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.
