I am writing a series of articles on reasons for corruption in India. I will also discuss the possible solution to overcome this in the subsequent articles. These articles are not directed against any individual but against the institutions. To know about the corruption we need to have basic information about our political system.
Our Government
Every government will have three bodies in general. This arrangement is made to prevent the concentration of powers in a single person or single institution. If the same person makes, implements and interprets the laws, It is nothing but what he says is law. He will become a person above law. The three bodies are
1) Legislature (houses MPs, MLAs) which makes laws
2) Executive (houses Ministers, secretaries (IASs)) which executes or implements laws
3) Judiciary (houses supreme court and high court) which interprets laws.
India follows a parliamentary democracy where Prime minister is the real head of executive and president is nominal head. Some countries like US follow presidential democracy where president is the real head and there will be separation of powers between legislature, executive and judiciary. In India executive is a part of legislature (MP). Prime minister and other council of ministers are MPs. So they function as both legislature and executive. So we see an overlapping in the functions of legislature and executive. They make laws and execute them. This is where corruption comes in.
Power tempts
What is the function of MPs? They have to make laws and debate on the functioning of executive. The process of election is so competitive that candidates use lot of money during campaigning. Most candidates aspire to have some sort of power with them. Thus all MPs either become executive or end up in influencing executive. This power which is needed to fulfill the wishes and aspirations of the voters in their constituency is misused which can easily lead to corruption. If some stranger leaves a bag of gold in your car or if you get a bag of cash accidentally which is not yours, you will be tempted. Similarly, they are having power to influence government and they are getting tempted with that power. They are using this power for their own benefit. This is a major cause of corruption. Where did this problem arise? It is from the people themselves.
Misguiding People
People are ignorant about the legislature and its significance. With time executive overshadowed legislature. Media which is a link between people and government failed to project legislature and its importance. Media projects it only when there is a polarized debate or when there is a chaos like breaking mics,chairs,etc. As media is not projecting genuine legislative discussions people are unable to realize its importance. In this competitive world media needs TRP ratings. TRP ratings will come only when people watch them. People are also not keen on discussions as much they were with a polarized statement which they can understand easily. India has a large chunk of people below poverty line.
Large chunk of people who works have some relief by watching some entertainment programs. It is also evident from the fact that just four percent of voters are individual income tax payers. Though there is no such thing that only a taxpayer can concentrate on government but it can be stated that those who cannot earn enough living will concentrate on earning and on subsidies which government provide them with. Only small chunk of people are left to concentrate on how the legislature is functioning. The good thing is that these people are growing with time. Rise of the news channels will justify this as there use to be only a few news channels decades earlier. Most people follow debates of only a subject and not all.
People’s dilemma
So foraying of legislature into executive business is a root cause of corruption. This is also leading to erosion of democratic institution, legislature. People ask legislators for fixing street lights, roads, bridges, etc. These are functions of executive and not legislator. We know people ask for recommendations, jobs, to MPs. Are these functions of MPs? The function of legislators in India is transactional in nature rather than transformational. The needs of the people in the constituency made legislators to do an executive sort of work. People are ignorant of the difference between legislators and executive and consider all ruling party legislators as executive itself. People conceived legislators as so because most legislatures always projected themselves as part of the government. Now a day we cannot see any person who is given the chance to become a minister leaving it for the sake of greater participation in legislature.
People’s responsibility
We must recognize politicians as law makers first and not as law executers. They only get whatever power we give them. Don't give more power to them and tempt them to misuse.We as citizens of this great nation must be aware of the political happenings. We need not concentrate on the brawls on the floor of the house but we must try to follow what are the acts being passed by legislature and how they will affect the people in different parts of the society. Do keep some time to think about the nation or anything happening around the world. Contribute to the public intellectual need of the nation.
