First of all, let me congratulate Anna Hazare (here onwards referred as ‘Anna’) for success in his first step on eradication of corruption in our country. Lots of people are raising their voices and supporting both verbally and in writing on this Anti-corruption movement. Social websites are being poured with long status updates, you tube videos on Anna’s commentaries, statements asking us to support Anna, etc. But honestly I am still dubious for how long will this contribution stay in effect. The government after accepting the demands from Anna, Lok pal bill will be submitted. Then what? Will it stop from the people shelling out bribe for a traffic police constable who picks you up for not wearing a helmet while riding your bike? Will it stop from a government hospital attender/clerk who demands money for providing basic needs which should be offered free for a father desperately waiting for some medical help for his ill son or wife? Will it stop from ration store keeper to divert the Poor man’s allocated ration for some private grocery store owner? No I don’t think this bill would stop them.
Anna’s approach, can take care of high level corruption but I sincerely doubt whether it causes any commotion for low level baboos. A common man is mostly concerned to get free medical help in government hospital without any corrupted medical clerks/attender involvement to save his sick child’s life OR to save his quota of food ration in a government scheme that is being diverted to different sources by corrupted ration store keeper. This low level corruption is mostly encouraged by a common people like us. There is neither a record to investigate nor any interest to consider this as a crime. The known fact here is that the count of people who are shelling bribes is far more than the ones who are taking it. So that makes the contribution to corruption is coming more from the ones who are shelling money out than the corrupted ones. Then are we the ones blaming ourselves when we are stating that we need to kill this corruption daemon. Everyone are raising their outer voices to eradicate the corruption in our country but we need to raise our inner voices too. We need to ask ourselves, if what about I pay chalan to the policeman if I did something against the rule rather than bribing him. What about I study well to get my seat in a Government college rather than bribing the principal to reserve a seat? What about I refuse and fight for righteousness when an employee/clerk in the government office asks you for a bribe to move your file from one department to other for your pension approval? Start from here. Ask yourself in addition to giving emphasis on raising your outer voice. Blame and admit yourself if you have been involved in this crime (and I did it!). We as an initiators of this low level corruption should be able to end this. You might be alone at this time but you will have lot more companions if you maintain some patience and start realizing the realm of non low level corruption. So people its ‘you’ who should stop ‘you’.
Anna’s fight can be considered successful not only by accepting this bill by government but also by amending ourselves to eradicate corruption at lower levels. Realize and Pass this message on if you like, otherwise think that you overslept 15 minutes and add it to your bucket of time you wasted for today! Adios!
