I like so many  feel much more disturbed at state of affairs.

Media ,CAG and  the  judiciary have been slamming top politicians and beurocrats often on instances of nepotism, crony capitalism and mala-fide in decision making causing losses to the exchequers. One good part is that most of such politicians  do not find favour from voters these days after their name is part of such misdemeanours.

It is not only the high profile cases(which is matter of big concern anyway) than the fact that this disease of favour seeking,trying to help known people at the expense of merit,is rather widespread to every level where stop the misdemeanour on the part of common man when  in position he can wield power- issue a driving licence,register an FIR,issue a ration card or admit a child in a school or college etc.

Of course it does not mean that high profile cases can be continued to be allowed to go on.In fact the spread of the disease amongst lower hierarchy of power  is mainly  on account of committing irregularities by the  rich and powerful and the same goes unquestioned. In other words they present a model which makes them unquestionable and may be encourages commoners to follow the example as it appears as a shortcut to “success”.

Is it not an irony that a country where people are religious generally ,a country which got independence 67 years ago from a foreign rule whose trademark was favouritism to those who worked against the common man ( by giving them estates for return of loyalty to the ruler),the commoners have taken to something done by the foreign ruler against the common man.

How can we change for the better

We have to urgently take such steps that will not only stop it from spreading further but also gradually eradicating it.

Looking at some of the organisations like RBI,Delhi Metro,SEBI,NDDB,Technology Mission,Delhi Prison under Mrs Kiran Bedi, it appears that Top Person heading the organisation makes lot of difference to the moulding of people working there,setting a good example for others.The initial people who head the organisation are also responsible for good practices which continue for long times. We have recently seen the adverse comment of SC in case of a head of apex investigating agency to show how a top person can make or mar the image of the organisation itself.

So the solution lies in selecting a top man who is sparkling white as far as his conduct and honesty is concerned .Give him a fixed tenure and independence in functioning so that he has no fear of being persecuted by political masters.Is it not possible to select few tp people who have flawless reputation?

Second, we need to be strict and prompt in taking action against the people found committing illegal acts.

Thirdly discretion to be minimal. At the same time certain flexibility in functioning of organisation even if it amounts to excercise of discretion by top person and delegation by him. The delegation as well as discretion to be institutionalised. In other words the balance of convenience to be in favour of meeting larger objectives of organisation rather than following of procedures which are cumbersome.Bonafide decisions if they delay the larger objectives to be achieved must not be given that much of importance.

Fourthly encourage transparency by use of technology.

Fifthly a continuous dose of moral education in home ,school, college and the organisation itself.

It may be a daunting task but it is definitely not impossible to achieve