Corruption may apply to destroy moral purity, to debase, to defile, or to destroy or prevent the integrity or fidelity of a person in his discharge of duty, to induce to act dishonestly or unfaithfully, to make venal or to bribe. These aspects are captured in etymology of word based on Latin verb ‘RUMPERE’ which means that something is broken like a moral or social code of conduct, law or administrative rule. It means taking gratification for the exercise of a public function..

The range of such gratification varies between a bribe, which a civil servant takes for rendering a service or exercising power in favour of or against someone to, granting a largess or conferring a privilege on a minister or highly placed civil servant….

Gratification may be of money, property, woman, wine, a job, educational facilities for son, daughter or near relative or a foreign trip….

In India the prevention of corrupption act 1988 which applies to public servants deals with Corruption basically in terms of ‘taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act’. Corruption can assume many forms, cover a wide range of transactions. The quid pro quo in corruption could relate to the past or future…

At lower bureaucratic levels it could take the form of ‘Speed Money’ … in public sphere it operates at various levels of political and bureaucratic hierarchies… In this process of corruption, appointments, postings and transfers, play a prime role providing the bridge between corruption and political interference in administrations.

In developing countries there is acute competition for sharing benefits… at the same inequality, and expectations are to roaring heights…. Such a situation provides an inbuilt impetus for corruption… Corruption for instance has been recorded at very high levels not just in democracies but also in Authoritarian regimes in Africa and Asia….

It undermines the legitimacy of the governments because of a mixture of facts and perceptions concerning its level… the adverse effect of corruption on the economy and on public administration are many… government expenditures are inflated and wasteful projects and programmes are taken up in order to obtain kickbacks…..

Standards get diluted in investments (eg. Dams, roads, bridges, and buildings), goods (drugs), services (doctors, engineers, teachers) causing hazards to safety, life and health….govt. revenues get reduced on account of tax evasion…the poor are worst affected since they can not pay bribes to avail the benefits which they are lawfuly entitled to…

It is thus, aggravating inequality in the already unequal society…

A person who accepts illegal gratification is punishable for offence under Indian Penal Code as well as the Prevention of Corruption act 1988..since there are penal sections the guilt of the person must be established beyond reasonable doubts…. But India is perhaps the only democracy whose constitutional, legal and political systems do not ensure accountability to law by men at the helm of nation’s affairs despite having constitution based on rule of law….

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written by IdleMind, October 26, 2009

I guess this is a timely call to fight corruption. And even among corrupt entities demanding bribe (in all forms), I keep thinking about corrupt minds, corrupt culture, corrupt ideologies and definitely corrupt living.

I guess they are corrupting enough. Aren't they?

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written by Pavalamani Pragasam, October 26, 2009

The ugliest aspect of corruption today is its gradual acceptance/assimilation as a normal, invincible part of our daily life, at home and at the national level!It is sickening! Where do we start? Charity begins at home, it is said. Let us eradicate corruption first in our own acts!It needs great courage and willingness to suffer and lose many accustomed comforts!!!

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written by Administrator, October 27, 2009

The person offering bribe/opportunity to corrupt are the most corrupted ones. An excellent writeup.

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written by Domarp, October 28, 2009

Nice writeup Anuradha...
Corruption is so deeply entrenched in our system that we think it as normal...however it is detrimental in all perspectives be it social,moral,political or economical...today in era of IT we can use technology intelligently, but onus is more on people to realize that it is severely dysfunctional for all of us...instant gratification and greed might have made things easier for few but it is bane and social cancer for all.

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written by umbrella, October 28, 2009

Excellent write up Anu. I wd like to echo PP's comment.

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Great Article
written by Kenny, March 07, 2010

Great. A timely call for the eradication of corruption, particularly in developing countries. I wish every president all over the world reaAction.ds this.

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Great Article
written by Kenny, March 07, 2010

A timely call. The worst scenerio now is that young ones are imbibing the corrupt ideas. God save us.

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