Corruption in Public Life
English Essay on "Corruption in Public Life" - Compositions on "Corruption in Public Life"
To lead a successful crusade against corruption we must inculcate Islamic code of conduct and ethics. Corruption in public life is not a modern phenomenon. It was prevalent in the political and civic life of Subcontinent dwellers as has been discussed by old poets and sofis in their writings. But, it is only since independence that corruption has become a chronic feature of our public life. So much so that people have started treating it as a normal feature. They no longer show righteous indignation against corrupt practices, fight injustice or express any shock when big scandals like Co-op Scam (1992) and Saver Rafel (1990) are exposed. Today, corruption in particular has become all pervasive like the air we breathe, and is noticeable in every aspect of life.
Before Pakistan became free she was ruled by the British with the help of a small and compact body of bureaucrats of the Indian Civil Service. These officers, not wholly above corruption, helped the British to maintain law and order and run the administration efficiently. Certain government departments like P.W.D. and the notice were notorious for their corrupt practices even then. Fit corruption was not so rampant as it is today, for the simple reason that there were fewer opportunities.educationsight.blogspot.com After independence, we adopted a democratic pattern of society. Democracy to be successful must have responsible citizens who are not merely aware of their rights but also their moral duties. They owe it to themselves to put those people in power who have proved record of integrity, public service and high values. It was indeed sad when public trust in their chosen leaders was betrayed. It did not take very long for people to realize that the faith they had placed in the politicians was misplaced. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely this maxim of Lord Acton was exposed, commissions of inquiry were appointed to appease the public fury. However, the complete truth was never made public.
Opportunities for corruption in a developing country committed to democratic pattern are endless. Undoubtedly, there are rules and regulations governing the conduct of public servants, but these can be twisted and interpreted in accordance with the circumstances. There is widespread nepotism, favouritism and manipulation at the ministerial level and among senior bureaucrats. Even a petty clerk in a government office wields more power than a more successful private citizen. It is said, to get even a paper moved in the government offices, one has to grease the itching palms of these people.
One of the factors responsible for corruption is the conflict between the civil servants and politicians. In order to maintain his political base and consolidate his position in his constituency, a politician accommodates many people prominent, wealthy voters, influential party leaders, members of national assembly, etc. and grants them concessions to gain their support. On the other hand conscientious civil servants are constantly thwarted in their attempts to move according to established rules. This is one of the crucial reasons why antisocial activities cannot effectively be brought under control. Many hoarders, smugglers, tax-evaders, business houses enjoy political support, thus weakening the hands of the authorities. Corruption can certainly be checked, if the civil servants do not succumb to political pressure. However, government should ensure that there is no victimization of such honest officers, otherwise it can demoralize them.
There is a widespread impression that many of our politicians ‘and party chiefs place personal and party interests above public welfare and they by endanger democratic values. This is certainly not an exaggeration. It is not the duty of a legislator to work for big business houses and secure them concessions, licenses and contracts in the hope of getting heavy donations to party funds to meet the election expenses. Businessmen, motivated by self-interest, do not necessarily donate because they approve of the party’s policies and programmes. As political parties cannot function without funds, they are therefore, obliged to accept money from these business houses in exchange for certain concessions. The only way to eliminate this form of corruption is that election expenses should be reduced to the minimum and the law should be vigorously enforced. One reason why corruption has increased to such alarming proportions is that though our economy has made progress, price levels have risen to such fantastic height that the purchasing power of the rupee is only 18 paisa today. It has made the life of fixed income group very difficult. Simultaneously, there has been an astounding increase in the number of the nouveau riche, who flaunt their black money blatantly living in palatial houses and make the middle classes feel helpless. Many of them cannot resist the temptation of making easy money maintain their social status and with the increasing demand their families fanned by the overnight availability of luxury consumer goods. However, this does not in any way justify corruption, but brings us to the point that we have forgotten our Islamic ideals and merely pay lip service to them. Had all our politicians led an austere life, corruption in the administration could have been greatly checked, if not altogether eliminated. Besides, no amount of revision in the pay scales can satisfy the people, unless the abnormal rise in the prices of essential commodities is brought under control.
Public apathy to the rampant corrupt practices and their growing indifference to the virtual breakdown of law and order machinery only encourages the anti-social activities. Instead of organising ourselves to fight corruption, black marketing, artificial shortages, we just express helplessness, and give vent to impotent rage. It is only the combined effort of public, administrative machinery and conscientious public servants which can help to check the corrupt practices. An alert administration can certainly detect the guilty. We cannot deny that occasionally, under the pressure of public furor, the guilty are punished, but it is equally true that many cases of corruption are dropped under political pressure.
Today corruption has become so widespread that there is no sphere of national life where it does not exist. Large sum of money allocated for development programmes, community projects or tribal welfare, etc., are in is appropriated by corrupt officials and never reach the real beneficiaries. Corruption has even invaded the educational sphere. Large amounts of capitation fee are demanded, deserving students are denied admissions to accommodate less deserving candidates who have political backing. It is inconceivable that so much tax evasion, accumulation of black money, smuggling, hoarding, black marketing, etc., should go on and remain undetected without the protection of the authorities.
The central government has always been aware of the need to combat corruption. In 1993, on the suggestion of caretaker prime minister Moeen Qureshi, the government announced a comprehensive code for Central and State ministers It required the people in power to declare their assets and Inabilities, and put certain restrictions on collecting funds for elections. However, as these suggestions were not seriously enforced, things continued to degenerate. A major factor in facilitating corruption is the existing system of transfers and postings of government servants, teachers and others. The transfers system was introduced by the British to prevent local officials from becoming too powerful by building a circle of supporters over a period of time in one place. The threat of transfer was considered an ideal way of controlling the behaviour of civil servants. Today, transfers have become big business. Each transfer on request brings money to those in power. If a minister is unhappy with someone, he is transferred to a promote corner of the country. The bribes are paid from the lowest level to the highest level. In fact, there are fixed rates to get things moving in offices. Of course there are still people who are honest. But a long as people are willing to offer bribes, directly or indirectly, and as long as the needs of people go on increasing, there would be temptations to make money on the sly.
If we are serious to eradicate corruption from the grass root level then we have to revamp the whole machinery. Here, the role of our educational institutions in inculcating the right values among the youth of tomorrow cannot be underestimated. There is a need for moral reawakening of our people, leaders and administrators. In order to lead a successful crusade against corruption in public life, both the government and the opposition should work in a spirit of cooperation and riot try to make political capital out of corrupt scandals. Opposition has a very crucial role to play in a democracy. It should be responsible and not always waiting to pounce on the government to discredit it. Our democratic system is bound to get grievously hurt, if the people in power do not rise to the occasion and face the glaring truth with courage, foresight and patience. It is only if a serious effort is made to live up to Islamic code of morality that we can hope to strengthen the nation. No miraculous changes should be expected when an evil takes deep root in society, it is futile to expect to root it out in a flash. Genuine socio-economic changes can be brought about if enlightened people help the government to fight the demon of corruption.
Before Pakistan became free she was ruled by the British with the help of a small and compact body of bureaucrats of the Indian Civil Service. These officers, not wholly above corruption, helped the British to maintain law and order and run the administration efficiently. Certain government departments like P.W.D. and the notice were notorious for their corrupt practices even then. Fit corruption was not so rampant as it is today, for the simple reason that there were fewer opportunities.educationsight.blogspot.com After independence, we adopted a democratic pattern of society. Democracy to be successful must have responsible citizens who are not merely aware of their rights but also their moral duties. They owe it to themselves to put those people in power who have proved record of integrity, public service and high values. It was indeed sad when public trust in their chosen leaders was betrayed. It did not take very long for people to realize that the faith they had placed in the politicians was misplaced. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely this maxim of Lord Acton was exposed, commissions of inquiry were appointed to appease the public fury. However, the complete truth was never made public.
Opportunities for corruption in a developing country committed to democratic pattern are endless. Undoubtedly, there are rules and regulations governing the conduct of public servants, but these can be twisted and interpreted in accordance with the circumstances. There is widespread nepotism, favouritism and manipulation at the ministerial level and among senior bureaucrats. Even a petty clerk in a government office wields more power than a more successful private citizen. It is said, to get even a paper moved in the government offices, one has to grease the itching palms of these people.
One of the factors responsible for corruption is the conflict between the civil servants and politicians. In order to maintain his political base and consolidate his position in his constituency, a politician accommodates many people prominent, wealthy voters, influential party leaders, members of national assembly, etc. and grants them concessions to gain their support. On the other hand conscientious civil servants are constantly thwarted in their attempts to move according to established rules. This is one of the crucial reasons why antisocial activities cannot effectively be brought under control. Many hoarders, smugglers, tax-evaders, business houses enjoy political support, thus weakening the hands of the authorities. Corruption can certainly be checked, if the civil servants do not succumb to political pressure. However, government should ensure that there is no victimization of such honest officers, otherwise it can demoralize them.
There is a widespread impression that many of our politicians ‘and party chiefs place personal and party interests above public welfare and they by endanger democratic values. This is certainly not an exaggeration. It is not the duty of a legislator to work for big business houses and secure them concessions, licenses and contracts in the hope of getting heavy donations to party funds to meet the election expenses. Businessmen, motivated by self-interest, do not necessarily donate because they approve of the party’s policies and programmes. As political parties cannot function without funds, they are therefore, obliged to accept money from these business houses in exchange for certain concessions. The only way to eliminate this form of corruption is that election expenses should be reduced to the minimum and the law should be vigorously enforced. One reason why corruption has increased to such alarming proportions is that though our economy has made progress, price levels have risen to such fantastic height that the purchasing power of the rupee is only 18 paisa today. It has made the life of fixed income group very difficult. Simultaneously, there has been an astounding increase in the number of the nouveau riche, who flaunt their black money blatantly living in palatial houses and make the middle classes feel helpless. Many of them cannot resist the temptation of making easy money maintain their social status and with the increasing demand their families fanned by the overnight availability of luxury consumer goods. However, this does not in any way justify corruption, but brings us to the point that we have forgotten our Islamic ideals and merely pay lip service to them. Had all our politicians led an austere life, corruption in the administration could have been greatly checked, if not altogether eliminated. Besides, no amount of revision in the pay scales can satisfy the people, unless the abnormal rise in the prices of essential commodities is brought under control.
Public apathy to the rampant corrupt practices and their growing indifference to the virtual breakdown of law and order machinery only encourages the anti-social activities. Instead of organising ourselves to fight corruption, black marketing, artificial shortages, we just express helplessness, and give vent to impotent rage. It is only the combined effort of public, administrative machinery and conscientious public servants which can help to check the corrupt practices. An alert administration can certainly detect the guilty. We cannot deny that occasionally, under the pressure of public furor, the guilty are punished, but it is equally true that many cases of corruption are dropped under political pressure.
Today corruption has become so widespread that there is no sphere of national life where it does not exist. Large sum of money allocated for development programmes, community projects or tribal welfare, etc., are in is appropriated by corrupt officials and never reach the real beneficiaries. Corruption has even invaded the educational sphere. Large amounts of capitation fee are demanded, deserving students are denied admissions to accommodate less deserving candidates who have political backing. It is inconceivable that so much tax evasion, accumulation of black money, smuggling, hoarding, black marketing, etc., should go on and remain undetected without the protection of the authorities.
The central government has always been aware of the need to combat corruption. In 1993, on the suggestion of caretaker prime minister Moeen Qureshi, the government announced a comprehensive code for Central and State ministers It required the people in power to declare their assets and Inabilities, and put certain restrictions on collecting funds for elections. However, as these suggestions were not seriously enforced, things continued to degenerate. A major factor in facilitating corruption is the existing system of transfers and postings of government servants, teachers and others. The transfers system was introduced by the British to prevent local officials from becoming too powerful by building a circle of supporters over a period of time in one place. The threat of transfer was considered an ideal way of controlling the behaviour of civil servants. Today, transfers have become big business. Each transfer on request brings money to those in power. If a minister is unhappy with someone, he is transferred to a promote corner of the country. The bribes are paid from the lowest level to the highest level. In fact, there are fixed rates to get things moving in offices. Of course there are still people who are honest. But a long as people are willing to offer bribes, directly or indirectly, and as long as the needs of people go on increasing, there would be temptations to make money on the sly.
If we are serious to eradicate corruption from the grass root level then we have to revamp the whole machinery. Here, the role of our educational institutions in inculcating the right values among the youth of tomorrow cannot be underestimated. There is a need for moral reawakening of our people, leaders and administrators. In order to lead a successful crusade against corruption in public life, both the government and the opposition should work in a spirit of cooperation and riot try to make political capital out of corrupt scandals. Opposition has a very crucial role to play in a democracy. It should be responsible and not always waiting to pounce on the government to discredit it. Our democratic system is bound to get grievously hurt, if the people in power do not rise to the occasion and face the glaring truth with courage, foresight and patience. It is only if a serious effort is made to live up to Islamic code of morality that we can hope to strengthen the nation. No miraculous changes should be expected when an evil takes deep root in society, it is futile to expect to root it out in a flash. Genuine socio-economic changes can be brought about if enlightened people help the government to fight the demon of corruption.
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