Few days ago i read a cover story on Whistle-Blowers in 'Frontline Magazine'.It was about recent attacks on social activists who expose corruption with the help of RTI in which land mafia's to powerful politicians are involved.As these RTI activists threaten their existence and acts as an obstacle between their scrupulous deeds,they have adopted the strategy of eliminating them.In past seven months 10 social activists have been murdered if i am not wrong with the figure.It is a very clear sign that they are scared of them and do not want themselves to be exposed.
One RTI activists stated that in1970's Hong Kong was facing acute corruption as we are presently facing.People got so frustrated that they held a protest in huge numbers which forced the government to set up separate independent body which held the powers to investigate the cases of corruption,order an arrest and punish the guilty.It was called ICAC.I would like to give an excerpt from wiki about this incident
SOURCE-wikipedia
Anti-Corruption campaigns
In the 1970s, corruption was a way of life in Hong Kong, being the norm in all government departments. Policemen would often extract bribes (popularly called "tea fee") before they investigated a crime, as did firemen before they rescued people and put out fires. Many Chinese detective superintendents amassed incredible wealth from their corrupt dealings withtriads and corporations. Their names have been seared into the memories of the older generations, their stories adapted into several popular movies such as To be Number One (跛豪) in 1991. That is not to say British officers were entirely clean in their dealings.
In 1974, Hong Kong Governor Lord MacLehose of Beoch, realising the seriousness of the problem, founded the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The investigations and arrests of many police officers created a furor among the police, who protested against the ICAC and even tried to overrun the headquarters in one protest.
The governor, who was afraid of a police strike or even a rebellion, at last issued a pardon, preventing arrests in cases committed before 1977. However, the pardon was not extended to higher-level detective superintendents. Those high-level Chinese officers, famous for their riches, left for exile to Taiwan with no extradition treaties with Hong Kong. The efforts of the ICAC in time changed the habits of an entire population and turned Hong Kong into one of the least corrupt cities in the world.
What i want to say is that if people over there can make such a big difference then why can't we?We can also do it.Government is deaf or can say hearing power is low.Crores of people have to shout together to make them hear our voices.So what do you think?
I think it is a very good idea. But the problem is that since the top level itself is corrupt such a committee can never get formed in India.
ReplyDeletefirst i thank you for posting your comments.....
ReplyDeleteIt is true that top level is corrupt but if large number of people unite and protest and demand for such a separate organisation,i think we can make it.