For the healthy growth of any society, it is very important that there is no scope of corruption and malpractices in the society. Corruption, in any society, breeds injustice and injustices triggers unrest that hampers the very growth of the society. Like other parts of the country, Jammu and Kashmir too is facing the menace of corruption and despite tall claims made by the respective governments, very little or nothing has changed on the ground and it is in this backdrop that the Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha has stressed that active citizenry was the most powerful weapon against corruption. While virtually attending the UT-level inaugural function of Vigilance Awareness Week, the LG administered the integrity pledge to Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of departments, senior officers and officials to mark the beginning of the Vigilance Awareness Week across the UT of J&K on Monday and asserted that it was his administration’s resolve to build corruption-free J&K and no one indulging in corrupt practices will be spared. LG also asserted that zero tolerance against corruption on the ground has brought transparency in governance and assured people that the system is being strengthened through the use of cutting-edge technology and administrative reforms leaving no scope for randomness and discretion.
While the utterances from the highest seat of power in UT sound music to the ears of the public who have been victims of corruption for decades, the war cannot be won without the cooperation of the citizenry which LG himself has pointed out. Corruption is the menace that hampers the progress and development of any society in the world. When the corrupt practices become a normal, the society as a whole is destined to fail economically and rot morally. Deserving get neglected and those not deserving are benefitted thus disturbing the equilibrium of the society.
While administration’s resolve to fight corruption is praiseworthy but there will always remain some ifs and buts which the administration needs to take care of. Corruption has all along been rampant in Jammu and Kashmir, so rampant that unfortunately it has, by and large been accepted by the populace as something inevitable. This acceptance has, in a way, provided a social sanctity to this menace. Gone are the days that arrest of any government official on the charges of corruption would shake people and arrested would feel the shame of public rejection. The situation has reached a stage where the most corrupt are the most respected ones. It feels good to read that the UT administration has made such major decisions to curb the menace but it goes without saying that the task is not so easy. The main organization that deals with the menace – Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) – needs to be strengthened. The administration should identify the upright and honest officials with integrity to run this organization. The administration needs to have ample circles of checks and balances to ensure the organization that is assigned to fight corruption, doesn’t have any scope for any corrupt practices within.
Secondly, corruption is a disease that needs to be tackled from the top. Targeting small fries is not going to make any huge difference. Yes, it may help the administration’s PR exercise a bit but will not help fighting the corruption. Need is to widen the dragnet and catch the sharks who actually are the main culprits and use the small fry to do their dirty job. That said, the society, as a whole, should raise its voice against corruption in public life and offices. The religious leaders during Friday sermons should talk about these kind of issues and make people aware that how Islam looks down upon corruption and the corrupt.
