CVC Report — A plan to curb corruption

It’s a truism that corruption is pervasive in
India. An equally troubling aspect is that our leaders, administrators and civil
society are aware of the problem. And in spite of a plethora of laws to control
the problem, it only continues to grow.

Now the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has
issued a national anti-corruption strategy that it hopes will make a difference.
There is much to be said in favour of the report : It high-lights the issue very
well and makes a series of thoughtful solutions. But that is just about what CVC
can do. The levers that can ameliorate the problem lie elsewhere.

The matter is clearly highlighted in section III
of the report where CVC talks about the strategy to address political and
administrative corruption. The problem of funding electoral and other
expenditures of political parties is highlighted clearly. Insensitivity of civil
servants and their remoteness from citizens at large is also discussed.

The CVC’s solution to these problems is threefold.
One, strengthening political will to confront corruption; two, building ethical
competence in public officials; and finally, strengthening administrative
reforms. This is like putting the cart before the horse. If political will did
exist, then the matter would have been sorted out a long time ago.

By putting a large part of the onus on
strengthening of political will, CVC has taken the problem in a different,
psychological, direction. That is a different and intractable issue.

The solutions are fine on paper, as is the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The reality is very different and altogether
nasty.

(Source : The Mint, dated 30-8-2010)