Dictionary meaning of corruption is:
- Lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain
- Moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
- Destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity
- Inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by committing a felony)
So according to dictionary meaning, bribery is just "one" kind of corruption.
What about individuals other than politicians, bureaucrats? Aren't we corrupt? Most individuals are indulged in some or the other malpractice, or violation of laws/rules.
In corporate, employees claim
- House Rent Allowance with "doctored" rental receipts
- Medical expense exemption with bills created in co-operation with medical shop owner
- Exemption on vehicle operating expenses with bills created in co-operation with petrol bunk owner
- Leave Travel Allowance with "doctored" travel tickets/bills/receipts.
Self employed professionals (doctors, lawyers, businessmen etc) evade taxes. Chartered accountants help adjusting books to evade taxes.
In software industry, business development managers/teams of (service) companies project non-existent expertise, non-existent staffing, tailor made resumes to get projects from other companies. Similarly, professionals show inaccurate information in their resume while applying for a new job (of course, they try their best in interviews to prove they have that expertise/knowledge).
How many owners pay income tax for rental income? How many people declare capital gains (stocks, mutual funds, immovable properties etc)? How many professionals who go abroad on business trips pay tax for the savings they make? Very few!!!
So, fundamentally, most individuals are corrupt. It is just that the scope is varying. A common man has a limited scope for corruption. A clerk in government office has limited scope. A government officer may have a little higher scope. And politician has much higher scopes depending on level of representation (Taluka Panchayat member, MLA, MP, Minister etc). Given an equal scope for corruption, most individuals would behave in same way. Right?
Do we have moral right to voice against corruption by politicians, bureaucrats?
So True.
ReplyDeleteWonder why we want to teach children to be ethical?
Fundamentally we are all greedy - some for money, some for fame, some for satisfaction, some for happiness, some for peace, some for GOD.
We all try to fulfill not our need but our greed.
Or is greed only our need? Wondering?
Its human mentality to get benefit as long as we are not caught:) but one thing is sure, for small amount like house rent etc, we get scared so much, how strong the people might be to cheat crores of rupees. It should eradicate from ground level but thats ideal situation which might not come to reality :(
ReplyDeleteAll that is true you mentioned in the blog
ReplyDeleteit reminds me of a question I had asked my college professor
Question: why do you take tuitions/money for marks, being a teacher you should be HONEST to your work
His reply was I being a teacher when I go for my son's admission in school they dont barr me for the donations, then why should I not take the extra money
Well, I'll start with quoting "Life is race" so some people resort to corruption to lead a more comfortable life. This corruption fuels more corruption and today it there is corruption in every walk of life.
ReplyDeleteSo whats the solution.
Lets take the example of gangrene. It is small bacterial infection that turns into a life threating issue when left unattended. Corruption is also the same case.
So how is gangrene treated. The most affected part is amputated i.e. cutoff to prevent it from spreading, then you treat the smaller ones
It should be the same case in our society. Cut out the big ones and then the smaller ones are easy to handle (20% causes 80% problems)
Please don't compare saving tax by an individual and corruption in govenment and ppl running.Any individual may be curupti but benifit is limited, and a person can save at max in terms of 1000 or few thousand Rs.
ReplyDeletenow a days Where as hearing scandals of laks coreres and more.
Sure we should ask for huge misproportions
Good and minute observation. Without a intention to make this earth better place to live it is difficult to root out corruption. Then the question boils down to "who am I" and "why I am here". Then this is something a quest for exploring yourself rather than proving to others. In the process of exploring yourself you will keep on staying in the ZONE(a state of mind which encourage you to do right thing in stead of doing things which brings comfort in life). A small number of thoughtful and united people can turn around the thinking of rest of the people in this world which I strongly believe.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Debasis
The article is very insightful. I congratulate you for bringing this up on such a forum where people can express their thoughts.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest it really made me think again if I am leading a correct life or a corrupt life?
In my opinion every person is intelligent enough to judge the good and the bad but most of the times he chooses the bad. This could be because of the upbringing he gets, in the society in which he lives. If every person in his society is true, honest then he imitates them to be honest too. But at present situation the honest people are rare to find.
The toughest part in eradicating the corruption is the discipline to practice it. We do not practice but we preach others, which will not serve the purpose. First we need to practice then people who admire or respect us will imitate it.
Ravikiran
I congratulate you for bringing such a issue but please don't compare tax saving with corrupt politicians with scandals of lacks corers.
ReplyDeleteEmployees try to save their money in tax savings but politicians swallow others hard earned tax paid money!
From Girish D R, over email
ReplyDeleteRead ur blog.it was interesting .i could see myself giving 100rs to police whenever they find any violation without taking receipt..That doesnt look like corruption for me ...It is very confronting...All of us are in a loop