“You are observing a fast to protest against corruption and to support Anna Hazare but why don't you take a pledge to pay your taxes honestly? Why do you submit fake rent receipts and agreements to get tax deductions and why do you claim medical reimbursements by submitting fake medical bills,” I asked my friend.
He was confused for a moment, not sure whether his fast was for the holy month of Navratra or for his support against corruption; nevertheless, he sees every other person in this world that he deals with as corrupt. He does not think, on the other hand, that his own dubious actions are a corrupt practice. Why? Because everyone else does the same thing, and because he thinks it is the government's fault to have given us loopholes in tax issues so that people act in a corrupt manner. After whetting his appetite on a day of fast with loads of salad and dry fruits, he came up with a fairly concise answer, “If the government wants to stop corruption in tax matters, it should propose a flat tax law.”
When I think of corrupt practices, it's not just politicians that come to my mind but every ordinary citizen that I deal with. Corruption is not so much a political phenomenon as it is a psychological issue. If it takes 30 days to process a passport application in India, there is always a segment of restless people who want it to be done in 10 days. Whether the person doing the passport verification work asks for a bribe or not, there is always a section of people who volunteers to pay “extra” to expedite the process. Before we realise, what looks like an isolated action becomes a practice. When victimised, the beneficiary suddenly starts to shout hoarse about corruption and the thorns of seeds he planted start to prick his own skin.
We, the citizens of India, in our constant endeavour to garner out-of-the-box favours are ready to pay extra to get things done. Whether it is a passport inquiry or an electricity connection, we act as restless fools, not realising that we are jeopardising our own future.
When it comes to choosing patience to procedure, we falter. When we are forced to stand in a queue to pay the electricity bill, we succumb to our own restlessness to find a short-cut. A million citizens may be willing to sit in Hazare's rally to protest against corruption; but when it comes to their own backyard, they are happy to hide the mess instead of confronting it upfront. How many laws do we need to end our misery? Is there a dearth of laws to punish someone for a corrupt practice? Do we lack the constitutional potency to punish the guilty?
No, we don't. There are two things we are lacking in; law enforcement and the psychological strength discussed above. Once we get the psychological strength, law enforcement will take care of itself. Why? Because, those who enforce laws are normal human beings.
If we learn to follow procedures and stop buttering officials, they will realise one day that they need to earn their own bread. Who's going to get bribed when there is no one to give bribe? If we start to change ourselves instead of mustering effort to change the world, corruption can be easily taken care of. Just ask yourself, who is corrupt here, am I corrupt? Is he corrupt? Are they corrupt? If we take care of the “am I corrupt” part, the “is he” or “are they” parts will take care of themselves. Who is going to bell the cat?
(The writer's email is rohitgupta14@hotmail.com)
