OPINION: In corruption, India ranks 94th in the world!

Measuring corruption is a means to fight it: Transparency International

In 1993, a few individuals decided to take a stance against corruption and created Transparency International. Now present in more than 100 countries, the movement works relentlessly to stir the world’s collective conscience and bring about change. The mission is to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society with Core Values as transparency, accountability, integrity, solidarity, courage, justice and democracy.

A growing outcry over corrupt governments forced several leaders from office last year, but as the dust has cleared it has become apparent that the levels of bribery, abuse of power and secret dealings are still very high in many countries. 

 We know corruption is a problem around the world. But how bad is it and what can be done? The Corruption Perceptions Index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in countries worldwide.

According to “Transparency International”, India stands at 94th in 176 countries in the world. Each country has been given the number from Zero to Hundred.  Zero means, the most corrupt and Hundred means, free from ideal corruption. India has got 36 numbers and in the list is almost in the middle.  This means, the situation of India is like a half glass full and half empty which is not a good situation.  More-over, we don’t require any international institution as to how much level of corruption is in India.  Hardly there would be any citizen, who may not have to face corruption at every step.  

After the independence of India, all agitations barring few were against the corruption.  The latest campaign going on is under the leadership of Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal.  In face, the corruption is less in those countries that are economically developed.  In case we see in India itself, we have made the licence permit rule and the corruption is installation of industry.  

In the past, the big scams have been in the limelight are of land, spectrum contracts allotment. In India, it is impossible to start any business or do any further development without passing through the marshland.  The only hope is that in India, the efforts are being made slowly to eradicate the corruption.  But because of democratic country, it is difficult to raise a voice and agitate against corruption.  All such countries have reformed except China.  In India, there are possibilities to reform the administration and judiciary as the civil society has created an atmosphere against the corruption and done a good work in pressurising the government on the issue of corruption but forming another institution like Lokpal is not likely to benefit.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of City Air News.)