Context:

The impact of corruption is especially heavy on common citizens and even more on poorer and vulnerable persons in communities.

Corruption:

• It refers to misusing public power for personal gain. Corruption is the destruction of values.

Causes of corruption:

• Political  factors:
  • Politics has Populist practices. 
  • Especially known as nexus with the corporate sector exposed by the NN Vohra Committee in 1993.

• Economic factors:
  • Resources concentration in a few hands.
  • Even in past liberalization era, income of top 10% people huge rise and income of bottom 10% poor people, farmers are there remains stagnant or experienced decline.

• Socio-cultural-religious factors:
  • In India, Socio-cultural factors encourage corruption and not a discourage.
  • That is, India has a tolerant culture against corruption. 

• Legal and administrative factors:
  • Administrative structure, legal loopholes, outdated laws, arbitrary laws and laws encouraging and recognising become also basis for promoting corruption, that is corruption doesn’t have only moral dimensions, it has also legal dimension. 

ARC-II given three major causes of corruption:

• British colonial legacy historically imbibes corruption in the system and is deeply rooted specially in administration. 
• Centralized administration of Power.
• Public sector jobs are wanted by people by any hooks or crooks.

General causes:

• Personal gains & self-preservation (hedonistic tendencies)
• Less salary in the public sector as compared to the formal private sector
• Lack of proper values, education and training
• Lack of transparency
• Poor emotional intelligence 
• No motivation and reward for honest officers
• Low rate of conviction

Conclusion:

There is a need for reforms in each and every section of the system to fight against the menace of corruption. 

Integrity, transparency and fighting against corruption have to be part of the culture. They must be thought of as fundamental values of the society.

News Source:  The Indian Express 

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