Solutions to Fight Corruption

Ending Corruption: Our Vision and Mission.

It is expected the present caretaker government, patriot citizens and other stakeholders will be able to address the most difficult challenge – fighting corruption. Corruption is a tremendous deterrent to good governance and development, and its burden falls heaviest on the shoulders of the poor people. If we want to establish corruption free business friendly environment, wants to  become a country free of poverty and economically strong, where every citizen will enjoy his or her rights and a better quality life, ending corruption is the most important need. It is the responsibility of every stakeholder to respond to this need towards corruption free, transparent, participatory good governance ensuring equity and social justice. This is only possible when people with strong desire against corruption comes forward and participate in system along with the present government, obviously one alone cannot clean the dirt simply by talking about it.  We should always keep in mind:-

    1.     Create an awareness strategy among the people:

Nobody can undermine the role and power of media in the society for establishing a good governance. It plays a vital role in molding the society to move in the right path for it has direct access to people and this gives it a lot of strength. It is the best tool to spread awareness in the modern society giving the people latest sight about what is happening in the world, also making them aware about their rights, creating awareness against evils in society. Its limitless connectivity and potential has made a possible way to develop the communication technology and define the social situation of awareness.

    2.     Creating awareness strategy among the Stakeholders:

Everyday policy makers, professionals, business leaders, sociologist, economists and others independently generate amazing number of ideas and thoughts. Corruption can be marginalized if not eliminated if all stakeholders work together in a coordinated manner against corruption. Transparency in the system should be of utmost priority giving a big thrust on e – governance. To some extent contributing to the empowerment of civil society may not so much be about doing new things but to do the things we already do in a different way. Ideas and thoughts are ineffective if not put to actions. Unless what is thought is acted upon, such thought has no value.  What is important is the commitment of all the citizens – leaders of respective fields– to take on the challenge of ending corruption and to do one’s own part to address it in a collaborative manner.  Corruption, as in all affairs in society should be viewed from the two sides: a demand side and a supply side.  The demand side can only be curbed by reforms of institutions, strengthening the enforcement of law by a transparent judiciary.  The stake holders of a corruption free society should get united to raise voice against corruption to curve the supply side. Thus the citizens will have to participate in the battle against corruption and only moral support to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is not enough to eliminate corruption. The supply side should pledge that whatever circumstance be, they will not bow down to the demand side. No doubt is will create a big problem initially, but once the news spreads that the suppliers are now united and shall act accordingly if harassed, the system itself will move towards a neat and clean path ahead.  

    3.     Creating awareness among the Civil Society:

Civil society is in the best position to articulate the grievances of the citizen and highlight priorities of action on corruption to governments. Civil society can serve many important roles–as observer, critic, analyst, campaigner, or protester. It can create public awareness against corruption and mobilize citizens to fight against corruption in ways that governments cannot. Civil society can also play a strong role to organize campaigns against corruption.

    4.     Creating awareness among Boards and Trade Bodies:

Similarly Boards can be more active by organizing seminars, workshops, round tables to generate awareness against corruption and unethical business practice. Boards can establish anti-corruption cell headed by a vice president with adequate funds to establish liaison with media, anti-corruption commission (ACC) and other government agencies to combat corruption and protect its members from extortion and corrupt claims. Mega Boards should formulate code of conduct for their members and put pressure on the members for compliance.  Awareness regarding code of conduct for members of boards would have trickle-down the effect on smaller business enterprises also.

     5.     Creating awareness among Private Sector:

The private sector can play a more active role in rooting out the supply side of corruption.  It is painful that most businessman and citizens looks at corrupt practice as a system.  Business leaders as well as the government should take initiatives so that local and foreign investors can set up business enterprise and function without resorting to corruption and extortion. Indulging into corrupt practices just for their monetary gains should be embedded into their brains. To part with a few percent from their profit shall do no harm to their organization, but to steal from the Governments treasury shall uproot the entire nation because one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel. For eradicating corruptions it is very important that the private sector must emphasize on internal controls and auditing mechanisms.  Corporate bodies and business houses should set clear and enforceable policies against corrupt or unethical business practices.  Business house periodically must train middle and senior management on business ethics to ensure that standards are institutionalized throughout the organization.  Business houses should change their mind-set to prefer managers having comprehensive business education with emphasis on ethics.  Any business managers cannot afford to be unaware of global ethical standards for doing business.

 Conclusion

In a developing country for good governance the fight against corruption is not easy. An effective Anti-Corruption Commission – with strong political backing, can become a credible tool to deter corruption. All concerned should help the ACC to be fully operative. Nobody will deny that, in our society, the past governance mechanism was far less than satisfactory. Many issues and problems were the barriers to ensure good governance, equity and social justice.  Weak watchdog institutions corruption, political interference in administration, nepotism, misuse of power, absence of rule of law, non-accountable and non-transparent governments etc. are the common features of our governance which needs to be addressed on urgent basis.

*****************************************