As the day nears, and as we reach out to our firends, family and strangers as well - it's important to focus our efforts and reach as many as we can. When I talked to many, some of them joined readily, some were skeptical, and yet some others had questions. I will try to cover some of them here.
What is the Cause?
Non-Corruption. (Understand the evil effects of corruption and raise awareness among others at the same time exhorting them to observe a non-corrupt way of life - especially in politics and administration (as it impacts multitudes))
Why Dec 18th?
This idea of having a Non Corruption Day started about 10 days ago. At that time, Dec 18th looked like not too far off to lose sight of it; and not too close so we have time to reach out to many people. And it also happens to be a day to remember for the person (Vasantha) who came up with the idea.
What do I do for this?
Three simple things:
1) Take up the cause of Non-Corruption and reach out to as many as you can (enlist the support of atleast 5 others)
2) On 18th - make sure not to give or take bribes to get things done.
3) Discourage it and report it to appropriate authorities, if you come across any acts of corruption.
What's the goal?
- Reach out to as many people as we can;
- Raise awareness on the evil effects of Corruption;
- Educate them on what we can do as individuals to curb it
What happens in just one day of observance?
It's a good start. We intend to increase the awareness in the population by this focused effort. The intention is that people will take it forward to subsequent days, weeks and months as well.
What's the extent of Corruption in India?
India is ranked #89 among 160 nations surveyed, according to http://www.nationmaster.com/. It goes to show that we are in the bottom half of the equation. Sri Lanka is better placed than us at #81.
According to Transparency International, India scored about 3.5 out of 10 in 2007 (See image above). Again, nothing to write home about.
According to the ex-Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sri N. Vittal:
"Corruption is harmful in three different ways:
1) Corruption is anti-national.
2) Corruption is anti-poor. Rajiv Gandhi once observed that out of every rupee meant for the anti- poverty programmes only 15 paise reached the beneficiary. Out of the 85 paise may be 40 paise can be accounted for as administrative overheads. The leakage of the remaining 45 paise is definitely due to corruption. Corruption is, therefore, anti-poor.
3) Corruption is also anti-economic development."
[We know what role corruption would have played in playing out the Mumbai attacks, although it's premature to conclude about it while the investigation is still on. But we are not naive not to know where it went wrong and how corruption played a part at various levels of the food chain.]
Read more of what Sri Vittal has to say at http://www.hindustan.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2002
REMEMBER: Pass the word about Dec 18th - National Non-Corruption Day to as many people as you can, with the simple message: Don't give, encourage or take bribes - of any sort on that day.
Of course, not many of our friends might feel the effects of corruption or even this effort; but if we can touch atleast some people who have to pay to get their work done; who take to do others' work - if they can observe this day as Non-Corruption Day - and if even a tiny % of those folks feel the difference in their heart - the good feeling....the purpose would be met.
Corruption is an all-pervading evil that affects one and all in one way or the other and has reached a stage where it's crippling our society. We all want to do something about it - but don't do anything. So, this is our chance, to do that 'drop in the ocean' now and continue it - so when hundreds, thousands and millions come together, we might be able to influence the outcome.
Hopeful of a better tomorrow -
Swasti !!
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