Vigilance against corruption

Preventing corruption is the first precondition of development of a nation. India's rank in Corruption Perception Index slipped two positions from 78 to 80 among 180 countries in 2019, according to Transparency International. This makes the theme of this year's Vigilance Awareness Week-Satark Bharat, Samriddh Bharat (Vigilant India, Prosperous India) more relevant. The India Corruption Survey-2019 conducted in 20 states, however, showed a decline in percentage of citizens who had paid bribes to get their work done in various government departments, corporations, institutions from 56 per cent in 2018 to 51 in 2019. There is, however, no room for complacency as objective behind observing the vigilance awareness week is to bring this percentage to zero. Northeast region and Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh were not covered by this survey. Several incidents in recent period of officials of government departments, police officials being caught red handed while accepting bribe from citizens in Assam in lieu of getting their work done point towards prevalence of corruption in the state.

Arrests of corrupt officials in some cases were possible because the citizens involved were vigilant against corruption and were aware of seeking assistance of the authorities concerned. While awareness of the citizens can prevent corruption significantly, transparency in government procedures and decision-making process can empower them to be more vigilant. Technology plays a vital role, and the State government should focus more on e-governance to bring more openness in the system for the general public. Direct Benefit Transfer for transferring cash component of various government schemes, subsidies to bank accounts of the beneficiaries has done wonder in significantly reducing pilferage or duping of beneficiaries by middlemen. Financial inclusion and financial literacy of the targeted beneficiaries are vital to ensure success of the DBT mechanism. A section of corrupt government officials, employees in league with middlemen are still taking advantage of lack of financial inclusion in some areas and poor financial literacy to make some beneficiaries pay bribes to get their benefits which are provided to them by the government free of cost. Citizens in several districts in Assam complaining that they had to pay money for their Aadhar enrolment is one such example.

Linking of Aadhar enrolment with the Central government's flagship programme of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin and several other schemes has been done to ensure that the benefits reach genuine beneficiaries and there is no scope for any corruption in distribution of the cash components of these schemes. Aadhar enrolment was suspended in the state during the lockdown and prevailing pandemic situation and has triggered a sudden rush for enrolment. The government departments and the Unique Identity Authority of India should utilize the observation of the vigilance awareness week which began on October 27 to make people aware of the process of the Aadhar enrolment, its utilizations and requirements and how it can prevent corruption. The government departments should focus on formulating effective strategies to ensure that objective of e-governance is not defeated by limitations of financial literacy, lack of awareness among the citizens on government schemes and benefits they are entitled to under the schemes and programmes. While a transparent mechanism will help reduction in corruption, corrupt individuals taking advantage of loopholes unnoticed by the authorities cannot be ruled out. Citizens play a vital role in exposing such loopholes and must come forward to report incidence of corruption to authorised agencies and officials so that timely action can be initiated.

Action against corrupt officials and employees has deterrent action and when integrity pledge is administered to government employees it will keep reminding them that corruption is the major hinderance to the development of the state and the country. Citizens must be made aware to keep vigil against government officials and employees building assets disproportionate to their income. This will, however, require the State government to make all information related to asset declaration by government officials and employees easily accessible to citizens. A conscious citizen will then be able to bring it to the notice of the anti-corruption officials in the government whenever they notice discrepancies in asset declaration by any government employee and asset they actually own.

Use of local languages in dissemination of all relevant information is critical to ensuring greater participation of the citizens in reporting such discrepancies. Use of social media platforms in building awareness against corruption will help the government departments in spreading message where internet has reached. The objectives of e-governance and transparency of government process through online platforms to make people more vigilant against corruption will remain unachieved if the digital divide continues to persist. The observation of the week therefore should also focus on finding ways to bridge the digital gap and innovate strategies to reach out to the citizens in offline mode till entire population is covered by internet connections.