Corruption - Let's Chuck it

Are not systems in some countries, top to bottom, heavily dependent on somethings extra outside of the regular process, along with the “chalta hai “attitude? 

Instead of this being a deviation, these extras are so deep ingrained in the system that they have secured their deep-rooted place in the normal process and no one, us included, think them as not normal.  I shudder to think how commonplace and usual it has become to pay small extras or big kickbacks to get something done -not triggering the slightest bit of repentance in the giver and receiver’s mind at all. In fact, it is commonplace that without those tit-bits, tips or out-of-the-way service charges, things won’t move at all and they are part of the overall plan to get something done.

While most of us think and talk about it with disdain, we do take resort to these practices someway or other in the increasingly crunched lifestyle bereft of time we have it for ourselves- to do our own work.  I do believe that until and unless requirements and processes have been made simple enough and electronically accessible, this crap can’t be cut however much we protest against them.  There is an urgent need of removing the human intervention and the processes need to be driven in self help mode that is reachable anywhere and everywhere- just like in more developed countries.  If people do not need to stand in the queue for filling up a form or getting document delivered or do not need to physically run around for mundane jobs – costs according to me to get something done, I strongly believe these evil practices will be gone out of the window in a significant way.

Cost (mainly in terms of time and hassle and not the actual fee/money) of getting something done has to be less than the cost (actual money paid) of the bribe – this is the only succor to the problem at hand.

IT thing happened to India. With all the other benefits that India as a country has achieved, I also see this as something that prevented a bulk of populace of the current working generation from taking bribe- am assuming here that we, the IT folks, have not resorted to these practices.

I do not want to sound pessimistic as I see changes are in the offing- electronic stamp paper being one of the many.  While more and more people like you and me – the common people are taking interest and getting involved in main stream politicking, corrupt people have taken a note of the fact that escape routes are slowly and surely being plugged and the remaining ones will soon be buried.  The changes in terms of systems and processes are happening but need to gather momentum.  Let’s put all effort,with resolve and determination, not to yield for these extras to get something done in a hurry – easier said than done.